davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The herald., 1898-02-15
CIVIL SERVICE FACTS
WITCH DEvELoPED DU1zE0
THE YEAR
The Law Has Proved an Effective
Force Exerted in the Direction
of Economy

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1.-THE annual
report Of the Civil Service Commission
for the fiscal year ended June 80, 1897.
has been presented to the President
1t begins with a statement to show that
after an experience Of nearly fifteen
years the hopes of the advocates OF the
Civil Service law have been largely
realized. In practice the law has proved
to be a constantly exerted and effective
force in the direction Of economy,
considering the few changes in the
service under the merit system, and the
efficiency of the one stands in striking
contrast to the extravaganza and in
efficiency of the other.
Since 1883 (the year of the organization
of the commission) the unclassified posi-
tions which have been subject to politi-
cal control have increased in unmber
81 per cent and in cost 4S per cent while
the classified positions subject to ex-
aminations have remained at a stand
still. The large extension of Civil Ser
vice rules in May, 1896, to include posi-
tions hitherto unclassified, the report
says, brought to light a number of un-
necessary positions. Quite number of
these have been abolished as measure
of economy. The whole number of per-
sons examined during the year was 40,
las, Of whom 2S,59S passed. The number
of appointments were 4136. The COM
the report says, has been stead
lily making Its examinations more prac-
tical. Numerous complaints have been
made of violation of the rules of the
Civil Service in the Treasury Depart
ment, the Department of Justice, and
the Interior Department. In each case
examinations have been made by rep
of the commission and such
cases as appeared to be violations Of the
law were referred TO the department to
which 1t belonged. In each case the COM
mission has not yet received a reply.
The report speaks highly of the pro-
motion system based on the efficiency
record. This has been especially indorsed
by the Navy Department in the work in
the yards. On the other hand, the COM
mission deprecates the proposition of
limited tenure of government office,
pointing out that it would not only i'm
pair the efficacy of the service, but open
the door for political influence.
The herald., 1898-02-15
Ancient Proceedings Resuscitated

A report was presented by the city at
torney, stating that several street and
alley openings had been referred to his
department to present ordinances, in
which proceedings had been virtually
abandoned He cited the following,
which have been pigeon-h holed since
1896, and upon which he asked instruc-
tions.
Proposed opening of an alley from
Fourth street to the Bradbury block be-
tween Broadway and Spring; also pro-
posed opening of Pecan street between
Also and Third streets; extension of
Clarence street between First and Also
streets; also to open Gless street be-
tween First and Also streets; also for
the proposed opening Of boulevard
between First street and Elysian park;
also for the proposed opening of Tenth
street into Western avenue; also for the
proposed opening and extending OF
Tenth street from Gante street to Will
son street. The matter was referred to
the board Of public works.
The herald., 1898-02-15

Iments with stationery. The street work
bids were referred to the board Of pub
lie works and the stationery bids to the
supply committee.
For the opening and widening o.
Twentieth street between Grand avenue
and Figueroa street the following COM
missioners were appointed: L. L. STAN
ton, Lee A. Mcconnell and ]. ]. Walsh
Mr.. Mathuss requested delay of one
week in the matter of the request of
John Mailman and Mrs Clara Shatto
for special permit to operate an elec-
trio railway over certain streets in the
western part Of the city. The request
was granted.
Health officer Powers filed a recon-
mendation that Also street between
Alameda street and the river, and Third
street between Los Angeles street and
Santa Fe avenue, be swept twice a
week instead of once in two weeks. The
recommendation was adopted.
On motion of Grider, the Los Angeles
City Water company was ordered to re-
pair the fire hydrant at the corner Of
Main and Jefferson streets.
Mr.. Mathuss moved that the Traction
railroad be ordered by the street super
intendent to put in a crosswalk across
their track at Hill and Fourth streets.
Adopted.
Two weeks additional time was
granted to the special committee on a
mountain water supply for the city on
motion of Order. According to the
original movers Of the resolution under
which this committee was appointed,
three weeks was regarded as ample time
for a report.
City Assessor Seaman was granted a
leave of absence for ten days in which
to make trip to Arizona.
The herald., 1898-02-15
Street Crossing Culverts

Street superintendent Drain appeared
before and addressed the council upon
the subject of culverts under car tracks
at street intersections. He had notified
the street railway companies that they
must replace the present culverts at
the Main and Spring street intersec-
tions with new ones on grade before
those streets are resurfaced. The pres
ent culverts are so low that stagnant
water stands in them and creates a nuis-
ance On motion of Councilman Nickel,
it was ordered that if the companies do
not put in the work themselves, it will
be done for them by the city and the
cost collected in the courts.
The herald., 1898-02-15
The "Mad Dog" Scare

City Attorney Dunn appeared before
the council and stated that number of
dogs had been recently shot by police
men on suspicion that they were mad
Three more dogs were bitten Sunday
and the condition was serious.
who bit the dogs" asked Councilman
Baker with a grin.
Il don't know replied Mr.. Dunn. 1T
has been laid to several councilmen, but
1 don't believe it,
He went on to say that he had told the
chief of police to put the dog catcher to
work at once under the ordinance. There
would necessarily be some expense at
tached to it and he desired the council
should ratify his action. 1t was neces-
sary that the dog-catcher corrall all"
"All the councilmen or the dogs.
broke in Mr.. Toll, to the disgust of the
city attorney, who promptly replied.
whichever the judgment of the dog
catcher thinks best"
Mr.. Dunn's action was unanimously
approved.
The herald., 1898-02-15
Pasadena Avenue Protest
Does Not Go
susTAINs COMMITTEE REPORT
MANY ORDINANCES FOR STREET
IMPROVEMENTS
Attorney Dunn and the Dog Catcher.
Highland Company's Water
Rates-Council Notes

Perhaps the subject that excited
greatest interest in the dreary monotony
of yesterdays council proceedings, and
the one that caused the sole break in the
grind of routine measures, was the mat
ter of the protest of property owners on
Pasadena avenue against the approval
of the action of the street superintend-
ent in accepting the work done on that
street by Contractor Geo. Rheinschild.
The question had been thoroughly ven
tilated at the council meeting the week
previous, but so serious had been the
charges made by the protestants that,
Notwithstanding the street had been ap-
proved by the board of public works and
Superintendent Drain, a special com
mittee, consisting of Messrs. Baker,
Hutchison and Grider, was appointed to
make another inspection of the street
and report as to its condition.
The subject was brought up by the re-
port of the committee, who stated that
they had examined the work" and were
'of the opinion that its quality warrants
the denial of the protest" l. H. Preston,
one of the objecting property owners,
was in the council chamber and request
ed hearing He had been on the ground
when the committee, accompanied by
Councilman Nickel, arrived in a car
riage last Saturday afternoon. The
protestants had claimed that there were
big rocks in the street contrary to speci-
fications, which provide that no stone
larger than a two-inch cube shall be
used. After the objection had been made
in the council the contractor put team
to work hauling off the loose rocks, and
when the inspection was made the street
was comparatively clear. However,
there were, he said, plenty Of big rocks
under the top layer of gravel, and he was
prepared with pick to dig down and
show them, but one of the committee
he could not remember whom-had said:
Don't pick them out or it will leave
holes in the street." Each and every
member of the committee denied MAX
ing the statement
The herald., 1898-02-15
Want Rates Restored

The Highland Water company put in
the following plea for restoration OF
former rates by the council:
THE report of the business of our
company. lately rendered. shows that
the rates as fixed one year ago do not
yield reasonable return upon the cap
ital invested in our plant. We therefore
respectfully request that the rates of
1S96-97 be restored. The state law pro-
vides that the rates to be charged by
water companies shall be fixed by the
council in harmony with the condition
Of the company as shown by its annual
report
The petition was referred to the water
supply committee.
The herald., 1898-02-15

Bush to Iowa street; sewer Redwood
street. between Hawthorne and Tennes-
see streets: sewer Central avenue, be-
tween Eighth and Ninth streets; grad
ing Henry street, between Eastlake ave-
nue. and San Pablo street; grading and
sewering Date street, between Macy
and Elizabeth streets; matchmaking
Figueroa street, between Sixth and Pico
street; to grade Pico street. between Pa
cific and Western avenues; intention to
change grade of Ellendale place.
New specifications for the construc-
tion of cement pipe culverts, granite
curbs and macadamizing Of streets were
submitted and adopted There have
been some important changes made,
which will insure to property owners
good job in any OF these lines, if the
specifications are strictly followed.
The herald., 1898-02-15
ABOUT SLEEPWALKERS
SOME NARROW ESCAPES AND
SOME CURES
How a Good Spanking Cured Boy
of Persistent Som
nambulism

The mention of a sleep walker stand
ing upon the street railway track the
other night and barely escaping being
run down. has brought to the minds of
many people incidents in this line that
have come under their observation, and
it is simply astonishing how general is
this habit.
One person mentions the case of a
member of the household who was
found wandering about on the housetop,
all unmindful of his danger, while the
observer was at his wits end to know
how to get him in before he should make
a misstep and fall to the ground. Usual
ly the eyes of the somnambulist are
wide open and now and then story in
dicates that the vision must be fairly
good at times.
For instance, a gentleman remembers
that when he was a young man an ac-
quaintance was badly given to the habit,
and he would often go out into the yard
and wander about. One night number
of them lay in ambush for him just to
watch his operations. By and by the
door opened in business-like way and
out came the young man. He went
straightway across the street into a lot
where there was a nut tree and proceed
ed to pick up nuts and put them in a
pile. A few moments at this task then
he started toward the house. In span
ming the fence he made misstep and
fell This awakened him and while he
was in the first act of collecting his
thoughts he saw in the darkness the
young men who were watching him
Just at that time their appearance so
startled him that he fled like deer. The
circumstance was so impressed upon his
mind that he never afterward indulged
in the habit.
A gentleman told an amusing incident
that happened in his early life. He was
sure that he could not have been more
than or years old at the time. He
often found himself at the far end of the
long, unfinished chamber where he slept,
and usually could not awake sufficiently
to find his way back to bed again. So
one or the other of his parents would
hear him crying and come to his rescue.
Naturally they got little tired of the
bother, and no one should be blamed for
what followed. AS stated, the chamber
was an unfinished one, and in place of
the guard rail at the danger end of the
stairway a number of barrels had been
placed. When the nights somnam-
bulistic tour eliminated that left a
lasting impression on his mind, as well
as his body, he was near those barrels
and it seemed had been struggling to
get through between them, when he
must surely have been killed by falling
down stairs. The noise aroused the
parents, and on this memorable occa.
sion the father visited the chamber and
just in time to save the lad from getting
through. He was on his hands arsl
knees pushing through, and the oppor-
tunity for administering the usual pun
ishment of those days could not have
been better arranged to order. Talk
about spanking" said the relator, 'why
that must have been forty years and
more ago, but l can feel the sting as if it
was last night! But it cured me, you
may be sure e'-Hartford Courant.
The herald., 1898-02-15
INV Uncle" and "My Aunt"

An ingenious French wrker has been
explaining to a curious world why the
pawnbroking establishments are called
MY aunt" (Ma tante). The Prince de
JoinVille, son of Louis Philippe, was
kept very short of money in his youth.
One day the father noticed that the
prince was not wearing a splendid gold
watch that had been given to him by his
mother
"Where is your watch?" asked the
bourgeois king.
"At my aunt's," was the reply.
Princess Adelaide was interrogated
on the subject, but she knew nothing
about it. Then the young scapegrace
aunt" therefore, became proverbial for
the Mont -de-Piete. But then, it may be
asked how it comes about that the
pawnbroker in England is facetiously
spoken of as uncle" The French writ
er is quite equal to the occasion. The
English say "uncle" because the French
say aunt Here in England every
thing goes by contraries. The French
coachman drives on the right, the Eng
lish on the left; the French soldier has
red trousers, the English soldier a red
coat; the Frenchman eats an oyster out
Of the hollow half of the she'll the Eng
lishman out of the fiat half; the French
epicure drinks champagne after dinner,
the English epicure during dinner, and so
forth. 1t is all a case of pure "cussed-
ness. London News.
%<%
The herald., 1898-02-15
A Doctors Death

ST. PAUL, Feb. 14.-Robert A. Whea-
ton, one of the best known surgeons in
the country, died suddenly last night
of apoplexy. Dr. Wheaton, while but
35 years of age,h had a national reputation
as a surgeon. He was born at North
field, Mimi, and graduated at Harvard
University. For a year and a half he
was in the Massachusetts General Hos
pital in Boston. He was professor of
minor surgery in the University of Min
nesota, and Captain and Assistant Sur
geon in the Minnesota National Guard.
He was frequent contributor to medi-
cal journals.
The herald., 1898-02-15
STREET WORK
Ninth Street Contract Awarded-Fina1
Ordinances Passed

on motion of Mr.. Grder, the matter of
the awarding of contract for the i'm
proving Of Ninth street, from Central
avenue to the river, was taken out of
the hands of the board of public works,
where it has been for two weeks. He
wanted the work done, and thought the
contract should be let at once. The city
engineer, being called in and having eX-
ag1lined the bids, pronounced that of p.
j. Richmon to be the lowest, and the
contract was unanimously awarded to
him. The work will be done under the
bond act the contract price being $13,-
24944.
Final ordinances for the following
street work were presented by the city
engineer and adopted: Grade of West
ern avenue between Pico and jefferson
streets; to establish grade of Four
teenth street, between Star and Con-
stance streets, and same street, from
The herald., 1898-02-15
Park Matters

The park commissioners had recon-
mended that $1O0 be appropriated to pay
for painting 2Ox25 feet, representing
park scene in a panorama. or "aquara-
ma" concession at the Transmissippi ex-
position in Omaha. The matter was re-
ferred to the finance committee, which
reported against the allowance for lack
of funds, and the scheme was killed.
The request that the city engineer be
directed to at once define the boundaries
of Elysian park was referred to the land
committee.
The proposed increase of the park
superintendent salary, as recommend
ed by the commission, went to the finance
committee.
The herald., 1898-02-15
Another Underground Conduit

Martin Marsh, M. A. King, A. Ham
burger, S. Maier and Louis Vetter filed
a petition, asking for franchise to con-
struct a conduit system under the streets
of the city, for the purpose of conveying
telephone telegraph electric light, cleo
trio power, fire alarm and other wires.
They declare that it is their purpose to
lease or rent such space as may be ap-
piled for to existing companies or in
dividuals. The petition was referred to
the board of public works
The herald., 1898-02-15
A Kentucky Eeud

LOUISVILLE, KY, Feb. 14.-A des-
perate duel was fought with knives and
pistols between George and Arthur b.
Waldron at Fourth avenue and K street.
Fred vogt. the son of George Vogt. was
also drawn into the encounter. AS a
result, Waldron is lying at the City
Hospital in a precarious condition and
is not expected to live. Fred Vogt is ut
the Gray Street Infirmary wounded and
George Vogt is in Jail, charged with NAL
icious shooting.
The primary cause of the trouble was
The herald., 1898-02-15
A Rife Record

TRINIDAD, Col. Feb. 14.-Richard
Powers. member Of the Trinidad Rifle
Club, at the weekly shoot of the club,
broke the worlds record for target
shooting off-hand. 200 yards distance.
Powers made a score of so out of q pos
sible 100. the worlds record being s5.
The herald., 1898-02-15

murder cape tried "a ~ 1en> ~,
County Court about eiuht y>ars Sro.
The elder vogt WAS up chatred with
murder. and the father Of Arthur wal
dron was one Of the principal witnesses
for the State. In consequence, bitter
hatred has always existed between the
two families.
The herald., 1898-02-15
KID M'CoY's WIFE
Wants Divorce From the Unfaithful
Pug

ST. LOUIS, Feb. 14.-A special to the
Post-Dispatch from Hamilton, Ohio,
says:
1t has just developed in this city that
on January Sth Charlotte Selby filed a
petition for divorce in the Common Pleas
Court against her husband, Norman
Selby. The defendant is known to the
world as Charles (Kid) Mccoy, the
pugilist. The ground is unfaithfulness
and alimony is asked for in addition to
the divorce. No defense has yet been
made. The suit has been kept very
quiet.
The herald., 1898-02-15
SOMETHING MoREv
Correspondence Between Pension
Attorney and Veteran

The subjoined CORES spondence between
a Union veteran and a pension agent has
probably had many parallels during the
past quarter of a century - worth read
ing. all the same:
WASHINGTON, D. c., Aug. a. 1895.
Dear Sir: l have resigned my position
in the treasury department 20 engage in
the prosecution of claims against the gov
ernment for services rendered in the late
rebellion. l have been for some time Off
cially examining in the department just
such claims as you can file. and am in
clined to think that l could obtain some
thing more for you. / wish you would let
me try for know that you could not find
another attorney possessing my expert
ence in these matters. and. besides. there
is no fee unless successful, and then only
small one fixed by law, the proceeds
being sent direct to you by treasury check.
With this in view l inclose blank form
of claim which l trust you will return to
me duly executed: and. for excellent rea-
sons, which l cannot enter into here, /
would strongly urge you to give this mat
ter your immediate attention. Yours truly,
SANTA BARBARA, Cal. Aug. 80, 1895.
Sir: I should reply to your communica-
tion of the oath inst, but for your impu-
dent statement that you might obtain
something more for me- Neither you nor
any man of your calling has ever obtained
anything for me. What services l may
have performed were more than paid for
when | was mustered out, and l trust that
you. and the rest of the fraternity who get
their living by melting claims against the
government, will in future let me alone
and save their postage. -.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Sept 6, 1896.
Sir: Referring to your letter of the 30th
ult., replying to my circular letter of Aug.
"a, soliciting military claim, cannot deny
myself the satisfaction of informing you
that yours is the only discourteous reply
that have had to any of the $500 similar
circulars sent out. Quite distinction. is 1t
not? And yet such men as --,
eX-United States senator and ex-governor
| of -: Major --, ex-member of
congress; Gen. - of Illionis and Judge
- of Indiana have intrusted to me their
| claims.
| I am surprised and panied that a men,
| ber of the Loyal legion should so lower
himself. Certainly, 'tis rare to find such
a surly, boorish action taken by one when
stationery, penmanship and language
would otherwise proclaim him as gen.
| tleman. Yours truly, -.
New York Sun.
The herald., 1898-02-15
Why He Was Famous

SOUTH ROYALTON, VT, Feb. A.
David w. Ramsdell, famous as the dis
coverer of the Norway oat, is dead at
the home Of his niece, Mrs. e. L. Fish.
aged "A.
The herald., 1898-02-15

Only few years ago people gaxed in
wonder at the first gas light Now they
gaze In wonder at their last gas bill.-Chi-
cago News.
The herald., 1898-02-15

The tailor is engaged in a fitting occupa-
tian--Chicago News.
The herald., 1898-02-15
THE MINNESOTA TOURISTS

The Minneapolis Journals excursion
is twenty-four hours late. 1t will ar
rive this morning about 6 o'clock. The
travellers will be met at the depot by a
committee from the Minnesota associa-
tion, composed of President John NJ.
Miller, T. B. Barnard, J. A. Buchanan,
/. P. Channel, F. F. Davis, H. l.. Cor
don, F. c. Howes, ]. H. Rolfe, A. N. o.
mum, ]. X. Moore, J. r. Newberry, T.
e. Yerxa and Herbert r. Yerxa.
A reception will be extended to the
visitors this evening at the chamber of
commerce, a committee from that
Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1898-07-25

The exodus ~ able bodied men
from the various counties who have
volunteered their services to the Gov
eminent cpd those who have left for
other States i'll search of employ
ment, has reduced the voting popu-
lation Of Nevada nearly 1900 in the
past two years.
The preliminary examination Of
Sam Davis at Starr Valley Saturday
resulted in his OeIng bound over to
appear before the grand jury on the
charge Of malicionsly shooting cattle
Justice Morgan fixed his bond at
$500. which he gave. This case has
caused a good deal Of feeling IN Starr
Valley. ..".. . .....
Joe Harris writes from Jackson
vile that the weather is very warm
down there. He says all a person
needs to'wear lisa fig leaf. Joe says
the boys we're disappointed in not
being ordered to Porto Rico. They
now expect to be sent to Havana
When q move is made on that city.
Joe says all are anxious to go to Cuba
or anywhere else 80 they can have a
scrap with the Dons. .r a,l
The Fret Nevada cavalry 'voiun-
teers, Captain Linscott commanding,
has been assigned to duty ut Sequois
park, California, one OF the most pic
turesque localities in that STATE, where
their principal business will be to
Keep sheepherders from running
their bands on the park grounds and
in the Yosemite valley. The soiourn
of the troop there during tie summer
and autumn months win he one con-
tinuous picnic far removed from dan
ger OF scars from shot Of hostile
Dons.