The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-11-19
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

NO Willie. A., Centerville. Cal. II a
father dies without leaving a will and
leaves property, though the same may Do
unincumbered and there are no debts. and
there are but two heirs, the property can
not be distributed except through probate
proceedings in the Superior Court, IL me
property Is located In California.
CITY CIVIL sERvICE-C. II. j.. City.
The Civil Service Commission to be pro-
vided for under the new charter will have
10 make rules and regulations FOR the ap-
pointment. promotion and removal OF all
who are to be appointed under the pro-
the charter headed "civii Service. The
Inference Is that all will have to take an
examination. and that IL the appointees
Is not more than six months, they will
hold during good behavior.
CLERKS-S. H., City. When the new
charter goes into operation clerks in the
various city departments will be appoint
ed for term not exceeding two months:
after that appointments will be made IN
DER the civil service rules, and every one
appointed under those rules will have 20
undergo an examination. Those who are
appointed at the first OF the year have
no assurance or being retained. though
they may successfully pass the eNamina-
ton, for each position will be filled from
three eligibles presented by the Civil Ser
vice Commissioners. The following offices
will be classed under civil service provts-
ions: County Clerk. Assessor Tax Coll
lector, Sheriff, Auditor. Recorder Cor
tee and Police Courts. Board OF Public
Works. Police Department. Fire Depart
ment. Election Department. Health De-
partment and all boards controlling public.
utilities. The heads OF departments
their cashiers and chief deputies are ~
cepted from this classification. Salaries
must be fixed no higher than Is paid tor
similar service in similar emplOyments.
THE LAW OF sUccEss1oN-p. F.
Natoma, Cal. In the event OF the settling
Of an estate, either by contest or agree
ment, In case no will has been left bv
the decedent, the property would be a.
Vided in California according 10 the law
OF succession, 1856. Civil Code which pro
yides that IL a married person dies I'm
California possessed OF property In his or
her own right and leaves no Issue. one
half goes 20 the surviving husband Or
wife and the other half IN equal shares
10 father and mother: IL either Is dead h
goes 10 the survivor; II there Is no fatEer
nor mother the half goes 10 brothers and
sisters, and to children OF child OF anv
nIother or sister by right OF representa-
tpn II the deceased leaves neither
Ether, mother, brother nor sister the
Twhole goes TO the surviving husband or
wife. II the decedent leaves 4 surviving
husband or wife and only one child. or
the lawful issue OF one child. the prop
erty, II there Is no Will. goes in equal
shares TO the surviving husband or wise
and child, or issue OF such child II the
decedent leaves a surviving husband or
wife and more than one living child and
the lawful issue OF one or more deceased
children, one-third goes TO the surviving
husband or wife and the remainder I'M
equal shares TO his children and TO the
lawful Issue OF any deceased child by
right OF representation.
GOTHAM-G. E. H.. City. Gotham ia
parish Of Nottingham. England The peo
pie there, according 20 one writer were
famed for their Grass stupidity and aim,
plicity, and according TO another FOR their
cunning. and for either OF these two rea-
sons they were called The wise men OF
Gotham" An old rhyme says:
Three wise men OF Gotham. -t
Went to sea I'm a bowl
IL the bowl had been stronger
My story would be longer -
II is said that King John intended "a
make progress through this town win
the view OF purchasing castle and
grounds: The townsmen had no desire 10
fore, when the royal messengers an
peared. wherever they went they saw ~.
people engaging in some idfotic. Durs,tit
one being number OF men Joining hands
around thorn bush to shut In n crckoo
The King being told OF this abandoned his
project, and the townspeople cunnirSIy,
remarked, we ween there are more fools
pass through Gotham than remain IN IN
All nations nave fixed upon some place az e.
their limbus OF fools: for exampls thers
is Pnrygia as the fools home in Asia; Alb
dera OF the Thracian's; BoeOtia az tire
Greeks; SwabIa OF the modern Germans. q.
and SO on.
Gotham Is a colloquial term for the city
OF New York. Thus applied IL FIRST ap-
peared IN Salmagundi" by Washington
ally at the worldly wisdom OF its inhablt-
ants.