New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-08

INTEREST IN CHOICE OF UNITED STATES
sENATOR-DANGER FROM DROUTH
GONE-BENEFIT OF FAST MAIL.
fBY TELEGRAPH TO The rRIBUNE.l

COMPLEMENT OF FAST MAIL.
fBY TELEGRAPH TO The rRBUNEl
San Francisco, Jan. THE chief interest OF
the week has centred in the organization OF the
State Legislature and the preliminary work
for the election OF United States Senator to
succeed Stephen NJ. White. The Republicans
have a large majority, and It supposed that
the Democrats would simply cast compliment
tary vote for one Of their leaders, but events
show that several Democrats may be counted
on to vote for a Republican should there be
danger Of the choice Of Daniel NJ. Burns, the
candidate Of the San Francisco machine" who
has figured as a political boss for several
years 1t requires sxty-one votes to elect. and
Burns asserts he has thirty-fve to start with,
but his enemies declare he will not rally greater
strength than twenty. or the other candidates
Ulysses s. Grant. jr.. Of San Diego. is the
strongest He may poll thirty votes on the first
ballot, though whether his forces will remain
steadfast is uncertain. Bulla. Of Los Angeles,
and General w. II. l.. Barnes and George A.
Knight, Of San Francisco. are the other candi-
dates. None have any strong following The
unique feature of the fight is that there Is not a
single Republican newspaper OF any prominence
in the State which favors the candidacy Of
Burns and most Of them have denounced him
as a defaulter while holding a State office years
ago. and as a corrupt political boss, whose cleo
ton would be a lasting disgrace to California
Burns has made fortune in Mexican silver
mines. but he is a OF sinister appearance
poorly educated with no capacity for public
speaking, and grasp of National affairs. He
is simply a shrewd and INSCRIPTIONS political
manipulator who has been allowed to obtain
much power in State affairs. What adds to his
present influence Is his hold the new Gov
HE ina m
Burns Should he be elected it will be in the
face of the opposition OF the best element in
the Republican party. and 1T is thought 1t would
be a disgrace to California to supplant man
like White with this political boss" who has
only his coin and his pull to recommend him.
The general opinion Is that none Of the candi-
dates now before the public Will be elected but
that the choice will fall to Irving NJ. Scott or
some other Republican Of National reputation
whose record is blameless Scott would proba-
bly, make the best Senator Of any OF those who
have been mentioned he is a man OF large
affairs perfectly familiar with the needs OF the
State and forcible writer and ready speaker.
AS the founder and organizer Of the Union Iron
Works which built the oregon and several
other OF the best ships Of our Navy, he Is
thought to deserve any honor which California
has in her gift
The heavy rain which fell early this week was
Of enormous benefit to the whole State. 1t
placed beyond reach OF peril the grain fields,
which had been sowed but which drouth men
aced with total loss OF the crop. 1t saved thou
sands Of young fruit trees. which could not have
resisted much longer the extreme drynese 1t
also filled the irrigating dams and bitches, and
the heavy snowfall in the Sierras and lower
Coast Range gives assurance to the miners Of
rnrk nd
to orchardists Of a supply for the season No
season for nearly thirty years has been so dry
as this in the fall and first winter month; hence
the great benefit OF this New Years storm.
which was general throughout the State. The
rainfall varied from three-Quarters of an inch
TO two inches II came early enough to prevent
serious loss though in the coast counties below
Santa Clara many young fruit trees were killed
by the drouth. The best result of the rain
was great increase of confidence among IN
vestors Prior to the storm. no one could get
advances from banks merchants, because
every one with capital feared dry year Now
there has been great unloosenng or purse
strings and reports show an increase In busi-
ness Of all kinds. This will be further aided
by the storm which began yesterday and which
promises to equal the other in rainfall.
The trustees Of the Mechanics Institute pro-
pose to open here in September fair, which
will be mainly devoted to Illustration Of the
products OF our new possessions in the Paclhc
Congress will be asked to make an appropria-
ton to aid in the work In order that nucleus
NAV be formed for permanent commercial
museum similar TO the one in Philadelphia. IL
carried out on the lines planned. this exhiDlt
Of the life and products Of the Philippines and
Hawaii will ne extremely interesting.
The new fast mail train from New-York has
reduced the schedule twelve hours. The mail
which left New-York On Sunday evening reached
here on Thursday evening al ; o'clock Splen-
did time was made as far West as ogden. but
between ogden and this city no orders had
been given to expedite the service. The South
ern Pacific could shorten the time between Og-
den and San Francisco by eight hours when
would make a total saving OF twenty hours
The pianist Rosenthal had such great success
al the three concerts which he gave this week
that two extra performances will be announced
for next week San Francisco has many music
lovers and when a man OF RosenthaIs genius
appears he is OF a hearty and generous
welcome.
AT the Columbia Theatre Willie Collier. In
THE Man from Mexico" has made hit, though
he appeared here in the same piece the nrS
season IL produced
After a quarter Of a century OF work on IT,
San Franciscos City Hall was turned over TINS