davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1899-04-15
MUNICIPAL OWNERSHIP IN LONDON

H toiling millions OF London who live between
starvation and semi-starvation have cause to look
upon the street railway employees OF the great
city with feelings akin to envy. The municipality
short time ago became the OF the tramways,
which placed by the County Council in the
troll of the Highways Committee.
The first step taken by the committee was to inn
prove the condition of the men and women employed
on the lines The Westminster Gazette in giving the
first results of this experiment in paternaism says:
The committee regards it essential that the
wages paid by the Council should be equivalent to
the best rates paid for similar work in other parts
of the County Of London; and that the Councils
rule with regard to days rest in seven should
apply to the tramway's employees The policy of one
days rest IN will necessitate the employment
OF more men, involving an increased expenditure of
G905. Various officials obtain rise of salaries un
der revised conditions, and the wages of the
checkers to be increased by about Is per cent.
Hitherto the conductors have been provided with
uniform coats. The committee contemplate extend
ing the boon to drivers, having regard the ex-
posure to which they subjected" and to pro-
vide both classes with uniform caps This involves
additional cost of 91600 per annum. Horsekeep-
receive from % shillngs % shillings for
seven-day week. The committee propose that they
should receive 26 shillings for six-day week
Drivers and conductors to have an increase of
trans for the year 1S99-190O the committee make
this gratifying IF the whole of our
recommendations be adopted by the Council the sum
of about e39, 100 will, anticipate, still be available
for relief of the rates"
The eyes of the good people who dwell in the city
of Detroit will watch the London experiment with
great interest for Detroit has decided that its street
railways shall become municipal property 1t is prob
able the politicians also OF the Michigan town are
watching the experiment with wide-open eyes, for
municipal ownership opens up tempting field to the
practical politicians.
The San Francisco call., 1899-04-15
PAYMENT OF
JURORS FEES

To the Editor of The Call-Dear Sir:
There is one matter in connection with
the existing statutes of our State which
in my Judgment should be remedied.
At present the jurors in civil cases
are paid by the losing party in the end,
as part of the costs. In most of the
States, particularly the Southern
States, which are now among the poor
est, there is jury tax of few dol
lars in every case where suit is brought
and a jury trial can be had, and this
tax is paid whether the parties waive
a jury trial or not. This enables the
poorest citizen to have jury trial. 1t
is true that if the fund arising from
this uniform tax of few dollars is
not always sufficient to pay the jurors
the balance is made up by the county.
AS jury in many cases is essential to
the ends of justice, and as the jury is
as much necessary part OF the ma
chinery of a court of justice as the
judge himself, why should citizen be
compelled to pay so large and onerous
a charge as the entire jury fees any
pay part of the salary of the Judge?
In the United States courts the juries
are paid by the United States Govern
ment and not by the parties to the suit.
Why should not our Legislature relieve
a poor fellow having meritotious case
from so onerouS a burden? The fact
is that the heavy burden of jurors fees
and shorthand reporters fees in ad-
vance is a substantial denial of justice
to many worthy men. In short l be-
lieve, and many years practice in the
courts of several of the States and in
the United States courts has enabled
me to observe much in reference to
such matters, that the shorthand re-
porters should be paid decent salary
by the county, when they ofticiate, and
a fixed tax of say $40 in each case,
paid by each litigant before trial of
the case, and jury tax of say s. in
all cases. In the State of Mississippi,
for instance, the jury tax in all civil
cases that can be tried by jury is
SO, and this method has been found for
more than fifty years to be perfectly
satisfactory Courts Of justice, in order
to be of real service, should be within
the reach of every man who has a just
cause, and the excessive fees that now
have to be paid by suitors make it
impossible for many a person to have
his legal rights.
l do not wish to be understood to
have any desire to injure any one in
my view of this matter for | am
strongly in favor of every officer of
court being paid a decent and fair
salary but the whole of what is now a
very onerous burden should not be laid
upon the litigant. The State is under
obligation to furnish all it's citizens
with access to the courts, and it should
not shoulder off the main part of the
expense of having such access upon the
litigant. H. S. FOOTE.
San Francisco. April a. 1899
The San Francisco call., 1899-04-15

tornia have been in the Puget Sound markets by this
time very few have arrived far this season 1t ap-
pears the potatogrower have his innings at last
and for time at any rate may indulge the feeling of
lord of the market.
We have in this case another proof OF the narrow
ness OF the margin that separates prosperity from
comparative destitution in the most civilized OF
countries. Humanity produces in any. one season
just about enough to carry it until the har-
vest comes. When bad year intervenes and crop
fails or falls short there is trouble.
Where the means of communication and transporta-
ton are easy and economical the evil resulting from
one years failure of crop in any particular locality is
not great for supplies be sent in from the out
side. But where transportation is costly famines
occur They were frequent in Western Europe during
the middle ages, they common in some parts Of
Russia to this day.
AS the high price of potatoes in Washington proves,
even the most industrious farmers the most fertile
lands may sometimes fail to produce enough to feed
the population dependent on them. 1t is certainly
strange, however, that the Pacific Coast States the
most productive section OF the Union should have
reached point where in important center of its
population potatoes are worth much as eggs.
The San Francisco call., 1899-04-15
AROUND THE
CORRIDORS

]. We'll, merchant of Sanger, is at the
Grand.
F. F. Coyne, a mining man of Dillon,
Mont, is at the Russ.
F. Beringer, an extensive wine grower
of st. Helena, is guest at the Lick.
r. H. Wiley, an attorney of Monterey,
is here on business and is staying at the
Grand.
Frank B. Cornue, assistant cashier of
the Santa Rosa Bank, is at the Califor-
mia, accompanied by hls wife.
]. P Snyder, an attorney of San An
dreas. and John A. McIntire, a Sacra
mento mining man, are among the ar
rivals at the Grand.
G. w. Huddleston, a prominent busi-
ness man of London, England, is making
a pleasure trip to this State and is regis
tered at the Palace
e. E. Vincent, a merchant of MADEIRA,
G. C. Freeman, a Fresno attorney and
A. Marks, a storekeeper of Covelo, and
his family, are guests at the Lick.
Assistant Surgeons Charles Norton
Berry and Frederic Pearl U. S. A, and
Surgeon Major Hays, U. S. A, of Bang
kok, SIAM are registered at the Palace
S. w. Pearce, a retired business man of
South Australia, Is registered at the Russ
with his wife. Mr.. Pearce has been Wis
iting in the southern part of the State
and intends to locate here permanently.
Thomas H. Selvage of Eureka is stay
ing at the Grand. AT the meeting of the
Grand Council of the Chosen Friends he
was elected as a representative to the
Supreme Council, which meets at Balti-
more next September. Mr.. Selvage will
probably return to Eureka this week.
Baron Leo Won Rosenberg Lipinsky. a
mining engineer who represents a New
York syndicate, is a guest at the Palace.
In company witt r. j. Dyas, a capitalist
of st. Louis. he has been on a visit of
inspection in Arizona, Colorado and this
State, with a view of making large in
vestments in mining properties.
Assemblyman R. S. Raw of PlaceryiIle.
FL Dorado County, is putting in a few
days at the Grand in the interests. politi-
cally, of his county. 1t was Mr.. Raw, by
the way, who made a winning fight
against a crowd of spectators who at
tempted during theN late Legislature to
legislate his county out of $500 600 in good
hard cash. Placerville is about to hold
the first municipal election it has held in
over twenty-five years. for the purpose
of electing city officers that the town may
pay off a legitimate bonded Indebtedness
against it of $34, 500
Arthur Pearse, a mining engineer of
London, England, is registered at the Pal
ace. Mr.. Pearse has completed arrange
ments to start two expeditions to the
southwestern part of Siberia, where he
has located some valuable mines. In
speaking on the subject last evening, just
before catching the Eastern overland, he
said: The potentialties of Siberia are
enormous in a mining way. Placers are
the only kind now being worked but
large quartz lodes have been discovered
and will shortly be developed. AS soon
as the economic conditions of Siberia are
improved operations will be undertaken
on gigantic scale. The siberian Rail-
road, which has been completed from
Moscow to Lake Bical, will tend largely
to foster the mining industries and con-
fidently look for splendid results
The San Francisco call., 1899-04-15
THE JEFFERSON BANOUETS.

n EMOCRACY has this year celebrated the
birthday OF Jefferson with many banquets, two
- OF which are notable-one at New York,
where Tammany easted the gold wing OF the party
in the Metropolitan Opera-house at $40 plate amid
profusion OF flowers with glorious galaxy OF ladies
looking on, and one at Milwaukee, where Colonel
Bryan turned loose the exuberance OF his rhetoric
ard young Carter Harrison declared himself d
Bryanite
Doubtless the banquets were enjoyed by those who
took part in them but the oratory at each fell far
short OF public expectation Not OF the speakers
made clear avenue by which Democracy can es-
cape from the confusion in which is involved, nor
uttered a sentence which can serve as ralying cry
for the disorganized hosts.
The only fact revealed by the speeches OF the rival
banquets is that the Bryanites have in a much
higher degree than their opponents the courage Of
their convictions. They know what they wish and
are afraid to declare it. Bryan was outspoken
as ever in reafirming his devotion to the Chicago
platform, while no speaker at the New York gather
ing emphatic in condemnng it. The motto OF
the Bryanites seems to be free silver nothing"
while that Of the Tammany group is anything for
victory"
On the questions arising out OF the war with Spain
the division between the two was as marked as on
that OF the monetary standard and here also the
teranCeS at Milwaukee were much clearer and more
decided than those at New York. Bryan plainly de-
nounced expansion, while in New York the speakers
contented themselves with eulogizing Jefersons
complishment in the way OF expansion, and only by
that OF indrecton gave approval to the imperial
ism they favor but dare not openly avow.
The speeches which are likely to attract most at
tention are those OF Carter Harrison at Milwaukee
and of Robert B. Roosevelt at New York They pre-
in a striking way the decision which prevails in
the Western camp and the doubt and hesitation that
pervade the Democracy OF the East Harrison de-
clared the example had been set for Democracy in
the person OF its national leader whom he described
one "of private life so stainless, with personal
character so blameless, that the people followed him.
and follow him STILL with the zeal Of Crusaders"
Very different the tone of Roosevelt. Democ-
racy, he said, is looking earnestly for the leader who
will give expression to its principles and guide it
once on the road to the success which it de-
serves. There never was time when great party
so needed great leader 1t has been said that the
man always rises to meet the occasion. Here is the
occasion; where is the MANI"
Such is the contrast between the two factions Of
Democracy as presented at the Jefferson banquets
One faction has its platform and its leader and sup
ports both without hesitation. The other is gropng
in the darkness and full OF doubt and dismay calls
for leader and wonders from what direction he will
come.
The San Francisco call., 1899-04-15
HENRY PETERSON MISSING.
Left Home Last Wednesday After
noon and No Tidings Have Been
Ranaiuad of Him Since

Henry Peterson, a watchman well
known on the city front, has been missing
from his home since the 18th of the
present month. His wife saw him last
at O clock on the afternoon of that day,
and she has been unable to learn any It'd
ings of him since that hour. She left
with Deputy Coroner Sullivan yesterday
the following description: Age 81 years,
5 feet inches tall, $50 pounds weight,
black eyes, gray hair, beard and mus
tache and a scar over the left eye. At the
time of his disappearance he wore a
brown soft felt hat, black cutaway coat
and vest, gray pants and gaiter shoes.
He had no money on his person at the
time he left home and it is feared that
he has met with some accident.
The San Francisco call., 1899-04-15
SHOWER OF BITUMEN
FROM A CLEAR SKY
PECULIAR ACCIDENT AT MAR
KET AND WALLER.
Cover to a Cooking Cauldron Blows
OF, Thickly Covering the Vicinity
With the Hot Stuff.

People in the vicinity of Market, Waller
and Octavia streets about 12:30 O'Clock
yesterday were startled by a loud explo-
sion, and before they could locate it's
source they witnessed the phenomenon of
shower of nice, soft, Well-cooked bit
umen descending from a cloudIess sky.
1t was not a mere sprinkle of the black,
pasty stuff, but veritable deluge, that
covered streets and buildings for a dis
tance of many feet around
The unusual occurrence was not long a
mystery. AT the intersection of the three
streets named the Union Paving Contract
ing Company, which is paving Market
street from Valencia to Fourteenth, had
placed its apparatus for cooking the
bitumen. This consisted of an immense
boiler on one truck and an iron cauldron
Cor kettle as it is termed), into which the
raw bitumen is dumped and cooked by
means of steam injected from the boiler
alongside. The top of the kettle is closed
by big cast iron cover, when the re-
ceptacle is full, the cover being fastened
down to prevent the escape of steam.
The kettle had been refilled just before
the noon hour and the cover fastened
down and steam turned on, so that it
could cook while the men were at dinner.
Most of the workmen had gone home for
their meal. but four or five who were in
charge of the boiler and kettle remained
being seated near the kettle. The steam
gradually crept up until the pressure is
said to have registered $50 pounds.
Suddenly there was a faint rumbling,
followed by a terrific explosion, and the
cover of the kettle went sailing high into
the air, together with the bitumen. The
kettle was scooped out clean by the es-
Gaping steam. The black mass shot fully
100 feet into the air, and the workmen
hardly had time to get on to their feet
before it descended upon them. Their
coats and hats protected them from being
seriously burned but they spent the re-
mainder of the noon hour scraping btu
men from their backs.
An iron wheelbarrow, loaded with shov-
els, was standing about fifteen feet away
and into that the heavy cover fell with a
crash, completely demolishing the imple-
ments. The streets and sidewalks were
thickly covered with the bitumen, while
the nearest buildings were a sight.
The foreman stated that such explo-
sions are not infrequent and are due to
flaws in the covers. which cannot be de-
tected. but sooner or later yield to the
great pressure. The broken cover yester-
day showed such a flaw, and it is remark
able that it stood the strain as long as it
did. The explosion stopped work for the
remainder of the day.
The San Francisco call., 1899-04-15
A HEARING WILL
BE GIVEN THE
Gas COMPANIE
Fixing of Rates Again
Deferred.
OPINION BY AN ATTORNEY
RIGHT OF THE BOARD TO ACT
DENIED.
Supervisors Will Give the Monopoly
an Opportunity to Show Why
Present Rates Should Not
Be Reduced.
RIGHT OF THE BOARD TO ACT
DENIED.

The gas companies are to be given an
opportunity to show why the present rate
of 81 Is a thousand feet now paid by the
city should not be reduced in accordance
with the expressed desire of a majority
of the members of the Board of Super
visors. In the meantime the board will
defer action in the matter of fixing the
rate to be paid for gas during the COM
ing fiscal year
The Street Lights Committee, of which
Supervisor Kalben is chairman, met
yesterday morning for the purpose of
taking action on the amended resolution
referred to it at the last meeting of the
Board of Supervisors. The original reso-
luton, of which Supervisor Aigeltinger
is the author provides for the fixing of
the rate to be paid for gas at 81 30 a
thousand feet. To this Supervisor Lack
mann offered an amendment liking the
rate at 81 80 a thousand feet.
Attorney Edward RiX, representing the
gas company, was on hand and stated to
the committee that the corporation
claimed now and had always claimed
that the Board of Supervisors had no le-
gal power to fix the rate to be paid for
gas. He added that if the board assumed
the power and the right to do so its ac-
would not be upheld by the courts, unless
an opportunity was first given the gas
company to show what would be
fair and equitable rate. This, he said,
had been well established in the case of
the Spring Valley Water Company, where
it was held by the Supreme Court that
the water rate fixed by the Board
of Supervisors was void because the
water company had not been given
full opportunity to show what fair rate
should be. He therefore asked that if
a reduction in the gas rates was in con-
temptation the company be given hear
ing and a fair opportunity to show what
rate should be charged in order that the
interests of all parties should be pro-
tected. In making this request, he said,
he did not in any way recede from the
position taken by his clients that the
board had no legal right to fix the rate
in any event.
Supervisor Aigeltinger wanted to know
if the gas company would voluntarily ac-
cede to a rate of 81 50 a thousand feet.
Attorney Rix replied that no formal ac-
ton of this kind on the part of the cor
poration could be taken without the con-
sent of the board of directors This
would necessitate the calling of meet
ing Of the board of directors. a proceed
ing that could not be accomplished within
less than three or four days.
After some further discussion the com
nittee decided to defer further consid-
Grafton of the matter until next Tues
day morning at II o'clock, at which time
the representatives of all the gas COM
panies are to be notified to be present
for the purpose of showing why the pres
ent rate paid for gas should not be re-
duced.
The San Francisco call., 1899-04-15
THE ELECTION OF SENATORS.

IN the day the Pennsylvania Legislature COM
| J peted the fourth month OF IFS session it was
noted that during that time it had passed but
three bills These bills moreover, were not of a
nature to occupy much time, There was no flibus-
tering to prevent the passage of any of them. Had
the Legislature been so disposed all of them might
have been dealt with within week and other meas
ures taken up
The fact is the Pennsylvania legislators have been
too busy to attend to business AS all the world
knows, they have had Senatorial fight on hand all
winter, and it remains unfinished to this time In
despair OF being able to elect Senator doing any
thing else the Legislature recently adopted resou-
ton providing for the appointment of committee
to confer with the Legislatures OF other States on
the subject of reform in the system of eectng Sena
tors The committee is to report at the Legislative ses
sion in 1901.
In taking the leadership in movement to bring
the issue into the domain of practical politics the
Pennsylvania Legislature has at least accomplished
something. 1t is certain strong effort will be made
the next session of Congress to provide for the
election of Senator'S by plurality vote OF the Legis-
latures Such change would be worse than what we
have now The popular demand is for election by di-
rect vote of the people. 1t will take long time of
course to accomplish the needed amendment to the
constitution, but it will be better take the time and
do the work thoroughly than try any short cuts to
reform
AS the Philadelphia Inquirer says: eve believe in
this reform for it would end deadocks and bring the
question right home to the Delaware Calfor
MIA and Utah have not been able to choose Senator
and Pennsylvania apparently is to be left with only
Senator because of the malice displayed by
small minority. There is danger in such refusal to
obey the will OF the majority, and the only positive
way to enforce majority rule is to refer the election OF
Senators the popular vote of the people The work
of organizing in behalf Of such desirable change
must be undertaken by one and is fitting that
the Keystone State should inaugurate the move
ment."
The San Francisco call., 1899-04-15
THE HOUSE IN
THE WOOD

To the Editor of The Call-Dear Sir:
A curious mistake has found it's way
on the very first page of your to-day's
paper. l would like to point it out to
you, as 1t seems a pity to let an other
wise so well-informed and forward
paper blunder over little matter like
this.
In speaking of the palace which will
be the seat of the future Peace Con-
ference in The Hague, the name "Huis
ten Bosch is translated as House of
Wood" This should be House in
the Wood" (forest). The proposition
''te" (ten) can never have any other
meaning but one of local definition, and
is equivalent to the German "zir" Per-
haps your informant got hold of a
French guide book, in which the palace
undoubtedly is called La Maison au
Bois," which could have a double
meaning.
This wood" is the pride of The
Hague and of Western Holland, where
trees of any size are rare. 1t is one of
the three remnants of an extensive
forest, which once covered the coast
line. The other two are near HARLEM
and Alhmaar, and called in variance
"Hout," or Den Hout" C'Holz" in
Germany.
"Het Huis ten Bosch" has almost
passed into oblivion since the death of
Queen Sophy the late Kings first wife
1t was the favorite residence of this
highly intellectual woman, her refuge
when the frequent society of her not
very intellectual husband proved too
much for her power of endurance
]. VAN DEN BROCK.
742 O'Farrell street
The San Francisco call., 1899-04-15
POTATOES IN WASHINGTON.

a STRIKING illustration OF the rapidity with
I \ which the prices OF staple articles sometimes
huctuate, when there is no speculation to
affect the market given in report from Tacoma
Thursday concerning the rise in the prices of po-
tatoes in Washington. According to the report "po-
tatoes bringing much as eggs" in the
markets OF that State. People are buying them
practically by the dozen. They cost over cents
pound and are becoming scarcer every day
The scarcity OF the potato supply and the resulting
high price is due to combination OF events not
likely to again coincidently In the first
place the gold excitement OF last season caused
large stock OF potatoes to be evaporated for the
Alaskan and Klondike trade That demand drained
the market to a considerable extent Then the
drought in this State limited the production here and
the season turned out badly for the crop in Washing
ton and Oregon Thus it came about that nature and
the Klondike craze together cornered the market
The Tacoma report says prices have advanced un-
til Jobbers are paying as high as $42 ton for good
potatoes, while hardly more than six months ago bet
ter potatoes were sold in the Yakima and Walla
Walla valleys for So ton 1t was noted moreover
that whereas in past years new potatoes from Cali
The San Francisco call., 1899-04-15

JUDGE MOGAN DEFENDS HIMSELF.

Call of his
s schooboy
that responsibility criminal act the ground that
surd.
the proposition
amenable
he a
hat 1
accept OF rel
OF 1
and