New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-23
TOPICS IN CALIFORNIA.
ACHANGB IN CHINATOWN POLICE-QUES-
TION OF GETTING RID OF SEALS
DEWEY DAY TO BE OBSERVED.
IBy TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBuNE.l

IBY TELEGRAPH THE TRIBuNE.I
San francisco. April ADMINISTRATION by the
Police Commissioners of the corruption IN the
chinatown police squad has LED to the disratng
y, Lieutenant Price and an order for the re-
moval of the whole squad. For months 1t has
been notorious that the Chinese gambling games
and lotteries have been running wide open IN
Chinatown but the defence of Lieutenant Price
was that he could not secure evidence or gam
bling after he had raided the rooms. and he
was thus exposed to suits for damages. The
Commissioners carried on their investigation in
dependently of Chief of Police Lees. and OBJ
tained such a mass of proof of corruption that
the Commissioners decided that a change in the
Chinatown force was imperative. Fines for
rambling have lately been reduced to so low
6eure that the Celestials don't fear them Their
lotteries are great source Of corruption among
the poor white people. any one may make as
low a bet as Is cents
The Fish Commissioners this week heard tes-
timony on the question whether the seals
should be extermlnated from the Islands near
San Francisco Harbor, because Of their depre-
dations on fishermen. The seals are especially
destructive in the lower part OF the Sacramento
River where they destroy the salmon fisher
mems nets at night and destroy the fish. They
they take a bite out of each Of many salmon
and thus ruin the whole catch. DR.. Jordan, Of
Stanford. spoke for the seals. He admitted
many of the charges against them, but in the
work of exterinnating them from the Faral-
lones and other islands he feared the CHI
House Rocks would lose the attraction which
had given them worldwide notoriety. The Com
missioners have virtually decided to clear out
the seals but they still uncertain in regard
10 what measures to take
Governor Gage has proclaimed May l a legal
holiday in order that the anniversary of Dew
ey's victory at Manila may be celebrated IN
fitting style. Several California cities have ar
ranged for special exercises. The most attrac-
tive will be held at San Jose. where George
iCharette and several others from the oattle-
ship Iowa will be present
There is nothing noteworthy at the theatres
this week. The Bostonians end tonight six
weeks engagement which has been extremely
successful. The remarkable feature of 1t was
the continued popularity of Robin Hood, al
though this opera has been given on every pre-
vious visit of the company. Roland Reed comes
10 the Columbia next week. Emile Sauer ap-
peared twice this week in recitals, and the
houses though not large were enthusiastic
Critics place him next to Paderewski In skill
and sympathy. Ian Maclaren" delivered the
last of his lectures yesterday II was on the
Life and Death of DR.. MacClure a study or
an old-tme Scotch doctor.
Arrangements are nearly concluded for the
building Of a fine new theatre on Geary-st., be-
tween Powell and Stockton SITS. opposite Union
Square to be called the Academy Of Music. The
plan is to erect q six-story building, with thea
ire in the rear and the remainder of the build
ing for clubrooms and offices. 5. II. Fredland-
err late of the Columbia will he the lessee of the
theatre and il will be of the finest play
houses west Of NewYork
Careful reports from all large fruit growing
sections of the state show that the crop will he
one Of the largest record. and that both
quality and size will be unusual. Cherries were
hurt by frost and dry weather so that the crop
Is light but peaches and apricots will yield
enormously and probably Eastern shipments
will break the record. because of the partial
failure Of the peach crop in Michigan and Della
ware Prunes. oranges and apples also promise
one OF the largest crops ever known. as many
new orchards into bearing for the first
time this year The only dscouragng reports
come from Fresno. where vine hoppers and cut
worms are causing much damage. Whether
these ravages will continue so as TO seriously
injure the raisin crop is uncertain.
There has been no pronounced feature in
stocks and bonds this week, though business
has been good. Hawaiian Commercial has been
forced up from 100 to 103 and Pauhau has adj
vanced TO A.; Market Street Railway closed at
$685., and Pacific Gas at 1872