New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-28
ON THE PACIFIC COAST.
Professor Loeb Tells of Experiments
an FertiHeing Eggs.

San Francisco, May 2G.-Ncxt week the trial
of Frank Maestretti. President Of the Board of
Public Works. viii begin for alleged suborna-
ton Of perjury This trial will be noteworthy,
as it will mark the first appearance in court of
any Of the leaders of the local administration.
Heretofore mere tools of corrupt officials have
been tried and two have been convicted of
ballot box stufing Maestretti was the alleged
manager of their criminal work, and now he is
to be tried for coaching witnesses in their cases
as to now TO avoid testifying 70 the truth. With
the strong evidence against Maestretti he should
be promptly convicted and sent to San Quentin.
but he has retained a formidable array OF coun-
sell and will make a bitter technical fight. All
the resources of the corruptionists will be Law
ished on mis- defence, as his conviction would
mean a great loss of prestige to BOSS" Ruff
and Mayor Schmitz.
The sentence of Smith. the defauIting tax col
lector, to Folsom prison for ten years ends the
career of one of the typical members of the
gang" Smith had evil reputation when he
was chosen by the Mayor to fill out term. and.
despite his crooked record. he was elected to
second term. He made use Of his position TO
favor certain banks repositories Of city
money and when thu practice was broken up
he embezzled $4,000 and spent it in stock gam
bling and around Tenderloin resorts. Smith
deserved a long term in State prison. Judge
Lawlor sentenced him to ten years on each OF
the counts but stipulated that the sentences
should run concurrently. Smith IS counting on
a parole within two three years Thus are
lines made easy for the thief who has strong
political pull.
The municipal budget of S7.2s7, 900 was issued
this week. OF this amount $4,000 Is for per-
manent Improvements. of which the most i'm
portant is S35O,OOO for the conversion Of the
IL II r-FN1
an underground current. to be operated by the
city. This will settle the question Of whether
a conduit system can be operated proftably in
this city, and whether municipal ownership Of
the street railroad will be for the public ad-
vantage.
Several employees of Wells. Fargo & Co.. who
went to New-York when the auditing depart
ment was transferred last year. have returned,
and they say that by October all the force that
left here will have resigned. These Western
men declare they badly treated, as Y. c.
Lawson had been promised a place chief
clerk, but instead John D. Addicks received the
position.
The Ocean Shore Railway. TO electric cars
between San Francisco and Santa Cruz, was in
corporated in the latter city. Construction
work Is to be started within thirty days, and
the road is to be completed within fifteen
months The terminus Of the road is Army-st.
at the intersection Of Bay, and from this
point it strikes across to Ocean View and then
skirts the ocean shore to Santa Cruz. The dis
lance is eighty-three miles, and engineers de-
clare 1t can be made in two hours. against
over three hours by steam lines.
Professor Edward J. Wyckson has been
placed in charge Of the entire agricultural work
Of the University of California, in the absence
OF Professor E. w. Hilgard, who will take
years vacation in Europe Wyckson IS
we'll known throughout California, he has
been secretary of the State Horticultural So
ciety for fifteen years. and for six years he had
charge of the Farmers Institute work. He is
one of the acknowledged authorities on dairy
work in California.
The clever robbery of the local postof1ce this
week is attributed by secret service officers to
Edward Fay. known the king of postofflce