New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-21
ON THE PACIFIC COAST.
Treatment of San Francisco De-
faulter attracts attention.

San Francisco. May 19.-The remarkable case
Of Edward J. Smith. the absconding Tax Col
lector of San Francisco. is now attracting much
attention Smith is accused Of stealing about
$4,000 Of the public funds. and two weeks ago
fed to the East with female companion from
the local Tenderloin. The day he fed he drew
$4,000 from the city treasury, yet when found
he had only few hundred dollars. and he de-
clared he did not have the use of the remainder.
The inference is, of course, that some accomplice
secured most of the money.
Smith was arrested in st. Louis and brought
here. He was treated with such distinguished
consideration in St. Louis as to arouse the
amazement Of the police in the Missouri city He
might have been travelling for his health so far
as appearances went. When he was turned over
to the local police he was again served as
distinguished guest, rather than as a man
accused Of footing the city treasury. No photo
graph of his features was taken TO adorn the
Rogues' Gallery. the police officials declaring
that they were already provided With pictures
Of him. Prominent local politicians called
Smith, and after one day in jail he was released
on bail of $4,000 about One-half the amount he
is accused of stealing.
The defaulter's brother is the grand jury
which indicted Smith, and, though there are
other charges which might be brought against
Smith, the foreman of the jury declares nothing
further will be done. Judging by previous cases
Of this kind if Smiths brother and other reIa-
tives make up the amount missing he VIZ proba-
bly, be allowed go free, a rigid prosecution
would be dangerous to those who have been
most closely associated with him. The case fur
nishes q good illustration of the rottenness OF
the San Francisco municipal government, which
is tainted with fraud and graft" from top TO
bottom
San Francisco banks are loaded up with silver
coin and an Assistant secretary OF the Treasury
and Assistant Treasurer Of the United States
are here seeking methods of solving the prob
lem OF the disposition of the superhuoCs silver.
One plan suggested is 10 run special silver
train across the country and distribute the coin
in various Eastern cities providing bigger
guard that would scare off train robbers. Local
banks have refused to exchange gold Tor silver
and the Golfers of the United Railroad and
Southern Pacific Company Will soon be chohed
with small silver.
Despite the agitation against japanese immi-
grafton the Orientals continue TO arrive on
every steamer, and the net increase for the first
four months Of the year has been two thousand.
More than half this number have come from the
Hawaiian Islands where the japanese remain
a few months TO learn English. The fruit crop Is
poor in California this season, that there viii
not be the demand for farmhands that there was
last year. These japanese, however. prefer 20
remain in the cities. where they enter into strong
competition with Americans in many lines OF
trade and labor.
Four pieces OF Market-st. property were sold
this week for an aggregate OF 100000. one
was the parcel near Gth-st. sold only three
months ago by the Methodist Book Concern for
$4,000. which has now been disposed Of for
100000 The adjoining property was bought
by the William Eide Company for 100000. The
other sales were those Of two contiguous plots