The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1905-05-19

Merchants Association in
Annual Meeting Reviews
Acts in Public Behalf
NEW LAWS ARE PASSED
Criminal Prosecutions and
Civil Suits Have Large
Results in the Courts

Results LII the courts
At the eleventh annual meeting of the
Merchants Association, which was held
yesterday, the constitution was amended
to provide for an associate membership.
Many professional men and others who
have not been eligible to become members
have said that they would like to assist
amendment was adopted to meet this de-
sire. Five new directors were elected
George A. Dow, l. O. Upham, Davis Bush,
F. H. Wheelan and F. j. Roster.
The annual report of the directors was
read They announced that the present
membership of the association is l4OS. The
following members have recently been
elected: Edgar Painter, w. E. Graves
Max Levy. the American Import Com
pany Samuel Bibo, Mangrum & Otter
Lake & Co.. Wieland Bros, Inc, V. Chi
uda, Bodwell Produce Company, Howard
& Mcdonald, A. Vignier & Co., Eugene
Dietzgen Company, the United States Ma
tional Bank. H. NJ. Hageman; Hunt
Hatch & Co.; John march,, NJ d. Van
wales and Boessenecker & Co.
Many matters of general public knowl-
edge with which the association has been
concerned were reported by the directors
Among these we're the suit that was in
stituted to protect civil service; the Grim
'inal proceedings against parties who took
part in fraudulent voting at the primary
election that was held last August. which
resulted in conviction and the sending of
one person to the State prison and one to
the County Jail Altogether the associa-
ton brought ten suits last year. The di-
rectors reported that the results have
been most gratifying and the action of
the association has been heartily and
widely commended
The status of the civil service cases
was reported to be as follows: An injunc-
ton in Quinn VS. Baehr. involving the en-
Joining of payment of the salary demands
of the deputy health officer and four in
specting physicians, is still in force: in
Symnes VS. Baehr two suits we're brought
to prevent the payment of the salaries
of fifteen deputy registrars, because the
deputies were appointed in violation of
the civil service provisions of the charter.
In these Judge Sloss decided in favor of
the legal merits of the contentious of the
association, and the case is still pending,
awaiting a trial on the questions of fact.
Judge SIoss decided on the legal points
last August. las these questions OF fact
are all matters of public record so re-
ported the directors. they are easily sus-
ceptible of proof, so that the case may
be considered practically Won
CASES PENDING.
In the case of Symmes VS.. McDougald,
brought to enjoin the payment of salaries
to the superintendent, assistant superln-
tendent and seventeen warehousemen APP
pointed by the Board of Election Com
missioners to care for the election booths
in violation of civil service. salaries are
withheld. The legal merits of the case
were argued before Judge Sloss last Octo-
ber A decision is still awaited. In NC
Quaide VS.. Baehr, suit to compel the
Auditor to audit the salary demands or
McCuaide, who was appointed by the
Board of Health assistant warden of the
City and County Hospital in violation of
the civil service, the association assisted
the Auditor in court and Judge Hebbard
decided in favor of the defense. An APP
neal to the Supreme Court has been
threatened, but has not been taken.
The directors reported concerning the
effects of the suits that have been men
toned in the foregoing as follows:
AFTER the two cases OF Symmes VS..
Baehr were instituted the Auditor there
after refused to audit the salary demands
of any deputy registrars appointed oy
the Election Commissioners, in violation
of civil service All of these deputies
So \ aupointed have got together and
assigned their claims for salaries to
Shaw and he has brought suit against
the Auditor to compel him to audit these
salary demands. The association is as
sisting the Auditor in making a defense
of this suit. The facts of the case are
agreed to between the parties and the
matter is about to be submitted to Judge
Seavell for decision. The same ques-
tions of law are involved as were IN
volved in the two cases OF Symmes VS..
Baehr and the probabilities are that
Judge Seawall will rule in favor of the
T,,1 daoic IN
After speaking of the conviction OF
Charles Wyman and Adolph Steffens for
| fraudulent voting, and the indictment of
Rebstock bv the Grand Jury and the
denial of Rebstock's appeal to the Su-
preme Court to prevent Judge Lawior
1 from proceeding in his case in the Su-
perior Court, the directors spoke of the
Stems taken to have the Election Com
missioners removed from office and re-
ported that the matter is still before the
Supreme Court and a decision is expected
/ soon.,
WORK DONE.
some account was given of the steps
that led to the ordinance providing for
! the Issuance of permits to street VEN
doris of flowers of the erection of two
new safety stations on Market street by
the city, and CT the construction by Cap
tain James Mcdonald of a public con-
venience station at washington square at
cost of $4,000.
Other matters treated were the ordi-
nance that was passed to regulate side
walk elevators, San Francisco's exhibit at
st. Louis, the appointment by the as
ISOLATION of an inspector whose duty it
will he to see that public improvements
to be made under the bond issue shall be
properly made the action taken by the
association in favor of a pneumatic tube
service for mail delivery in this city. the
twelve legislative bills that were pre-
sented to the Legislature at its recent
/ ne...,e., The dnna tinn of $500 to the assn-