New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-05-26
ON THE PACIFIC SLOPE.
Rebuilding of San Francisco Threat
ened by Combination of Deterrents.
by Telegraph to The Tribune. l


events of the week in the manifold troubles of
San Francisco growing out of the graft in
Vestigation and strike have been the refusal of
the graft prosecution to act with the committee
OF seven, selected by representative commercial
bodles, and the movement among building
trades contractors to make some advancement
with the dealers in building material and the
labor unions to obtain reasonable prices and
wages for one year.
The deplorabe effect of high wages, excessive
price of material and interference with street.
car transportation cannot be concealed Re
construction has been abandoned on many of
the large buildings until conditions show i'm
proVement. as wages constantly increasing,
and the only material that Is cheap is lumber
or which there is oversupply. The street.
car tie-up and the attempt to boycott all union
men or others who ride on the cars is the most
serious menace to the prosperity OF the city.
Inc United Railroads are running about one
thlrd or their cars. and are giving fair service
over the main lines. but this service is not eff
fective, because of the boycott placed on the
cars by all the unions. No labOring or
mechanic can ride on cars of the United Rail-
roads, under penalty of a fine or blacklisting
and in many of the large stores clerks have
been warned not to ride, under penalty Of dis
missal The result is that the run with
about one-quarter of their usual number of
passengers. Many have been frightened from
using the cars by assaults threats of vio-
lence by strikers and their sympathizers. while
many women have been deferred by abuse and
insults from the strikers and other union men,
This abuse of women is the worst feature of the
strike. and measures have been taken TO check
it by employing lawyers to insist on the impris-
onment Of offenders, instead OF fines
1t was expected that the appointment OF the
committee of six prominent merchants and one
well known lawyer by various commercial or
CARNATIONS would result IN some measures for
obtaining efficient city government for the
remainder Of the year, but these hopes were de-
stroyed by the action Of Rudolph Spreclxels and
Francis ]. Heney in refusing to cooperate with
the committee in any way. They declared that
the committee really represented Calhoun and
Herrin. and that it was to be used TO help
these men and other capitalists escape indict-
ment and trial. The charge absurd,
proach. but when the members of the commit
tee found that Spreckels and Heney would not
recognize them they. handed in their resigna-
lions.
In an official statement Rudolph Spreckels de-
clares that in good time he and Heney will ar
range for a responsible city government, but
that nothing be effected by such com
mittee that selected by the merchants as
socations. In other words Heney and Spreck-
els announce themselves dictators of the city
government although the prosecution of the
grafters is heavy enough labor to task all their
energies Meanwhile there is the preparation Of
the city budget, resolutions for the restoration
Of the city's credit and the passage Of urgently
needed charter amendments, all to be accom-
plished by Mayor schmitz. who is on trial for
eXtortion, and by the self-confessed criminals N
the seats Of Supervisors.
The committee appointed by the building con-
tractors to obtain reasonable rates for material
and wages for one year is composed of good
men who should succeed in breaking up the
present absurd scale of prices and labor If the
material and labor union leaders prove
obstinate and refuse reasonable reductions then
contractors reported to be ready TO close
down all work and compel their purpose by
drastic of starvation All declare that
even this heroic measure is preferable to III
present system Of extortonate charges, for
which the high cost Of living and the demand
for materials are no excuse.
No one can predict now what the week may
bring forth in the local graft situation. The
confession of Boss Ruef complete sur
prise, and the methods adopted in the trial OF
Schmitz are equally puZzling. In obtaining a
jury for Ruef. the Sheriff not allowed to
draw the panel. but his duty was turned over
to Elisor Biggy. There many rumors that
the prosecution is not eager to convict SchmitZ
and would prefer to have him seek safety in
flight. The main trouble is that even If con-
vcted he cannot be ousted from office. he
can hold office during his appeal. SchTaitz
seems to have great confidence in the ability OF
his attorneys to defeat the prosecution and
ever since the beginning of the graft proceed
ngs has declared that whatever might happen
he would be acquitted.
Murphy, Grant & Co. applied this week for a
building at their old headquarters the north
east corner of Bush and Sansome streets, at a
cost of 100000; the Croker estate will re-
habilitate the Sloane Building. in Post street,
near Grant avenue, and will add three stories,
making IL seven stories, and the Southern Pa
cific Mail Company will build a three story
modern hotel at the outer end of its Oakland
Mole for special accommodation Of belated over
land passengers. Under the present plan pas
sengers coming in on late trains remain in the
Pullmans, but these frequently sidetracked
at distance from the streetcars, and pas
sengers find IL dangerous and inconvenient
The hotel will have a fine restaurant and rooms
for about one hundred guests.
George Valentine. SON of the late J. J. valen-
tine. for many years head of the Wells-Fargo
Express Company on the Coast. died this week
streetcar in Oakland Valentine was graduated
from Yale and married a Seattle girl.
William s. Mills veteran land agent of the
Southern Pacific Company. has been confined to
his home this week, suffering from rheumatism.
Judge Frank H Kerrigan of the District
Court Of Appeals was seriously injured this
week by an automobile, which knocked him
down and inflicted severe scalp wounds ana
many bruises. It is expected that he will be
out next week.
AT Seattle in July q strong protest Will he
made against the government forest reserve
policy to Secretary Garfield and Commissioner
strong legislative committee is
now in session at Seattle. drafting resolutions
To be presented. The contention of leading
Washington men. is that the present forest re-
serve policy is damaging to the state, as it iso,
lates settlers, prevents construction OF roads ana
checks the building of schools.
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