The San Francisco call., 1908-07-22
Answers to Queries


MASON AND DIXONS LINE-A. B. c.,
What is the Mason and Dixon line?
This line was originally the parallel
of latitude SO degrees 4S minutes and
seconds which separates Pennsyl-
vania from Maryland 1t received its
name from Charles Mason and Jere-
miah Dixon, two English mathema-
ticians and astronomers, who traced
the greater part of it, between. the
years 1853 and 1867, though the last
SO miles were finished by others 1t
was practically the dividing line be-
tween the free and the slave states
During the discussion in congress on
the Missouri compromise, John Ran
dolph of Roanoke, Va. made free use
OF the phrase, and thereafter it be-
came popular as signifying the dividing
line between free and slave territory
throughout the country. The boundary
as thus extended by popular usage
followed the Ohio river to the Missis-
sippi and west of that was the parallel
OF S6 degrees and 80 minutes, the
southern boundary of Missouri, though
Missouri itself was slave state
THE PRESIDENCY-India City. Is
boy, the son of an American consul,
born in foreign country while the
father was in the consulate, eligible to
the presidency of the United States?
That is a question that has often
been asked, but has never been an
swered, and never will be unless it
should be raised in the supreme court
of the United States. 1t is not known
what construction would be placed by
that tribunal on the following from the
United States constitution: mo person
except a natural born citizen shall be
eligible to the presidency" The son of
an American consul, born while the
father was in service in foreign land,
is citizen of the United States, but
| the question that would have to be de-
cided is, rs such a natural born cit
| izen.'
| VOTING-A. B. c.. City. Has an
alien who has resided in this country
| six years and who made a declaration
to become a citizen two years ago a
right to vote at the next election?
| If by this country you mean Cali
fornia, the answer is no, as no one
can vote in this state who is not a
citizen. If by that expression you mean
the United States, the answer is that
| in certain states an alien who has
| filed a declaration of intention to be-
come a citizen may vote after he has
resided in the state prescribed time,
! varying from six months to one year.
| MARRIAGE LlCENSE-R. S. p, City.
Can girl obtain a marriage license in
the state of California before she
reaches the age OF IS?
She can, If she has reached the age
when she is presumed to know the
difference between right and wrong,
and has the consent of her parents or
parent or guardians, that she may
marry.
FORT PoINT-M. C. H.. Corte Ma
dera, CAL Does Fort Point and Fort
Winfield Scott mean two forts, or are
those two names for one fort?
The name of the fort is Winfield
Scott. Fort Point is the site on which
the fort. which was built in 1854,
stands.
SENATORS-A. B. c., City. How are
United States senators chosen?
The United States constitution saws:
/ The Senate of the United States shall
be composed of two senators from each
state, chosen by the legislature thereof
for six years"
FRUIT DISPLAY-M, City. why is
1t that fruit dealers who do business In
| stores are not permitted to display
! their goods on the sidewalk Just as
well as fruit peddlers are permitted to
display their wares on wagons on the
streets?
Dealers at fixed places of business
are prohibited from making display
of their wares on the sidewalks because
of the existence of ordinance g16, which
/ says: 1T shall be unlawful for any