New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-23
ON THE PACIFIC SLOPE
Many CaIifornianS Eager for
Legislatures Close.
GRIST OF REFORM BILLS
Close of Prolonged Dry Spell a
Boon to Fruit Growers
The Case of Baker.

60, Francisco, March 22.-All Califor-
Ems will breathe easier when the pres
a,t session of the state Legislature is
ended The members, who are largely
of the Progressive faith, seem TO be OBJ
ssssed with the idea that everything in
.hs state needs reforming. The result
i q large number of foolish bills, some Of
which may become laws in spite Of the
Nght made against them
one Of the most vicious bills is that
which is aimed against the ownership or
inc leasing Of land by Japanese or Chi
nose. The real aim of this bill is dis
cuised by including all aliens who may
uot become citizens. but every one knows
Il is levellcd against the japanese by resi-
dents Of certain farming districts where
the Orientals have secured much land.
should this bill pass. the Japanese gov
eminent has served notice that it will
forbid the participation Of any of its peo-
Mo in the Panama-Pacifc Exposition.
Other mischievous bills, most OF which
ere instiigated by union labor leaders, are
measures 10 force cement manufacturers
,o mt their product in paper bags, under
The plea that the present cloth bags arc
rnwholesomc: 10 compel insurance COM
NAMES 10 deposit large sums TO assure
the payment of policies; TO prevent the
giving or receiving of tips. and a number
Of bills to place extra expenses on the
spring Valley Water Company. Most of
these bills will not pass. but all arc a
menace TO business and serious detri-
ucnt 10 the community. as they show
how easily any business may be crippled
or killed by irresponsible politicians who
are enjoying a little brief power.
The long dry spell of more than five
weeks was broken this week by Sener-
ous rainfall throughout Northern and
Central California. The rainfall was from
a half inch to two inches, and was of
great benefit to grain and fruit. the
only district that failed to get an ado
ouate supply of moisture was the Santa
Clara Valley. where it las been so dry
that many wells have failed. Every year
sees a larger area i'm California brought
under irrigating bitches. thus making the
farmer and the fruit grower independent
Of rain.
Maury Digs and Drew Caminetti, two
Sacramento married men who clipped with
Two young girls and went to Reno. New,
we're held this week for trial under the
white slave" act. They will be prose-
,q;ted bv federal officials, and they are
pretty sure to go TO Jail for two years
and TO pay a heavy zine. The young men
had no excuse TO offer. They ARE both
married 10 good women and both have
children. Caminetti is the son OF one OF
the most prominent Democratic politicians
in the state, and Digs comes of good
family The girls were simply foolish
and believed the men were unmarried.
Although the fathers Of the girls refused
to prosecute, the federal officials are de-
termined that these young men shall pay
dearly for the escapade
Charles i. Baker. former cashier of the
Croker National Bank, was too i'll TO
undergo aTraignment on Thursday for the
embezzlement Of more than S2OO,OOo-
Bakers case is the most extraordinary
that has occurred here in years. Brought
up in the bank from a boy, he had the
absolute confidence of Charles Crocker
and all the other directors. He had
salary Of 900 and good home, yet the
spectacle Of men who deposited in the
bank making large sums in stock specu-
lation proved too much for his honesty
He began 10 use the banks funds for his
stock gambling, and the habit grew on
him until he was taking as much as $1,000
at a time A sudden illness. brought on
by worry, was his undoing. Charles
Croker felt Bakers disgrace most keenly,
as the cashier had been his protege and
handled his private funds
Chaplain Call, Of san Quentin prison,
has been forced to resign because he stole
money intrusted TO him by convicts and
obtained other sums by pretending that ne
could help prisoners 10 obtain parole The
man has no defence, but as he has made
restitution the warden refuses 10 prosecute
him because he has a large family de-
pendent on bin The sister OF ABE
Ruef helped the chaplain. and he was
mean enough TO insinuate that this ala
was in return for promises to secure the
former political boss pardon
Mayor Rolph is working hard to secure
the success Of the Portola Festival next
October. The first festival to comment
CRATE the discovery Of the Bay or san
Francisco by Gaspar de Portola was
great success IT is planned to make the
chief feature Of the festival this year
Balbca's discovery Of the Pacific Ocean
Lee L. Chamberlain, District Attorney
Oh Placer County and Republican leader
OF that county for many years, is dead
IN Oakland, from spinal meningitis
Joseph. Mcdonald, a wealthy mine oper-
a'or. passed through the city this week
ca his way TO Juneau to stand trial LOT
Inc murder Of n. G. Jones, at Treadweli
Alaska, eleven years ago Mcdonald was
Suadited from Guanajusto. Mexico, and
DIS the officials at that mining town had
not the funds TO pay for legal, expenses.
ne put up the money and paid his own
rare Mcdonald was pestered by Jones
10 shut down the Treadwell Mine, or