The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-12
LATEST OAKLAND NEWS.
A Supervisor and Councilman
Have a Personal En-
counter.
FRIENDS STOPPED THE MILL
Chinese Vegetable Peddlers Ar
ested-Another Relay Race
Projected.

Councilman Watkinson and Supervisor
Church had personal encounter yester-
day afternoon which for a time threatened
10 become serious matter, but which was
finally settled by friends who stepped in
and separated the combatants
Mr.. Watkinson now wears a very red
spot under his right eye, and Mr.. Church
is busy explaining to his friend that the
ARRAY was more of a joke than anything
else. During the last campaign Watkin-
son was out for the nomination for
Councilman, and had some trouble in Sc
curing the plum.
When he was finally nominated, Church
was one of the first 10 offer his influence
and support, favors which Watkinson &C
cepted with thanks.
ut was not long, however" said Wat
kinson last evening while telling the story
of the fight, "before found that particu-
lar friends of Church were knitting me in
every direction. l said nothing at the
time, and was elected. Then my OPP
ponent in the Sixth Ward, Mr.. Gilligan.
began a contest for my seat. His attorney
was Assistant District Attorney Church,
who is brother of the man who assaulted
me.
Naturally in the face of my suspicious
that he had worked against me during the
election, | felt that he was back of the con-
test, and l felt pretty sure about it in view
OF the fact that he had voluntarily offered
to assist me. To-day l told him that 1
did not like the way he was acting, and
asked him what he meant by 1t. We had
some words and then walked down Wash
ingtOn street.
"When we reached the corner of Fifth
and Washington streets he said, Look
here, WatkinsOn, this thing has gone far
enough, at the same time Squaring OFF,
and before l knew it he had struck me in
the right eye. 1 was stunned for a mo-
ment, but was getting ready to return the
blow when friend who was with me
stepped in and kept US apart
Supervisor Church is a big, why man,
about feet tall and weighing 10 to $50
pounds, while the Councilman is very
. short in stature and from his rotundity
would have made a poor fight had the
affray continued TO q finish. He has the
reputation of being game man, however,
and more trouble is looked for should the
men come together before they have had
time to cool off.
DaIton's New Idea.
Assessor Dalton thinks he has found 8
way to get even with the Contra Costa Water
Company for its refusal 10 place any sworn
valuation upon its property. According to
his reading of the law such refusal deprives
individual or corporation making it of all
standing before the Board of Equalization,
and in that case all right of appeal from
the Assessors valuation is lost. If this be
so any arbitrary valuation that official
might see fit to make would be final, and
taxes would have to be paid upon it.
The water company has, however, filed
a sworn list of its property, and it is
thought barely possible that this list
might be ruled as within the requirements
At Z o 1opv "a al nv event tho pOrnOrafinn a
assessment Is to be greatly increased, If
not doubled.
Il think, ," said Assessor Dalton yester-
day afternoon, that l shall Just about
double the company's assessment. If l do
the city OF Oakland Will receive from the
corporation taxes upon $4,000 ad-
ditional, and l think that is about right.
l have not, however, fixed upon any
definite figures, for am trying to get the
individual taxpayers out OF the way be-
fore l tackle the corporations.
1.-The water company has refused to set
any sworn valuation upon its property,
think chiefly because the City Council is
low engaged in fixing the water rates.
For that reason the water corporation is as
it were between Scylla and Charybdis, for
if its officers should swear TO a low valua-
ton it would give the Council a reason for
lowering the water rates very materially,
and if the company placed heavy valua-
ton on It's property 1t would have greater
taxes to pay"
Arrested Chinese PeddIers.
Seven Chinese vegetable peddlers who
had not paid the municipal license of SIS
per quarter were arrested by the police
yesterday morning. The officers have
been eogniZant for some time that the
Celestials were not contributing to the
city's funds as required by law and an or
gained raid on them was ordered.
For some unexplained reason an arrange
ment had been made that if the peddlers
agreed to pay their license after arrest
they we're to be released, so that out of the
seven only one who did not possess the
necessary coin was booked at the police
station on a charge of peddling without
license. The arrest of large number of
Chinese is looked for unless they speedily
make the acquaintance of the License Col
lector.
Another Relay Race.
Oakland wheelmen are trying to arrange
another relay race, this time between two
. clubs the Acme and Bay City Wheelmen
The Oakland riders believe that but for
accidents during the recent contest they
would have won, and are willing to con-
tribute toward the purchase of a substan-
tiaI prize to be given the winning club. A
challenge will be sent to the Bay City
Wheelmen in the near future.