The San Francisco call., 1896-05-24
BEGGED MONEY
FOR HIGH JINKS,
Why a Swiss Editor
Wrote to Tax Collec-
tor Block.
COMPLAINS OF CLUBS.
Block Replies That His Men
Have Never Solicited Pic
mic Funds.
MANY MERCHANTS SUBSCRIBED
And Now 1t Seems That They Were
TakenIn by a Trio of Bunko-
SteererS.

For the last three months business men
on Montgomery avenue and the neigh bor-
ing streets have been tormented by indi-
viduals representing themselves as dele
cations OF clerks from the City Hail solic-
iting subscriptions for picnics and high
jinks.
The men had high-handed way of GO
ing to work, which impressed people.
Four-bit subscriptions were scorned and
even q dollar was received condescend-
ingly. The well-known druggist on Mont
gomery avenue gave $5 the owner of the
oldest Italian paper on the coast gave $3
and others contributed to the amusement
fund of the clerks OF the City Hall in an
equally liberal manner.
Lately it has struck the Montgomery
avenue business men that the City en-
ployes were becoming altogether too gay
and festive. First they wanted funds for
a ball. then a projected high links was
languishing for need of little assistance :;
after that the delegation said number OF
clerks wanted to go to Sacramento
and funds were necessary to enable them
TO have a good time, and picnic is now
on the tapis.
George +. CavalIi the editor and pro-
prietor of the Swiss newspaper, was one
OF those who looked askance at the sup
posed delegation from the City Hall.
1t did not exactly strike him that the
men who composed 1t were impostors, be-
cause he found the names OF 50 many in
nuentlaI men on the subscription list, but
he did inform the delegates that the
clerks in the City Hall are the best-paid
clerks in this great and glorious country
and that he considered them capable OF
paying for their own amusements. How
ever, I'll give you 80 cents" said the
editor.
This offer was received without any
gratitude; on the contrary, the delegation
looked upon it with such scorn that the
90 cents was not bestowed. Last Thurs
day, however, the solicitors OF subscrip-
tions appeared again at the office OF
L Elvezia, and the spokesman said airily:
1--WE are getting up picnic this time; if
you like we viii take the 80 cents"
What the editor replied is not on record,
but the delegation went out of his Office
good deal faster than 1t had come in.
Then George Cayali wrote the following
for his paper, u ElYeZla. He also mailed
a duplicate copy to Tax Collector James
NJ. Block:
What business have your clerks, well paid as
they are, TO become an i'm position to the pub
lie by soliciting contributions for their picnics
and high jinks? Twice, q delegation OF clerks
from your office called on me to obtain money
Tor their entertainments, offering 10 pledge
their influence with the offce-holders in be-
half of my paper, for the next political cam
paign.
The editor further intimated that he
would expose the ways of the Tax Col
lector's clerks in pElvezia. Yesterday
James NJ. Blocks answer was received.
He was evidently wrathv, for he said that
if the press of this City were half as well
conducted as his Office newspapers would
occupy an exalted pinnacle in public esti-
nation. Speaking of the picnics, high
jinks, balls, ETC., Mr.. Block said:
"As to the fact of collections being taken
up by my clerks, there is no truth in it. l
will give you 500 If you can prove that
any clerk OF mine has made or attempted
to make any collection in behalf of this
office. There are impostors who make
business OF playing this game on the pub
lie. They are simply criminals, and it
was your duty to hand them over to the
police"
"These men represented themselves as
clerks from the Tax Collectors office, rep
resenting all the clerks at the City Hall,
said Mr.. CanalH yesterday. "No doubt
they were imposters, but they have de-
ceived a number of people and must have
collected considerable money. | am glad
to say tney got nothing from me"
9. S. Cuneo, editor of La Voce del Pop
olo, who gave the men So, said yesterday
that he still believed the men were clerks
at the City Hall. "I gave them the money
to get rid OF them, but it never struck me
that they were impostors, for l saw one of
them about month ago working as a
CLERK at the City Hall. 1 do not know
his name but recognized his face when
he came the other day soliciting'
The general opinion is, however, that
the men who until yesterday were work
ing the Italian quarter were impostors.