The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-13
KING PERATA'S VIRTUE,
Looks After His Subjects Even
When They Are Behind
the Bars.
BENEFICENCE OF POLITICS.
Some of the Disgraceful Conditions
Now Existing at the City
Hall.
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN Francisco CALL !
sos Broadway. Jan. II. (

L IL
90S Broadway, Jan. II.
Barchi Perata, the king of the fish gang
in West Oakland and a leader in politics
in that section, has one redeeming feature
He does not forget his friends, even when
they are removed from their field of action
bv the law and placed behind prison bars.
There are now more of the infamous gang
being boarded by the county than at any
previous time. Juries have not been so
sentimental in the police court of late as
they used to be, and as a result the police
have received some encouragement to
break up the organization. But although
lost to sight the king cherishes their mem
CRY and sees that their wants are not
neglected. He makes periodical visits to
the City Prison and County Jail and sees
that they are supplied with all that the
rules will permit them to have.
AS Barchi has never been known to have
a regular trade and has frequently been
threatened with arrest for vagrancy it is
surprise TO the officials that his excheQuer
never seems to be afflicted with q deficit.
Two weeks ago Barchi was found guilty of
battery by Jury and took an appeal.
Such a proceeding requires a substantial
bond, but bonds are always on hand when
the king or his friends get into trouble,
and Barchi IS yet in a position where he
can be OF use TO his friends. The king evil
IDENTITY finds a charm OF potent influence in
West Oakland politics.
Each week something develops that
proves the necessity Of city hall COM
mensUrate with the size of the city. A few
weeks ago a man was taken there from the
Receiving Hospital with a cracked skull,
and he died ten minutes after he was
found to be seriously i'll. Before that a
twelve-year-old boy pushed away the de-
cayed top OF his cell and walked out into
freedom. Last night man applied for a
nights lodging, and this morning he was
almost at the point of death. 1t was dan
gerOuS 10 remove the old man, but the
comfortless patrol wagon had to convey
the sufferer 10 the Receiving Hospital as
there is no hospital ward in the prison.
Last week the Mayor and some other Off
cials made an inspection of the city prison,
and it was so noisome that they were glad
to get out without catching a fever.
Periodically the prison officials are taken
sick and have to lie off for a few
weeks TO fight pneumonia and malaria.
Not long since 1t was discovered
that a sewer had broken and the leakage
OF months had formed large cesspool be-
meath the floor, These and many other
1amentable features disgrace the prison.
All the municipal departments upstairs
are no better. The Treasurer has TO keep
his money in a bank vault; the room
where the important meetings of the Board
of Works are held viii not hold a dozen
chairs the City Engineer was driven out
OF the hall two ears ago and is located in
& business block on Broadway; the Health
Once IS IN q little shanty al the back of
the City Hall, and under no circumstances
could dozen people attend their meet
ings; the Free Library building, which
contains valuable library, is such an old
rOOkery that no insurance could
be obtained upon it if it were
not for the fact that it joins
the Fire Department. The Auditors Of
flee is about the size of candy-stand and
for long while there has been work for
two police courts. For several weeks Judge
Wood has been trying case on one side
the bench while the prosecuting attorney
has been securing jury on the other.
In 1878 the old hall caught fire and was
only partially rebuilt, as it was considered
then to be inadequate to the needs OF the
growing municipality. Eighteen years
have passed by and no improvement has
been made. The old barn is as unstable
as the politics that are manipulated be-
meath old Dr.. Merritt's clock. If it should
ever take fire again nothing could save it,
and the unhappy wretches who are in the
cells in the basement prison would stand
Although the ordinance forbidding the
holding of public meetings on the streets
has been repealed for over month no ad-
vantage has been taken of the restored
Before its passage the streets
were impossible on certain corners every
night. but after a few arrests all the
ranters gathered in the city park and re-
manned there. They spoiled the park, it is
true, before the ordinance was repealed,
but the habit of going to the bandstand
and discussing the calamitles of the day
has become so chronic with the regular
habitues that they still 60, although the
big electric-iight has been cut off. They
meet there yet, and although the glaring
street corners are again available to them
they prefer to talk and crate in the dark
ness. The same crowd that was bitterly
opposed to the 'curbing of their right of
free speech" now refuse to take advantage
Of its restoration. Their posi- ton in the
matter is as inexplicable as their argu-
ments. S. W.B.
MURDERER HILL TALKS.