The San Francisco call., 1897-08-23
The Juvenile Dancing Case
Which Is to Be Settled by
..=... 81. a Jury.
Annual Assessment Farce Has Be-
come Very Tiresome to the
Taxpayers.
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN Francisco CALL,
90S Broadway, August o.

Oakland harbor next Tuesday can be
made to produce material benefit to this
cltyi-or itcan be made a great stumbling
block in the way of the future progress OF
the cities on either side of the estuary. Ii
he two elements that have been deluging
he War Office with corresp spondence dur
ng the past five years renew their dis
agree ement when entertaining the chair
man OF the Harbor and River Committee
Congress man Hooker will 90 hack to
W Washington with the opinion that the
merchants and officials OF Oakland and
Alameda are of very small caliber and do
not know what they want, even while eX-
pectlng Congress to give it to them.
Under such conditions it can hardly be
supposed that Chairman Hooker would
vote very readily to appropriate money
: for the immediate com mpletion of the har
/ Dor, and Senator Perkins might as well
stop at home so far as the harbor is con-
cerned.
Congressman Hooker will see the harbor
full of life and business. There is four
times the commerce on the estuary that
there was a year ago, and many new
warehouses are in course of erection. He
will be told that the whole of the county's
here; be will see some of the very largest
iron ships discharging at Adams wharves;
he will be told of the proximity of Corral
Hollow and its mines. and of the har Dor
being the natural shipping point of their
product; his attention will be called to
1he loading of ships with wheat, which is
now being inaugurated, and which may
eventually take much of the trade from
Port Costa, and then he will be enlight-
ened as to the absolute need ofa frst-class
deep-water harbor. With so many prac-
tical oblect-lessons Congressman Hooker,
being man of keen observation and OF
practical mind, cannot fail to be favorably
impressed.
But if, after seeing all these things, the
petition apparition should appear and DR..
Mclean should try and convince Mr..
Hooker that commerce and progress can
wait until after the tidal canal be COM
pIeted, where a ship can never go, what
will be the result? 1t will certainly be
that Congressman Hooker will mentally
decide that money availa able for appro-
prIatlons had better be apportIoned 10
communities where it will be appreciated.
In a few days very interesting and i'm
portant case will occupy the attention of
the Police Court 1t will be the trial of
Mr.. Lund for allowing his infant daughter
TO dance in public. Pearl Lund is not yet
years OF age, and the case has ex-
cited great interest because il will test the
law that has been 10 a great extent me-
elected. Many wrong impressions have
gone out about this case, and Mr.. Lund
las had a statement published to the
effect that he is being prosecuted and that
he IS not cruel 10 his children. So far as
MI Lund and his wee daughter are con-
cerned, they are but secondary elements
in the case.
No one believes that an intelligent pa
rent would knowingly cause any cruelty |
10 beiall his child, but the law restricting !
the age to double that OF little Pearl surely |
has some weight and was passed for q |
purpose. No one denies that Pearl danced |
1or several successive nights at public |
Jheater, or asserts that she is yet Z, which |
Is long way from IA. Colonel DlmpheI |
says that all agencies for the protection of |
the little ones might as well be closeQ if !
they do not see that the law is carried out. |
DE gave the people now under arrest |
plenty OF warning and they were perfectly |
willing TO run the risk. Pearl Lund is |
very clever little girl and her parents are
kind 10 her She is very anxious to go on
the stage and enjoys exercising her little
limbs, and her father says it would be
cruel 10 keep her at home. On the other
hand, Coonel Dimphel says that The de-
sire OF a little girl not much more than 6
years OF age i not the best criterion as 10
what is good for her, even though she be
clever. These are the facts and a keen
legal fight will be made before jury to
secure the verdict.
People of Oakland are heartily tired of
the cheap political capital that certain
politicians attempt to make an
nually over the assessment of corporation
property. Particularly is this the case in
regard to that part of the Southern Pacific
Company's property known as the
Seventh-street local line. Every year the
came agitation arises and the same con-
Clusion is reached, viz: That the law is
faulty. Yet when the Legislature is in
session, at which time the matter should
be ad justed, nothing is heard OF 1t. But
alth ough tired of the annual surfelt of
cheap politics, The taxpayers are not in
different TO their own interests ana they
want to know that every corporation is
bearing its just proportion OF The burden.
The Seventh-street local line is a conun-
drum, and 1t Is matter of speculation
whether it is assessed at all. State Equa-
liZer Morehouse says 1T is. Assessor Dai-
ton says il is not.
The State board, which is paramount,
SAYS it is included in the main line assess
ment. and the county board accepts the |
statement and exsmpts il. Auditor Snow |
OF the city, who is credited with being
very well versed in municipal law, says 1t
Is a waste of time to put the local line on
the roll, as the State boards decree is su-
preme. City Attorney Dow has advised |
the Council that it should go on the roll,
and the Council mas so instructed the
Auditor, and Mr.. Snow in turn has de- |
cided TO consult with Tax Collector Gill |
pin and the average citizen would ike to |
know where the responsibility lies.
And until the matter is adjusted by the |
Legislature, making compulsory some
system of taxation for raiload property, |
the annual farce Will be enacted.
After a few children have been drowned |
from the Elghth-street bridge Il may dawn |
upon those responsible for the condition
of the sidewalk that cheap fence is less
expensive than a damage suit with no |
defense The bridge has just been rebuilt,
and on the north side is the unprotected
pine OF the water company. Before the |
bridge was rebuilt the pipe was covered |
a ma fence projected passengers from
1aiilng into the estuary. At present the
S mooih, shining pipe is unprotected and |
nVlles children 10 play upon it. There is