The San Francisco call., 1897-09-21
BRITT STRUCK BIGGY AND IT
CAUSED A FIGHT.
The Disgraced Supervisors Fixed Tax
Levy IN the Corridor and Made Britt
Mayor---The New Board Also
Adopted a Levy.

bad night. was beaten by whisker to
his chair by Supervisor Britton. He made
no attempt to wrest it from the new ap-
pointee. Supervisors Clinton, Lackmann
and Dodge found their old seats unoccu.
| pied. The o,her members of the new
board stood about awaiting Developments
and chairs.
Suddenly a gavel fell and the Mayors
voice rang out in a call Tor the mem bers of
the Board OF Supervisors to come to order.
Where is the clerk?" demanded The
Mayor.
~ am the acting clerk of the Board of
Supervisors. said ex-Janitor Barton.
meekly. The Mayor smiled at the impu-
dence of Barton, who was elevated TO the
! position by the clerk of the tramp board.
Clerk Russell stepped up to the uesk with
his books and pApsrs, and the Mayor asked
him 10 call the roll.
From this point on the Mayor not only
displayed the fact that he is made of stern
stuff, but that he was in command of the
| situation.
| The roilcall commenced and was first
interrupted when the name OF Britton was
called as Supervisor of the Second Ward.
J Haskins stepped forward and said: "Mr
Mayor. [ claim the seat as Supervisor
Order! Proceed with the rollcaIl"
said the Mayor.
Barry answered his name and then ap-
piled to the Mayor for the chair ex-Super-
visor Delany was occupying. The matter
was passed over and things went along
smoothly until Biggy's name was called
as the representative of the Ninth Ward.
The pugnacious E. Britt was on his feet in
an instant, yelling: II protest against
the name of Biggy being called as Super
visor of the Ninth Ward"
| The clerk will disregard the protest"
answered the Mayor in no uncertain tone.
The rolIcall ended with Supervisor Den.
man protesting against ex-Supervisor
Rivers occupying his chair.
As warning to the sex Supes" the
NJ Mayor then said:
II have received certified copy of the
judgm of the Superior Court removing
from office the mem bers of the Board of
Supervisors. By virtue of the power
vested in me by the constitution and
statutes OF the State, l as Mayor have
flied the vacancies by appointment. The
| gentlemen whose names have just been
called are the only legal mem bers of the
| Board of Supervisors and are entitled to
their seats. call upon you gentlemen In
| the name OF the law to vacate the seats
you are occupying. This is question of
the supremacy OF the law, ana if you re-
fuse to obey my demand l shall call upon
the serceant.at-arms to remove you"
The Mayor paused for moment, and,
seeing none of the late eight vacating the
chairs, exclaimed, DO you refuse?' 1t
|
they were guilty. The eight failed 10 an
swer the question, so the Mayor turned to
Rivers and said, "Mr. Rivers, will you
please vacate that seat2"
Rivers replied that he would not, and
Smith, who was next called upon, de-
clared that he would not obey the request
without an order from court.
The Mayor informed him that the order
had already been made. and Smith re-
piled that as it had not been served on
him be would not leave his seat unless
| force was used.
Britt answered the request by saying
that be was advised not to do so by bis at
torney, and that he still believed he was
the Supervisor from the Ninth Ward and
under bonds to perform his duty.
The remainder of the eight also refused
to obey the request. and Mr. Phelan called
upon Sergeant-at-Arms Giannini to re-
move them.
Delaney was the first one that GiannIni
tackled, and from tho way he started IN at
his job it was evident that it was not to
his liking.
He came near being successful in his eff
fort with Delaney, for when he touched
the captain on tho shoulder and told him
to get out OF the chair the captain started
10 rise. 1t may be that he intended TO re-
buke Giannini for LAYING his hand on him.
but this will never be known, for Haskins
instructed him to sit down, and down he
sat. Giannipi made another mild show
of removing the tall captain. and then
looked appealingly to the NJ 1yor.
docs he resist your" queried the head
of the city government. Though the situ-
alton was grave the question caused many
smile. Giannini answered that he was
powerless TO remove the cum bersome OBJ
ject and Mr.. Phelan turning to Chief of
Police Lees said:
Il as Mayor of the city direct you to
| enforce the law aud remove these men.
The sergeant-at-arms reports to me that
he is unable to do so."
The Chief whispered to policeman aud
the bluecoat hastened from the cham bers.
The policeman had ben dispatched to