The San Francisco call., 1907-06-22
CLERGYMAN AND DEPUTY
ASSESSOR IN WORDY WAR
Bishop Bell Demurs to Pay
ing Poll Tax Twice
in One Year
DEMANDS IT'S RETURN
Major Clarke Becomes Irate
When Referred to as
a CRATER

BERKELEY, June 21.-Bishop Will
liam NJ Bell of the United Brethren
church makes it a point to pay his poll
tax promptly and without demur, but
when the poll tax man gets him twice
in one season he becomes d bit in
dignant Thus it was that the office
of Deputy Assessor a. G. Clarke today
received visit from the prelate. who
desired to lodge complaint that his
poll tax had been collected twice this
year, and also TO prefer request for
the return of part of the money. He
was denied the money. and in The
strenuous melee that followed with
Deputy Clarke was threatened with
bodily removal from the place, the
threat being emphasized by Deputy
Clarke with a chair brandished high in
the air. The good bishop. a man OF
peace and abominating a brawl, pre-
pared to quietly leave the premises.
Before betaking himself from the
place, however. Bishop Bell informed
Major Clarke that he apparently be-
ionged to the genus CRATER and that
the 81 overcharge possibly had found
its way into Clarke's own pockets.
Then the storm broke anew Major
Clarke ragged and fumed and swore,
denouncing the dignified bishop as a
prevaricator. and as one who knew not
phurous, but Bishop Bell calmly stood
his ground until the storm cleared away
a bit Then he explained that he had
not wished to be taken seriously when
he spoke of grating" this word hav-
ing been used in a jocular way with
none but pleasant feelings inspiring the
phrase. The bishops explanation did
not palliate Clarke. He heaped impre-
cations upon the minister, and then
Bishop Bell quietly departed.
George Drum, an assistant of Clarke
In the office, had prepared to telephone
for the police during the row. but the
minister left before such intervention
was necessary. Bishop Bell, who lives
at 20l4 Cedar street, said tonight
/ have been before the public for % years.
and this is the first time that any thing approach
ing the proportions OF q sauabble has come into
my lie. l went TO the deputy assessor TO secure
the return Of 81. my poll tax having been col
iected twice this year, through the medium
OF check, which j showed Mr.. Clarke. and
once through my WIFE during my absence from
home Mr.. Clarke refused to refund the money,
apparently ignoring the receipts presented TO
prove that told the truth. There abso-
lutely no question of the correctness of the re-
celpts. and ! was amazed at the refusal to
tnrn the extra money I had paid. The same
thing had occurred the year before and the
fund had been made at that occasion.
When Mr.. Clarke denied the return of my
money today | was puzzled and surprised, and
expressed my opinion of the proceedings in
way that angered him. When 1 remarked in
jocular way that the graft spirit seemed to per-
meate all classes he began to abuse me. threat
ened 10 remove me from the place. and 6ppsr-
emily tried TO dislodge articles Of furniture with
which to attack me Ii unpleasant
scene. l left at once. I consulted with the
president of the bank where l do business in
Berkeley and was told by him that Mr.. Clarke
Was not justified in refusing me the payment
asked. | shall refer the matter TO Mr.. Clarkes
superior. Mr.. Dalton. and of course 1t will be
attended to satisfactorily in the end
Major Clarke declares that he had no
wish to collect Bishop Bells poll tax
twice-"once is enough" He says that
the bishop produced a bank check
marked paid and a poll tax receipt,
whereas two receipts should have been
shown before refund was made
II resented being called CRATER"
said Clarke. land told the man VINO
thus addressed me to leave the Office.
I did not care to talk further on those
lines. He left, and that was all there
was to it. Upon looking up the books
find that Mr.. Bell paid his poll tax
twice, and that receipts were issued to
him. If he had presented the receipts
there would have been no trouble. 1
am not allowed to accept a cancelled
bank check as receipt and that was
what Mr.. Bell showed me-"