The San Francisco call., 1909-08-08
An independent Review of Men and Things II
Bv Edward F.. Cal7ill
Oakland, other grant sale of such lands being

oy IdwdI
Oakland, other grant or sale of such lands beng
permissible under the constitution
I am, of course, unable to solve these doubtful
questions, and they are merely an example OF
others of the same sort that apply to every impor
tant water front in California Who owns the
water front of Alameda Berkeley, Sausalito, Point
Richmond Port Costa? Not being a lawyer
can not say, and, in fact, no lawyer could deter
mine these questions. The attorney general, at
the instance OF Los Angeles citizens has brought
suit on behalf of the state to recover title to San
Pedro tdelands Whether these suits are for
blood or merely an exhibition game part of
the political drama outsider can say It is true
that the constitution vests the title to all such
property in the state but these rights nowhere
recognized except in San Francisco and the whole
subject is involved in the widest confusion, a
clutter OF disputed claims In that sense it will
be wise for the cities chiefly interested to agree
on some policy to be embodied in the statute law
of the state.
ABOUT GERRYMANDERING
Notwithstanding their preponderance OF popula-
ton the cities will of course, have to reckon with
It is vicious CUSTOM honored only in the observ-
ance which the easy acquiescence of Americans in
wrongs done to themselves has made possible. 1t
is difficult to understand why shameless gerry
mander has never been disputed in the courts. 1t
is a question of fact easily settled by testimony
of record, and the constitutional provisions in this
construction.
URBAN GUESSING CONTESTS
The interlocutory census, so to speak, taken by
way of deduction from the city directory, for
instance, always furnishes an entertaining rather
futile pasti1ne. Los Angeles recently made an
enumeration that basis and the incidental
returns make an odd and instructive showing. It
appears from list of the twenty-eght leading
occupations in Los Angeles that there are nearly
any other business or trade. Imagine town with
1450 real estate sharks in full cry after the inno
cent tourist The physicians are next with $50,
while the shoe makers come failing along with
only 265. There are sos nurses and only 1o5
druggists, which seems out of proportion
Los Angeles is so tetchy about interdecennia
estimates of population not made at home that
the census bureau in Washington long ago quilted
making their customary figures for that town.
Every time they ventured guess there was
loud roar from Los Angeles. A chorus of 1,450
real estate agents can make formidable noise
LOS ANGELES WATCHING SEATTLE
Los Angeles keeps a watchfu and jealous eye
on Seattle, which is suspected of being up to
tricks on census takers, and Los Angeles is re-
solved to stop it. There is foul conspiracy afoot
which find exposed by old Blunderbore of the
Los Angeles Times in these words and figures, to
wit:
The judges of the courts in Seattle, the officers
of the chamber of commerce, the presidents and
vice presidents of building associations and real
estate companies devoting time and attention
to planning a program by which no Seattlete can
escape the eye and the pencil of the census taker
in the summer of 1910 Fearful that the director
of the census not be impressed with the
territorial extent of Seattle or the greatness of