Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-09-28
TO TIE cANDIDATEs FOR GOVERNOR.

be accepted as a true indication, the cam
paign IS almost, if not entirely, without
issues worthy the attention of any intelli-
gent elector. This cannot be attributed
to the real absence of issues relating to
State government of the most vital impor-
lance to the people of this commonwealth.
Such issues exist, and we propose herein
to call the attention of candidates for Gov
ernor at least to some Of them.
l. The mortgages on the real estate of
California are increasing at an alarming
ratio. In 1880 the total mortgage on real
property in this State was 3,S11,171. In
1889 it had arisen to Sac, S73.9S8, an in
crease of about S52,OO0,00O in eight years.
We have not the figures of the volume of
mortgages for 1890, but havereliable infor-
nation that the increase is going steadily
forward. We respectfully ask the candi-
dates for Governor why the mortgages on
the real property of the State are con-
stantiy increasing, and why this apparent
retrogression cannot be arrested by wise
legislation
3 During the decade from 1860 to 1870
the percentage of personal property found
on the assessment roll was an average of
about AZ per cent. In 1861 it reached
1852 per cent, that is to say, in 1861, of
every one hundred dollars upon the as
sessment roll, $40 81 represented personal
and $50 SO represented real property.
Thus the burden of taxation upon the two
classifcations of wealth was about equally
divided. In that year the rate of State
taxation was 80 cents on each one hundred
dollars. The aggregate Of assessable prop
erty was Sl74,104,955. In 1890 the total
assessed value of property in California
was about 81 100000, or equal to seven
times the aggregate Of 1861, and the rate
of taxation is 1872 cents on the hundred
dollars. Or to state this in different
form, with seven times the assessed value
of property in the State, the rate has in
creased from GO cents on each hundred dol
lars to 72.2 If the rate had remained the
same as in 1861 it would have been equi-
Yalent to seven times 60 cents or 81 20 on
the hundred, on the basis of governmental
expenditures in 1861. Will the gentlemen
who aspire TO be chief magistrate Of this
State explain this fearful increase of State
expenditure? As already noted, the per-
centage of personal to real property found
on the assessment roll was about so per
cent. in 1861 in 1888 the proportion of
personal property had fallen to 10 per
cent; that is to say, fra every one hundred
dollars found on the assessment roll of
property but SIS is chargeable to personal
property and S85 is chargeable to real
estate. Thus the real estate is carrying So
per cent. of the burden of government,
and the wealth represented by per-
sonal property is in hiding. VIII
the gentlemen who are candidates for
Governor of the State, and who will
WELD power equal to two-thirds of the
legislative department, make note of this
decrease in the assessed value of personal
property and the consequent increase of
the burden on the real estate, and propose
an intelligent remedy ?
8. The cost of State, county and munich
pal governments of this State has been
ascertained to be S22,O00OOO per annum.
OF this sum, the real estate is paying
about Sl9,OO0O00 and the personal pro-
perty about 100000 In addition to
this tax of 100000 per annum, there
is an interest account chargeable on ac-
count of mortgages of Sl2,OOO,O0O, so that
in the aggregate the real estate is paying
Sl9000,0O0 per annum to the support Of
government and Sl2,0O0,O00 interest on
mortgages; total, $3l 100000 per annum.
1t must be true in the nature of things
that real estate, and the industries con-
nected Herewith, have TO earn this $751;
000,000 which it pays annually for taxes
and interest. We ask the gentlemen who
are candidates for Governor how much in
crease in this direction the realty of Cali
fornia can stand, and whether or not the
constant tendency of that increase may
not be arrested
4. If a true proportion of personal and
real property in the State had been main
tanned on the assessment roll and the
personal property was to-day carrying its
fair proportion Of the burden of govern
ment. the real estate would be relieved of
about 100000 on account of taxation.
As already observed, the mortgages upon the
realty Of California have increased So, 000,- |
BOO between the years 1880 and 1883. The
excess of burden referable to taxation be-
ng ascertained 70 be 100000 per an
mum. eight years would give US $50, 0OO,0 eco |
m amount Of 100000 in excess of the
Increase Of the mortgages. If the real
state had paid no more than due pro-
portion Of taxation chargeable to it by
eason OF the support Of the Government,
/ would have saved S56,oOOOOO in the
ight years. We ask the gentlemen who
re candidates for Governor whether this
nfair and undue burden of taxation
,rced upon the real property Of the State
not chargeable with the increase in the
mount of mortgages standing against the
sal estate2
S. In one single biennial term the ag-
regate appropriations of the Legislature
rose from 1851, 900 to s12,734,0O0, an
,crease OF S6,06S,O0O. Of this increase
7so mo yn,,st be Maid by the real estate |