The record-union., 1891-11-16
JUDGE BEATTY'S PLAN.
With Some Notifications 1t Is a Good
One.
A Subject Which Ought to Receive the
Prompt and Thoughtful Atten-
tion of Our People.

Since the publication of Judge Beatty's
latest plan for the relief of Sacramento's
financial difficulties, the subject has been
given some thoughtful attention by citi-
zens in general. though there is so far no
evidence that the Trustees and City As
SCISSOR, the only persons who can act
upon it, have given it serious considera-
tion.
One thing is admitted by all who know
anything about city affairs, and that is
that money is absolutely necessary for
certain improvements which cannot be
put off longer, and that the assessment
roll will have to be raised or the tax rate
increased. The rate is too high now, and
unquestionably has tendency to deter
people from investing in this city. There
has been strong objection in some quar-
ters against raising the assessment roll,
because the bond-holders would get their
money faster, but the plan proposed by
Judge Beatty does away with that OBJ
lection. He claims, and he is right, that
the raising Of the assessment roll, the
lowering ofthe tax rate and the guaran-
tee OF early payment of the old debt, will
establish the credit of the city, and new
bonds can be issued for new improve
ments that will be readily taken.
It has been urged that all the city has
to do, if it needs money, is to borrow it,
without regard to the Fund Commission.
i should be understood at oTSce that the
city cannot borrow another cerS unless
The assessment roll is raised. We already
owe all we are allowed to under the law
until we show that we have more prop
erty. No one doubts that we have SIS,-
100000 OF property, because the County
Assessor assesses US for that amount and
we make no complaint. Why is it, then,
that we object to the City Assessor put
ting the same valuation on our property
that the County Assessor does? How
can we claim that the same property is
worth less when the City Assessor comes
around than when the County Assessor
comes? The fact is that personal prop
Crty and certain classes of improvements
are not fairly assessed for city purposes
If they were, our roll would be high
enough TO permit US to raise all the
money needed, and no one would be un-
Justly assessed. AS it is, the real estate
IS bearing an unjust and unreasonable
proportion of the taxes. The personal
property in the city in 1873 was assessed
for SO, 100000, and now it is assessed for a
little over 81, ,000,0 900. Does any sane man
lelieve that we have less personal prop
1Sz3? z3 !" '7"Oi"ll0n'o no" 'H"n we na0 III
The strong feature in favor of Judge
I}eatty's latest plan is that it will provide
the city with means to make improve
ments which are imperatively de-
manded Something must be done with
the water system next year, and the
question is how are we to raise the
money? If the assessment roll is not
raised now, while the assessment is be-
ing made, it will be impossible to do any
thing. If his plan is adopted, Judge
beatty proposes to loan the city 100000
each year for three years on new ; Der
dc e.
twenty years and the commission can
use them in purchasing the old bonds.
Thus the city viii get the use Of the
money and at the same time the Funded
Debt Commission will be paying Oft the
debt and will have it all taken care of in
three years. Then the rate of taxation
will come down to about 81.
We are inclined TO think that Judge
Beatty's plan can be modified somewhat
10 the advantage Of the city without in
tertering with the object he has in view.
His main object seems to be the estab-
1ishment of the city's credit. This can
lie accomplished by the levy of the 35
cents for two years, as well as if the
special levy is continued for three years,
and the burden would be cut off one year
sooner. OF course, this would postpone
the ''thalxing care'' of the old indebted
Iless to the fourth year instead of the
third, but this would be matter of small
importance.
Under this plan the taxes for the next
two years would be the same as they are
now; for the following two years it would
be 81 60, and after that it would go down
to 81, or even lower.
If it should be decided to establish a
new water system in connection with the
wells now being experimental with.
something more than the 100000 which
Judge Beatty proposes to loan per year,
would be needed. 1t is likely, however,
that he would consent to take Sl50,GG0 in
3 per cent bonds each year, instead of
100000. This would give US the needed
improvements so much sooner.
This matter is of the most vital i'm
portance to Sacramento at this time and
should be considered without delay. The
annual deficiency in the Board of Trus-
ices is increasing SO rapidly that serious
trouble will follow unless something is
done to avert it. The present rate of
s. 80 is about as high as any Board of
Trustees will dare to levy, and if the
present board intends to do anything it
should do it at once, before the Assessor
has completed his rolls.