The record-union., 1891-08-26
SAN FRANCISCQ'S TASK.
An Effort to Prevent the Raising of
Her Assessment.
Arguments of Mayor Sande1Son, AS
SCISSOR Siebe, Supervisors and
Others at the Capitol.

and State Board of Equalization rooms
were busy scenes yesterday.
1t was the day set for hearing the argu-
ments of the San Francisco authorities as
to why they thought the assessments OF
the metropolis should not be raised.
Quite a number of representative San
Franciscans were there, including Mayor
Sanderson, Supervisors Burling and
Ellert, Assessor John D. Siebe, Deputy
Assessors Fred Siebe. Herser, Maloney,
Miesegaes, Tyrreu and Belau, Attorneys
e, s. Pillsbury and Charles Ackerman,
and others. There were also present
representatives of the San Francisco
newspapers and Associated Press.
All the members of the State Board OF
Equalization were there-Messrs. More
house, Beamer, Colgan, Hebron and
Swan.
SAN FRANCIsCo's MAYOR.
Mayor Sanderson was the first to be
sworn and make a statement to the
board. 1t was understood that his re-
marks would include the information
furnished by the delegation which came
up from the metropolis. Mayor Sander
son argued that the assessment of San
francisco should be raised no higher, be-
cause, as it stands at present, it is high
enough. He claimed that the advance in
the assessment Of San Francisco more
than kept pace with that of fother portions
OF the State, and that, instead of the as
sessment being raised, it should be low
cred. The increase of the total assess
ment of the State was S30, ,000, 200, $4,000,
600 Of which came from that city, an in
crease IN San Francisco of about 35 PEI
cent, when it had but about one-fifth o1
the population. There was, he said, nc
basis for such an increase in the assess
ment. He pleaded for sympathy, because
Eastern drummerS were encroachinp
upon the trade of the coast. He saw
property lying idle for the past three
years, because rents were too high. Peo-
pie were going out of trade there, because
they cannot carry on their business
Speaking as a business man, he said:
I'VE are cutting down our stocks and the
wages of employees" Going from his
place Of business up to the City Hall he
saw lines of stores with the sign, .'To
Let" upon them.
DIDN'T KNOW EVERYTHING,
Are you familiar with the methods OF
assessments in San Francisco? Is it not
the custom for many people there to re-
fuse 10 make returns? According to your
Assessors report there are 5000 persons
who fail to make returns" said Mr.
MorehOuse.
I've always been busy with my busi-
ness, and l don't know as to these de-
tails. l only know that people are taxed
all they can stand, and more than they
ought to be called upon to pay" replied
tho Mayor.
Supervisor E. Ellert somewhat differed
from the Mayor as to any boom that
might have occurred. The latter had
stated that there had been no boom, but
tho Supervisor thought that outside lands
nf yit al %
wildly speculative prices, and if assessed
at such prices as a basis they were as
seSSed too high.
In answer to questions by Mr.. More
house, the Supervisor admitted that be
knew but little of real estate values or OF
the assessment roll. lie based his claim OF
high assessment upon the aggregate OF
Che roll and upon the general principle
that 1t was considered too high an assess
mcnt III comparison with other counties.
In answer to questions propounded by
Mr.. Hebron, Supervisor Ellert ac-
knowledged that the San Francisco Board
OF Supervisors did not sit as a County
Board of Equalization, as was done in
other counties. 1--WE cannot do it.u he
explained. The time allowed us is not
sufficient, and we have not sat continu-
Ously."
Don't you think, them" said Mr.. Heb
bron, that other counties in the State
do not act according to law, and then
come and ask that your assessment be not
raised, and assert that it should rather be
reduced ?"
REMAINED INACTIVE.
Mr.. Ellert said that might be the case.
but at the same time the San Francisco
Supervisors should not be expected to
perform Impossibilities. He said the
BOARD had made no effort to ascertain
values. The board could not go over and
completely equalize the roll, and there
fore nothing was done. No one was cited
TO appear before the board and show
cause why their assessments should be
raised, and no increase had been made.
n number of reductions had been made
lie said that in San Francisco a custom
was in vogue of adding to and reducing
assessments after the roll had gone out OF
the hands OF the Board of Supervisors.
I'VE claim" said Mr.. Beamer 'sthat
your board might have done something,
but they have done nothing. 1t is an in
justice to other counties Of the State that
they should go through their roll and
equalize values, according to law. while
San Francisco has done nothing"
Mr.. Ellert did not reply to this sally. He
branched of in another direction by say
ing that he did not see why the whole
clty's assessment should be increased be-
cause some particular omissions had been
made. They had acted under the advice
of their County Attorney
No advice of the County Attorney
should debar the Supervisors from doing
their duty" remarked Mr.. Morehouse.
Supervisor Burling made a statement to
the board, but it was in the same tenor OF
those given by his predecessors. In ref
erence TO the failure of many to return re-
ports to the Assessor, he thought that many
submitted to arbitrary assessments in
order that they might be rated as more
wealthy than they really were.
After Mr.. Burling had been subjected
10 few questions he was excused and a
recess was taken.
Afternoon Session.
At the afternoon session, TVnnda1l