The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-09-01
EoUALIZING TAXES.


The board for the equalization of State
taxes is composed of four members who re-
ceiye $1,000 each per annum for their serv-
ices. 1t is an important Office and should
be filed with men possessed of good judg-
ment and those who have knowledge OF
the value of real property in all portions of
the State. We do not personally know any
of The members except Mr..Swan, who has
worked himself up creditably in his bust
ness aud we presume stands well with those
who know him. THE CALL will go still
further and say that it does not Doubt that
all of the members of the board stand fairly
well with the party which elected them.
After this is admitted, however, it is posi-
BILE that tie board may make mistakes 10 the
valuations of property. There are two
classes of persons in California; one be-
lieves that all property on this coast is ex-
ceedngly valuable. One class would, if 1t
had the means, purchase city lots and farm
ing lands al excessive figures, while the
other is more conservative and prudent and
it would place lower values upon property:
The writer of this paragraph believes that
there has been a very general disposition to
place excessive values upon both farming
lands and city lots in this State ever since
also had booms in towns and booms
in farming lands. 1t was at one time
said that gold discoveries would al
ways cause California property to sell
at high prices. In Sacramento City,
for instance. in 1850 there were lots which
would sell for a higher price than they
would to-day. In Los Angeles City even
property was at one time sold for more
l. in Snr
Francisco old settlers can point to property
which in 1854 or 1856 brought as much as 1t
is now worth. The value of property for
taxable purposes should be so arranged as
to deal Justly by all portions of the State.
One class Of property should not be taxed
out of proportion to another. Neither
should one town, city or county be taxed
out Of proportion to other towns, cities or
counties a contemporary publishes the
following statement relative to the members
of the Board of Equalization:
The four members of the board who have the
main part OF the work to do arc j. S. Swan oil
the First District, or San Francisco; L. c. More
house Of the Second District, r. II. Beamer OF
the Third or Northern District, and j. r. Heb
bron OF the Fourth or southern District.
l.. c. Morehouse, the President Of the board, is
a native OF the State OF New York. resident OF
San LeandrO, Alameda County and represents
the Second District He is now serving his ninth
consecutive year on the board, having been re-
elected for a third time in November last.
r. H. Beamer is a naive Of the State OF Mis-
sour, represents the Third District, and resides
at Woodland, Yolo County. He is one of the
prosperous farmers of the county in which he
lives. and was elected last November.
JabsZ 5. Swan is native OF Connecticut re-
sides In san Francisco. which city and county he
represents and was elected to the board at the
last election. He is the head Of The firm OF
Swan & Co, decorative paiuters.
j. Ii Hebron was born in England, but Is now
a prominent stOek-raiser, having two farms In
Monterey County and one in Texas. He repre-:
sents the Fourth District, aud was elected in
November last.
E.P. Colgan. State Controller, IS native OF
this State, and by trade a blacksmith. He was
elected last November and is eX-Ofiicio a men,
Der Of the board. His home is al Santa Rosa.