The morning call., 1893-09-02
Tossing to be interested in the matter. and
who insisted that his name shou uld not be
So FRANcrscn. Anr- q 1saa

SAN Francisco. Aug. 90, 1898.
Judge Corey - HONORABLE SIR: During
the annual sessions Of the Stale Board OF
EquallzatlOns ia The years 1891 and 1892
Al lie time OF tile hearing OF Sau Francisco. il
was publicly charged by sworn witnesses on
the stand that ADVERTISEMENTS OF estates m afI .
by men selected ey the Judges OF the Superior
Court OF san Francisco were not worth the
paper they were written upOn"; that III was a
mere matter Of form" and unreliable in every
particular"
The board annually collects a certain amount
OF data ftom each and every county 10 The
state, and in doing so they endeavor 10 get
Only mat which Is reliable, so that each county
nay nave fair and Just consider fIion.
AOw, If the matter Of appraisements Of
estates Ia san Francisco Is "a mere matter of
torm." done only 10 comply wish tie law"
you can readily see mat the board would not
desire such evidence
Viii you kindly advise me as 10 the reIia-
billty Of sueh matters tn your department? l
am the private clerk of the board, aud among
other things have the collection or such daIa as
one OF my duties
Your reply viii nor be used for publication.
but only a a guide whereby the board NAV
reach just conclusion on the particular line
Of evidence. Very respectfully, etc,
THIS epistle set Judge COffey thinking
and he took four or i've days 10 consider
before sending the following reply:
SAN Francisco Ang. %, 1898.
Dear Sfr: In response 10 your eOmmunica-
tlou OF the 22d inst. just received By me have
this o ssy:
AaD. NAGsC y, uD iGuGB O Tie PUBIC sErk-
ice more misrepfeseuted than thai which hss IN
eharg- The administration OF probate estates.
L mas b-eu the constant endeayOr Of Judges in
this jurisdiction within my memory, aud it Ger
i2iniy has been mine for now above ten years,
10 administer this department in obedience 10
the Ieilef and tie spirit OF tue law, and, as in
Of estates.
The court presided over BIZ me has sought in
its selection OF appraisers 10 choose cOmpeten Il
and honest men and has scrutinized their work
~ ~
allowance for tie faliDilty OF human iGdg-
ment do not think charges sworn or uusWOrn.
pubic or private, that probate apprasements
10 San FRANCISCO were not worth the paDer
they were written upon" or that 10 was mere
matter Of form" or unreliable in every paftic-
ulaPi have foundation IN fact.
It must be remembered that probate an
pTaisers are officers specially sBoFn 10 dis
charge their duty, and are, as a rule men Of
known prooIty OF character. ana thei- specific
statement under oath Is sustained by as solemn
sanction as that OF persons who make loose
general ASSERTIONS, aibeit sworn, without assign
ing Instances OF false aud forsWorp probate ar
pTalsements. lt Is quite possible OF course In
This as in every other line Of life for imposition
10 De a attempted or deceit practiced, for expert
e0ce teaches all Of Us that the most discerning
may be deceived, the most ygiIaut eiuded and
that Notwithstanding all precautions ana safe
guards. occasional acts OF disobedienee OF rules
or violation or law may be accomplished with.
out detection or discovery until zoo late for pre-
VeBtion or punishment. Bat l am confident
thar In spite OF calumny TO the cOutrary, speh
moral alterations are rare aud Isolated IN the
particular cases In question. At all events
II such cases exist it Ia the duty OF
those who claim 10 know Of them 10
communicate their knowledge TO the court
with view TO tile correction OF what | should
consider d gross abuse aud fraud upon the
State-for my view has been from the rrst, and
! have frequently and publicly so said, that the
Stale has an important interest AZ securing the
appraisement Of all estates a! their actual value
and instructions 10 thar effect 90 forward with
every notification Of appointment 10 appraisers.
IL IS OF consequence 70 note that one test Of
the validity OF the valuation OF appFaisements Is
Is IN the sales OF real estate subject 10 coufrma-
tiOn by the Probate Court. In such cases tie
standard Of valuation Is the appfaIsement. and
as those sales are always exposed 10 cOmpeti-
tIOn and tx property values in their vicinity it
may be seen how absurd 1t IS 10 attempt hnaliy
10 palm on upon The court false or fraudulent
appraisemeut-
l inelose to you printed copies OF such In
structiOns, ard which are expressive OF my
views upon this ques ion.
Tie burden or business now pressing upon
me prevents a more detailed answer 10 your To-
qulfles- Yours respectfully, J. V. CoFFEY.
The printed instructions referred to in
Judge Coffey's letter lake the following
form:
SUPERIOR COURT. DEPT. Q. PROBATE.
san Francisco. Cal, New City Hail.
AFPRAIsE sERS-NotG Bens: The attention of
appraisers Is especially called 70 the pro-
visions of the law governing them In the dis
Pl4Fup nf fawr nf.a