The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-01-04

no conservative legislator Sn0ulu ever con-
sent to impose burdens of this character.
Street Extensions.
The act of the Legislature Of the State
passed at the session of 1889, providing and
giving the power to City Councils whenever,
in their Judgment, the public interest or
convenience might be promoted. to open
and close streets, is statute that displays
the vicious tendency inaugurated by this
species OF legislation to destroy property
and property rights under the specious plea
OF the public interest or convenience, while,
as fact, the perncious provisions OF the
statute are best evidenced by its impotence.
The district of the lands benefited is de-
termined by the City Council. and in the
cases occurring in this city and county
were miles away in some instances from the
lands to be taken for the opening and ex-
tension of the proposed streets. the benefits
to be derived by such property so located
being visionary. This legislation is the
nest indefensible, as its purpose and intent
is TO destroy the sacred rights OF our citi-
zens to the ownership of their property.
As long as this statute exists no owner OF
property is safe. This remarkable condi-
tion is simply aimed at the citizens Of mod
crate means and marks them out for spoil
alton.
They are suddenly confronted with
charges for which there is no justification
anu no TtUT6SS. CuCH ltEtSldtIOu uioCOuI-
ages the ownership of homes by our citizens
of limited resources, and is foreign to the
fostering care and protection which should
be afforded to those who most need aid and
encouragement to acquire and retain homes.
The Sewerage System.
The Importance of having scientific plan
of sewerage for this city and county has at
last eliminated in the appointment of
competent Board of Engineers by your pre-
decessors to ascertain the condition OF the
present sewers. and the formulation of
system to be followed in the construction
of the sewers hereafter to be constructed.
and the reconstruction of such OF the pres
eDt sewers as can be adapted TO and form
part of the proposed system.
The subject of establishing grades COM
mends itself to your fostering care, and will
greatly depend az TO its ultimate success on
the legislation which your honorable body
will doubtless secure at the next session OF
the Legislature. The public interests de-
mand that all work OF public character on
our streets and sewers should be planne
and supervised by intelligent engineering
talent to accomp lish what is desired
There is probably no species of legisla-
tion more open to criticism than the prOjec-
ton OF street work, and. certainly none
more difficult to lnaugurate and carry
through to completion. Ii has been gen.
character are not made consistently with the
progress of the district or the wants of the
people, ana that unnecessary burdens have
been imposed thereby far in advance OF
their necessity.
The owner of property In Directing to
street work does so from sense OF lnse-
curity, and has good reason to infer that
poor material will be used; that the con-
struc,ion will be inferior and bad; that the
inspector will be incompetent ana that the
speei hcations sound we'll but mean nothing,
as their terms will be disregarded.
This practice cannot continue under your
administration, for II the legislation de-
signed as the only effectual method 10
destroy this pernicious custom is obtained
and the Board of Engineers' powers so
defined no work can be projected and
performed unless il is in strict conformity
with the specifications.
The Election Law.
The operation of the Australian ballot
system has met with universal approval OF
all our citizens irrespe Give of political
considerations.
1t is true. however. that in its first opera
lion many Of our citizens have been some
what puzzled to accommodate themselves 10
the new system OF voting. but that has. and
will not in the future, prevent the re-
tentiOn OF that system. for even in the last
radical change made in the system of voting,
il is surpr Using that comparatively there
were fewer mistakes made by electors than
could have been reasonably expected.
Independent. however. of the ballot sys-
tenn great complaint is made and that justly
that our system of arriving at the results of
an election is tOrtuOus and slow. that no
good reasons exist why the official result
should not be announced In less than
week, instead of taking forty or city days.
This requires radical change and il is fit
ting for your honorable body 10 give this
matter your earnest attention so that these
matters may be remedied by appropriate
legislation.
1t must be apparent, primarily, that the
Board of Election Commissioners, as now
constituted. are not the persons who should
constitute that board. The results as evil
denced by the late canvass are the best EVIL
dence.
The expenses of an election are now ex-
cessive and the adoption of any plan to rem
edy the present procedure would not add
to, but would greatly lessen. the present ex-
peDse.
Assessment of Property.
The assessment of property. both real and
personal, on fair and equitable basis based
upon its cash value as expouuded in the
revenue laws is an important desideratum.
While this duty Is imposed upon the As
IL
10 examine the assessment book and equal
iZe the assessments, with power to increase
or lower the entire assessment roll or any
assessment contained therein. In the lin
tied time that the assessment books are in
possession OF the board, unless furnished
with information by or through a committee
of the board who have, sduring the period
when the assessments are being made by
the Assessor. examined and become famil-
lar Herewith, but little can be accomplished
by the inspection and research OF the board.
The appointment of standing committee
of this board on assessments Is indisDensa-
BILE, and in view of the experience had In
this matter it will be as useful In its sphere of
operation and have as much labor to per-
form as any other standing committee, for
its purpose will be to protect our citizens
from ineQuitable assessments. aud so assist
in the adjustment of taxation that every
property-owner shall bear his just burden
without distinction.
In thus famlIiarizing a committee of the
board with this important matter the
board can act intelligently In adjusting
assessments if need be and will he in
better position from the intimate knowl-
edge thus gained to resist any attempt on
the part Of the State Board of Equalization
70 perpetrate an injustice on our taxpayers.
This obligation In the interest of our tax
payers rests upon the board. and the CON-
mit.ee so appointed will materially aid the
board in their examination and adjustment
of assessments, as we'll as the Assessor, to
whom it will afford much needed assistance
and support in the performance OF his varied
duties.
Committee on Legislation.
A Committee on Legislation would be Of
paramount Importance in ascertaining the
legislation required during a term OF office
and in keeping advised of the bills intro
duced during the session of the Legislature
which would affect this city and county
under the caption of general laws. Ii such
a committee had been in existence the
various statutes which, while operative, are
unjust and unnecessary would have prob
ably. had such amendments suggested as
would have led TO remedial legislation.
The duties devolving upon the committee in
keeping advised Of legislation. on the other
hand, would undoubtedly prevent legisIa-
ton which, in its effects on the city and
county, might be uDcalled-for and oppres-