The herald., 1893-08-11
THE EQUAL|zERS HAVE SP|NAL|TY
The Banks Brought Up by
Them With a Round Turn.
A Snappy Session of the City Board
Yesterday.
A Number OF Petitions Denied and Some
Lively Discussfons-Mr. Gaffey
Explains Who He Is.
The Proceedings.

The petitions OF several banks of the
city in the board of equalization session
yesterday afternoon were the cause OF
particularly interesting discussions.
The banks all wanted a reduction OF
their assessments, but it was notice
able fact that the board as a whole sat
down on each and every petition. Mr..
Gaffey voted alone more than once in
favoring the granting of some OF the
banks' petitions. The afternoon session
was devoted almost entirely to hearing
OF bank claims, there being four finan.
cial institutions asking for reduction
of their assessments.
The petition Of the Bank of America
was the fist heard. This bank asked to
have it's assessment reduced from $50, 900
to $737, the last figure being the amount
claimed TO be in coin in the bank and
assessable on the first Monday in March.
Mr.. Gaffey moved that the petition
be granted, as he said the city attorney
had given an opinion that if assessed
for larger sum it wouldn't "stick."
Mr.. Gaffey's motion received no sec
ond, and Mr.. Strohm moved that the
petition bo denied. Nl t4
The motion was seconded and carried.
After another petition had been heard.
Attorney Variel, on behalf of the bank,
came in and aeked permission 20 make
few remarks, which, he said, might
be the means OF reconsideration of the
petition. He said that he considered
that an injustice had been done the
Bank Of America. He presented new
side of the question. Mr.. Variel gave a
conversation which be understood took
place between Councilman Campbell
and the assessor relative to the matter
in question
A heated discussion then arose, in
which nearly all the members Clipped
in, and it was hard to tell how it COM
menced. Judge Variel was interrupted
and the question arose as to whether he
should be permitted to proceed, as the
question had been passed upon once.
Mr.. Gaffey began to make few sug-
geetions, but was interrupted by Asses
sor Hinton, who said:
"Whom do you represent, anyhow,
Mr.. Gaffey?"
II represent the Eighth ward. the
P0OplC dAd bAO Clby Va Lo0 hh6OAVpt 0h
swered Mr.. Gaffey.
The Eighth ward councilman then
questioned the right of the city assessor
sustained by the chair, az he was also
when he called for point of ordeS when
lively spat seemed inevitable. -.
Chairman Nickel remarked that if
there was going to be a racket he would
- kn tAo<
dropped and peace reigned supreme once
more.
The petition of the University bank
asking for reduction was denied, the
matter being rushed through in short
order. Mr.. Innes made the motion OF
denial.
The Main-street Savings bank wanted
q reduction from $4,000 to 1915, the lat
tor amount being claimed as gil that the
bank had in coin on the first Monday in
March. The assessor thought some
mistake might have been made in this
case, whereupon Mr.. Gaffey ash ed why
not txeat all the banks alike. Mr..
Teed's motion to grant the petition was
lost, and motion adopted denying it.
The Farmers and Merchants bank
wanted reduction on sub-treasury GER
tificates and certain bonds. A motion
was adopted to the effect that the 1890
assessment on government bonds be
eliminated from the roll. The remain
der of the petition was denied.
The hearing OF the petition Of the
State Loan and Trust company was the
first business to occupy the attention Of
the board in the forenoon. James F.
lowell was sworn and heard, after which
a motion was adopted to reduce the as
sessment on solvent credits from $8l ,440
to $54, AS. A motion was also carried
to reduce the cash item assessment from
s3S $50 to s29. .495.
The petirien OF r. W. Poindexter was
granted.
The petitions OF Adeline Gilliland
and @. Ganahl were denied. ca
The firm of M. A. Newmark & Co. was
assessed arbitrarily for $4,000 solvent
credits. ~
The petition OF MrH. H. @. Montague
was continued until today, at her re-
quest.
W. Ii. Perry's assessment was re-
duced to $4,000.
The Los Angeles Furniture company
was assessed for $500 cash on hand the
first Monday in March.
The following citations were dis
missed: Ganahl Lumber company, Mrs.
Anna Severance, Howell & Craig, Haas,
Barueh & Co., Capitol Milling company.
On motion the assessment of the Perry
Mill and Lumber company was in
creased by $1,000.