The morning call., 1894-06-24
TAXPAYERS KICK.
Reductions Asked For in
Assessments.
ASA FISK A PETITIONER.
Stanford Estate Wants a Cut of
One-Third.
TERESA FAIR CLAIM DENIED.
The Board of Equalization Disposes
of a Dozen or More Objections
to Siebe's Figures.
ERESA FAIR CLAIM DENIED.

Several plaintive people of wealth ap-
peared before the Supervisors yesterday
at their sitting as Board of Equalization
to petition for reductions in The assess
ments on personal property. The Teresa
Fair estate wished reduction from
81, S22, COO TO SS0S1, the Stanford estate re-
duction from S1.5O6,712 TO S675, 537. the
Bancroft Library from SIS, 900 to $4,000 aud
sundry others from various figures to va
rious lower ones. The interest of the day
conferred in the Stanford claim.
Mr.. r. V. Dey, as executor for the Fair
estate, claimed that most Of the property
assessed was in the form OF worcestershire
bonds and shares in foreign corporations,
but the Supervisors by a unanimous vote
dsallowed the claim, and rdered 1t to stand
as originally written. Mr.. Dey cOurteously
waved his hat, and retired with remark
that the assessment would be paid under
protest.
Attorney NJ. S. Wilson appeared for
Mrs. Stanford. His claim was very SINH
lar to that of Mr. Dey. The Stanford estate,
he represented. actually owned, on March
l, personal properly In California of no
greater value than S675. 537. The balance
of 81, 500. 712, which appeared on the AS
SCISSORS books as stocks, bonds, etc, had
been either sold, hypothetical or other
estate.
said Mr.. Wilson, to explain matters:
Before the death of Governor Stanford
duplicate set of books was kept IN San
Francisco and New York. Most Of the
bonds which were sold or the shares of
stock on which money was borrow were
disposed of in New York. and entry of the
fact was made only on the books in that
city. 1t therefore appears on the local
books that the estate owns more thanI Is
now really under its control
Besides" continued Mr.. Wilson, "the
Assessor has levied upon certain shares of
stock which the estate holds. That is ex-
pressly forbidden in the code as being viz
tually double tax upon the same prop
erty."
The Supervisors. especially Denman.
DundOn and James, were Inclined to de-
bate freely with Mr.. Wilson. Dundon
wanted to knOw-and Mr.. Wilson was
very wary in his answers-if the money
which the estate had borrowed on the
bonds aud other securities was not brought
into and held in California; and if a man
who found himself better able TO place his
securities in Nevada, for instance, than in
California, could thereby exempt himself
from liability to taxation on the property
represented by those securities.
The question raised an intricate legal
point, which promised to prOlong the dis
cussiOn until morning. Supervisor james
therefore moved to take the cOmplainant's
| request under Amusement until Monday.
in that case" said Mr. Wilson, rising
| ana interTuptiBg before the vote was taken,
| II should like before the final decision is
! given to get an expression of opinion
from the board as to the matter of the as
! sessments on the shares which the estate
| holds are exempt"
Again complicated legal points werp
brought up, an opinion of the Districl
Attorney on similar request from the
Hearst estate of the previous year was
called into requisitioD, some lively cross
questioning of Mr.. Wilson INDUCED in and
the petition finally taken under advise
ment until Monday morning. The opin-
ions of District Attorney burst and CIess-
we'll seemed to sustain the validity of the
assessment.
The Stanford estate gave place to Asa
Fisk for the next consideration, and that
gentleman ask d to have his assessment
reduced from $50. 600 to S5519. The petit
ton was disallOwed.
Other requests were from Anna E.
! Partridge for a reduction from $4,000 10
500; $500 allowed.
Thomas H. Mccarthy, from $500 to 500; ;
allowed.
G. B. Smith. on several vessels various
reductions; not allowed.
The petitioner presented in substantial
I ton of his claim the interesting informa-
| ton that during the last year chattel
mortgages on shipping had increased %
| per cent.
| California Vigorit Powder Works, from
| S9904 10 S4914; taken under advisement
.. Y. Walker. for exemption of his seat
| in the Sock Exchange; allowed, and the
same to all stockholders, in conformity
with the recent ruling of the Supreme
! Court.
W. G. Kalish. on a vessel, from $1,000 to
5000; allowed.
Mrs. Regina E. Wilson. from SIG, 054 to
| $1,000; allowed.
The board adjourned to reasonable on
Monday at 1890 O'clock