The record-union., 1894-08-15
NOTIFIED TO SHOW CAUSE.
The State Board of Equalization
Summons Them.
How San Francisco Tries to Divert
Attention From Her Depleted
Assessment Roll.

The State Board of Equalization at yes
terdsy's meeting considered the assess
ment rolls of the different counties of the
State. with view of ascertaining whom
it would be advisable 20 notify to appear
before it.
AS result of its deliberations the fol-
lowing twenty-three counties have been
notified to appear by their representa-
tives on the dates named, and show cause
why their assessments should not be
raised: Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Sutter. Te-
hama and Yuba on the 10th inst; Mon
terey, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara
on the I'D; San Mateo and Santa Clara on
the 23d; Fresno, Kern, Merced, Stanis-
laus and Tulare on the oath; Napa, Solano
and Yolo on the 9th; Sacramento and
San Joaquin on the 2Sth; Los Angeles on
the 10Th, and San Francisco on the Both.
Sonoma and Humboldt may possibly yet
be notified to appear, but will probably
not be called.
San Francisco shows a decrease in her
assessment roll from last year of $40, 4Sl,
22S, and it is probable she wall be raised
considerably, as the board did not raise
her assessment last year. 1t was thought
until the last minute that her assessment
roll would be raised 20per cent, as it was
understood that 1t had been determined
by the board 10 do so, but the roll was al
lowed to remain without change.
Her assessment roll last year was S346,
20l, ,943, a decrease from the preceding
year of 500, ,39l, SIS. In 1892 the Assessor S
roll placed the value OF the property in
the city at S3ll, sos, ,634, but the State board
increased it to 1898, 752, ,699, deeming that
a fair valuation from data of sales, mort
"a hpFa had he
cred.
These data are very dangerous weapons
in the hands of the members OF the
board, as Mayor Ellert ana the city offi-
Gals of San Francisco found out last year
to their cost, they being unable to parry
the questions propounded to them as to
values based on these data. They have
prohted by experience this year. and
there has been a determined fight made,
in a quiet way, to prevent the members
of the State Board from getting hold OF
the figures they wished to.
In addition TO this. one Of the daily pa
pers of that city, which, by the way, is
only assessed, presumably on its own
er's sworn statement, for $4,000, less
than one-half of what one of its big
presses cost, has violently attacked the
State Board Of Equalization, in order to
turn attention away from the falling of
in the city assessment roll.
1t makes the claim that the State
Board, by reassessing the Southern Paci-
tic Company Tor 1887, has robbed the
State of large amount of money, being
very careful. however, to abstain from
mentioning the fact that it reassessed for
1856 also, the taxes for which year. the as
sessment being invalid and outlawe ed,
could never have been collected in any
other way than by reassessment, and add
S24, 49,, ,S25 of assessable property for that
year, of hicn the people will get the
benefit. They will also get the use of the
taxes for 1887 for which they would
probably have otherwise had to wait for
years. until the matter was decided by
the United States Supreme Court.
By crying stop thief" in this manner
the paper referred to hopes to attract at
tention from the fact that in the past two
years the assessment for San Francisco
has decreased $50, S73. 100, while the city
has steadily increased its growth.