The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-13
LATEST OAKLAND NEWS,
The Auditor Preparing to
Garry Out the Pole Or
dinance.
POSTMASTER BoYCoTTED.
Special Grand Jury Called to
Investigate the Tax
Shortage.


to the pole-tax ordinance has stirred Au-
ditor Snow to sense of his duty. The or
dinance was passed year ago and the first
tax of 81 so for each telephone and tele-
graph pole should have been made pay
able before June 20. Nothing, however,
was heard of the ordinance till last Sun
day. Since its passage the Council has
passed an ordinance requiring the tele-
phone and telegraph companies to num-
Der all their poles. This has been done
and at the same time all the poles of the
Southern Pacifc's street lines in Oakland
. have also been numbered, and this latter
piece of work has given rise to much spec
ulation,
When the pole ordinance was passed 1t
was stated by. the representatives OF the
telegraph and telephone lines that 1t was
illegal, inasmuch as it is discrimlnatIve,
because the electric road masts were not
also taxed. The argument was MADE that
the electric roads were given FRANCHISE to
erect poles and maintain them. Ihe tele-
phone and telegraph companies advanced
the same argument. 1t was further stated
that the electric road poles were taxed as
personal property. The telegraph COM
pany's pleader said the same was true of
them. 1t was finally stated that if an at
tempt were made to collect the tax 1t would
be resisted and the city would have to COL
lect through the courts.
Now il is claimed that the Southern Pa
CHIC has come to the help of the telephone
and telegraph corporations and is number
ing its poles so that the taxed corporations
can plead discrimination, and also that the
numbering of their poles is not for the
purpose of taxation, but merely for con-
venience, as it does street railroads.
l. :
about to take steps to enforce the ordi-
nance. As the ordinance reads, there can
not be any benefit derived by the City
from the tax before next June.
Boycotting Haywards' Postmaster.
Postmaster Obermuller of Haywards is
ventilating a grievance. The receipts of
his office have decreased to such an extent
that the Haywards office is in danger OF
being rated in q lower class than it is al
present, and if this calamity happens
Postmaster 0bermuller's salary will de.
crease proportionately. There are said to
be more than fifty political enemies of Mr.
Obermuller's who are making practice OF
doing all their purchasing of stamps in
Oakland for the purpose of boycotting the
HaywaTds official. The friends of the
postmaster have recently banded together
and are trying to induce Obermuller' S
friends from all parts of the county to
Their action has already borne fruit
The Council and Garbage.
The Council chamber was filled with
doctors, Councilmen and interested citi-
zens last night, all anxious to know what
was to be done with the city's garbage.
The question of disposing of the refuse is
one which has been forced upon the
Council by the Board of Health in enforc-
ing the ordinance prohibiting the dump
4 ing of garbage inside the city limits. The
matter was settled temporarily by appoint
ing committee with power to act till the
next meeting efthe Council.
Light Demand for Hay.
The demand for hay in Alameda County
by the farmers. There is very brisk de-
mand for chevalier barley, the price rang
ing from 81 10 to 81 Is. From a general
comparison it is stated that Livermore
Valley raised the finest crop of barley to
be found in the State and local dealers are
buying all they can secure.
Miss Lane and the Law Association.
The Alameda Law Association MET last
night and deferred taking action on Miss
Lanes application for membership till
Wednesday night. Some of the members
are in favor of admitting women to the
sessions.
The Grand Jury.
The District Attorney has decided that it is
time for prompt and decisive action in regard
TO the shortage in the Tax Collectors Office.
The Superior Court yesterday ordered a sum-
mons issued to-day for the Grand Jury TO re-
port next Monday. The matter the jury will
consider will be the responsibility of Auditor
Myron Whidden for the disappearance of the
tax money Expert Fred A. Jacobs is now al
work in the Office of the Tax Collector over the
rolls of Mr.. Barber.
j. Leo Park, who was a deputy under Ros-
borough is free from any responsibility in the
shortage, in the mind of the District Attorney.
Goldberg Estate.
A number of the heirs of Morris Gold berg,
with their attorneys, were in conference yes
terdsy in regard to partial distribution of the
estate of the deceased, which in part consists
of S160, 900 in cash on hand. Two contests are
pending. One OF these is by Mrs. Cutie Sim
sen, niece who was LETT out. This is thought
To be & oversight on the part of Mr.. Goldberg,
who remembered thirty or more relations and
left $20, 700 for benevolent purposes. Mrs.
Simsen is said to be willing to compromise
upon the basis that she be allowed the same
portion as those OF the same relationship.
Hart North has been appointed attorney for
some fifteen absent heirs.
Will Be No Phantasma.
The ladies of the Woman's Exchange Of this
city have decided that the phantasma cannot
be given under their auspices.
HISTORY OF YESTERDAY.