The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-29
Valuations of Property In the
Metropolis Reasonably
High.
Illustrated BY COMPARISONS.
Exceptions Taken by the Board to
the Levy on the Various
Banks.


campaign on the part of San francisco
County before the Board of Equalization
this morning By reading statement pre-
pared at the request of the Board of Super
visors of that City, giving series OF
reasons why the tax assessment of San
Francisco County should not be increased.
The document began with the assertion
that the Assessor had cor scientiously
sought to comply with the definition of
the law that real and personal property
should be assessed at its full cash value,
and, continuing, stated that San Francisco
property was assessed with more uniform
ity and, considering the difficulties of as
certaining its value at higher percentage
than property in any other county OF the
State; that if such be the case it was the
duty of the board to reduce assessments
instead of raising them.
After stating the method by which as
sessments were levied, the statement was
made that during the past five years the
business and manufacturing interests of the
City had suffered grievously, and that the
stagnation in commerce had reduced rents
to figure not known in years.
Deputy Assessor Herzer quoted the as
sessment-rolls of his county for the past
six years, and also the assessment-rolls of
seventeen other counties, claiming that
San Francisco assessment had increased
q. 43 per cent, while the increase of assessed
value in the State, exclusive of San Fran
cisco, was but $50. Solvent credits and
moneys, he claimed, were better assessed
than in any other portion of the State. He
Hc+ rs h1c Ell WI haH
gone out of business since 1889, and whose
assessments had footed up $3,5779l1.
At this point Assessor Herzer was inter-
rupted by Equalizer Arnold, who wanted
to be informed if the Assessor considered
that any argument in favor of reduction
in the assessment. The real estate occu-
pied by these firms was still there and the
business they possessed had been absorbed
by other firms, many OF whom were new
and successful.
Mr.. Herzer replied, "Well, perhaps SC"
and proceeded to give the decrease in the
value of the shipping interests and Chi
nese merchandise, which had declined
since 1890 from S1.499, 723 to $750,31S. At
tention was drawn to the assessed value of
property per front foot in San Francisco as
compared with that of other cities, and the
Assessor alluded in a satirical manner to
the report of Assessor Dalton of Alameda
when he made his plea before the board
few days ago.
Mr.. Dalton" continued Mr.. Herzer,
claimed that the front-foot assessments
in Alameda were S1150, Sacramento $165,
San Jose $3.50, but failed to mention San
Francisco, although he received figures
~ L
Francisco assessments were from $l750 to
$1,000 per front foot.
I'm conclusion let me say the Assessor,
on behalf of the taxpayers of San Fran
cisco, does not ask for any mercy at the
hands of this board. He appears with an
assessment, which he claims has been
conscientiously compiled, and has endeav-
ored to do justice to the taxpayers, as be-
tween each other, to the City, which all
ere in duty bound to maintain, and the
State, as the great sovereign to whom the
tribute of all Is due. Anxious to render
unto Caesar the things that are Casar's,' he
has, at the same time, endeavored to do
justice to Csesars subjects. Even the Chi
nese, those unremitting parasites of civ
ilization, are leaving US to our fate; and
merely ask for justice"
"Mr. Herzer," said Equalizer Arnold,
'you seem fond of comparing the amount
of money in your city assessment with that
of other cities. Now, your listing OF solvent
credits in San Francisco is 1926, 600, 900, and
the sworn statements of your banks show
that they possess $1S3, 100000, or more than
half of the total amount, while Los An
geles lists $50, 900, 600, of which the banks
: old $11, 100000. Consequently, the As
SCISSOR in that city gets seven times as much
solvent credits outside the banks as you do.
How do you account for this? For In
stance, take the Bank of California. 1t
has paid up capital of $4,000, 000 yet you
have it assessed for only 81, LAC, 900, with no
solvent credits"
THAT bank has no solvent credits" de-
clared Mr. Herzer.
as he clutched handful of documents,
left his chair and started toward Mr.
Herzer. Just take your pencil aud I'll
read you some figures"
After considerable computation, Mr..
Herzer contending that the capital stock
of 100000 was invested in stocks and
bonds, and, therefore, should not be as
sessed, and Mr.. Arnold insisting that it
had escaped assessment, Mr.. Herzer in
formed the board that he had assessed the
Bank of California for 81 10000.
"That bank should have been assessed
for "a, 600, 0O0," remarked Equalizer Arnold,
"and the same statement applies to every
other bank in San Francisco. 1t must be
because you don't figure up those things
right There isn't bank in your city
that is assessed right"
''Or in any other city in the State" re-
marked Equalizer Cheesebrough.
Supervisor Taylor then addressed the
board as follows:
II have no particular address to make,
but ! wish to say that there has been a
great depreciation in values and manufac-
turing interests in our city. One of the
greatest of these is the wooden mills, which
desire to sell their interests at nominal
figure"
There is a gain of nearly 81 ,0oo, 900 in
money in the banks; that is good show
ing" said Equalizer Arnold.
Yes" replied Mr.. Taylor, "the money
is there, but moneyed men, while having
money, can see no way to invest it favor