The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-05
FIGURES WITH A MORAL.
For Ten Years Past the Octo-
pus Has Cheated the State
of Its Dues.
THE CALL" SPEAKS FOR ALL.
VIII the State Board of EQUALIZATION
Obey the Law This
Year2

The State Board of Equalization is in
session and is about to place valuation
upon and to assess the railroad properties
within the State for purposes of taxation
and in accordance with the duty imposed
upon them by law.
On the 11th of August, 1884, the Hon. D.
NJ. Delmas, representing the people of the
State OF California, appeared
Efficacy of D. before that board, and there
N. DelHos' delivered one of the greatest
Great Speech speeches OF his notable ca
Before the reer as lawyer and orator
Board. against reduction by the
board of its assessment of
railroads and In favor of an increase there
OF. The result of that speech is a matter of
State history. So conclusive was its reason
ing, so incontrovertible were its facts, so
apt were its illustrations and so cogent its
anaogies that the State Board of Equaliza-
tion. after listening to Mr.. DeImas, raised
the assessment upon the railroad lines
operated and controlled by the Southern
Pacific Company thirteen million dollars
above the valuations of the previous year,
and thereby added one hundred and fifty
thousand dollars to the revenue of the
State of California for the wear of 1884.
1t is eleven long years since any repre-
sentative of the people has appeared be-
fore the State Board of Equalization to
argue in favor OF Just assessment of the
vast railroad properties within the State.
During each of these eleven years the
board has held its annual session in Sacra-
mento. and every year as regularly as the
time came round the skilled and the subtle
attorneys and agents of the Southern Pa
cific Company have been before the board
with elaborate statistics and cunningly de- |
vised arguments. urging and pleading for
a reduction OF the assessment of that cor |
poration, and declaring that the making of |
such reduction would result in the cheerful
payment by the Southern Pacific Company I
of its taxes for each fiscal year. During |
nearly every one of these eleven years the i
State Board of Equalization has listened TO
the prayer of the Southern Pacific Com |
pany and in some form or other has granted
its request. The thirteen million dollars of
increase accomplished by Mr.. DeImas in
1884 has dwindled away to less than moth
ing. While the property values OF pri-
vate taxpayers have during that period
constantly and largely increased upon the
SACIN1SCASJ
rule has been applied by the State Board
of Equalization to the properties Of the
Southern Pacific Company until its rail
roads and rolling-stock are now assessed
and valued at a less amount per mile than
they were twelve years ago.
1t is high time, therefore, that a cham
pion of the rights of the people OF the
State of California should
again speak out in convinc- The Time
ing protest against the plea Ripe for |
of the railroad company for an nOthe
still further decrease in Cha M pG07t
tn sir assessment and should of the PeO- |
once more present before the pile.
State Board of Equalization the indls-
putable facts and figures showing conclu-
sivelv that railroad properties are already |
assessed at a value far below the proper
tionate rate of private valuations, and also |
far below the rate required by law, and |
that instead of being lowered the valua-
ton of railroad properties throughout the !
State should be increased to figure ap |
proximating at least the valuation which |
the corporations put upon their own prop |
erty and upon which they have borrowed
millions of money and earned millions of
income.
The State Board of Equalization is at
nresent in session and is about to make its
assessment of railroad property for the
present fiscal year. THE CALL assumes as
of right to represent the people of the
State of California once more before that
bodv and to demonstrate by facts and fig
ures, to which the passage OF years has
given greater potency, that the valuations
of the properties of the railroad COM
panies should not only not be lowered but
should in fact be largely increased. II the /
members of the State Board OF Equaliza-
ton would be true to their oaths OF office
and to the public interests, which have
been intrusted to their care, and to the
rights OF the people, which they are
presumed to guard, they will do well to |
read closely and to consider carefully the !
matters which are herein presented before |
them before they yield to the seductive !
nraver of the Southern Pacific Company |
for a decrease in its assessment or even re-
solve against an increase over the valua-
tions of former years.
Across the center of this page is placed |
a table of statistics which discloses at |
glance the ridiculous folly |
E;5,,,., Th0t of the claim that railroad |
Proge the valuations for the purpose
e. Eou,, of the of taxation are too high |
C3o;,o MADE and demonstrates beyond |
bg The Rail contradiction that they are
roode far too low. There is re-
yealed the history of the
past twelve years of railroad assessments.
Tbere is shown in figures taken from the
official reports and sworn statements OF
he railroad companies, the record OF the
extent, cost, value and assessment OF the
our principal railroad lines controlled and
operated by the Southern Pacific Company
githin the State of California.
We call upon the State Board of Equali-
,ation 10 examine these statistics closely
before they proceed to make their assess
nent of railroad properties for the present
- -,ua asl- 4ho r,eonle of the State of