The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-27
Asked to Explain the Reported
Depreciation in Valu-
atoms.
AN EXCHANGE OF REPARTEE.
Willy Of San Joaquin and Berkey of
Sacramento Undergo a Cross
Examination.

1921, 403 in the San Joaquin tax levy, as in
comparison with that of last year Mr..
Willy, Deputy Assessor. stated that the
shortage was on personal property en-
tirely. Horses and mules had fallen off
$115,0O0; cattle, sheep and hogs, $4,000.
Other property had been assessed at about
the same rate as in 1894, according to the
gentlemans showing. Stockton seemed to
at standstili, as no new buildings OF con-
sequence were reported.
''How about that railroad down in your
country? What has become of the money
collected for that purpose?" questioned
Equalizer Morehouse.
''We expect to have the pleasure of
assessing that another season; and the
money collected all went to San Fran
CISCO" replied Mr.. Willy.
stockton is declared to be good bust
ness town." remarked Equalizer Colgan,
''yet the showing made by this years tax
list would hardly indicate such to be the
fact"
''It is good business town." was the
reply. 81 am not here to belittle the town.
The rates of assessment show that there
has been no deterioration in realestate
$3.50 to $500 per front foot. This is in the
business portion of the city, and mostly on
Main and Hunter Streets"
"How is it that property on Weber ave-
nue. is assessed so light" questioned Equal
izer Colgaa. II always considered that to
be the best street in the city. but you don't
use it for assessing purposes"
''It is the broadcast, but has been spoiled
by the railroad company's track which
runs its entire length" replied Mr.. Willy.
"In my opinion California street is the
future business street."
'I find" said Equalizer Beamer, "that
property fronting on Main street 100 feet
rents for $500 per month. 1t was sold some
time back for 10000. The Arcade build
ing, on the northeast corner of Main and
San Joaquin streets, is assessed at $425 per
front foot, and produces S525 rental; also
ety's property, which recently brought
$500, was assessed at but $6500."
"That property was well sold," dryly re-
marked Mr.. Withert, prominent real
estate man who had accompanied the As
SCISSORS.
"What is the comparison in moneys and
solvent credits between San Joaquin and
Alameda counties?" questioned Equalizer
Arnold.
~ am not informed on the question"
replied Mr.. Willy, "but 1 should judge it
would be in favor OF the latter
Upon investigation it was found that
Alameda had returned $685., 900, San Joa-
quin 1853, OO0 while Sacramento County
showed 81, 1853 900.
"Where do your moneyed men keep
their money2' asked Equalizer More
house.
"As rule they don't have any," re-
torted Mr.. Willy.
"But what want to get at is this, Do
they bank at home or in San Francisco2"
persisted Mr.. Morehouse. Now, for in
stance, men doing business in Oakland in
the main bank in San Francisco. Do your
people do SOP"
81 can't say" replied Mr.. Willy, "but
can certainly attach no blame to the peo-
pie of Oakland. That city is simply bed
room for San Francisco. l should judge
that businessmen in Stockton having the
good of their city at heart would bank at
home. To prove that our assessments are
fully up to value, take, for instance, 13 lots
recently sold in Stockton in one of its best
localities, and you will find that they
brought far less than their assessed
value"
The building and loan plan was then
discussed and reference made to the vari-
Gus growing fruit crops, and Assessor
Berkey appeared III behalf of Sacramento
County. He opened the proceedings by
making a speech to the effect that he had
az m hr1i1
dence between himself and the people, and
attempted to spring bombsheH upon the
board by reading clipping from the Bee,
beginning as follows:
81 would like to see this man Berkey, the
Assessor of Sacramento County. / want him
to explain why he has made so many reduc-
tons in city property" remarked Chairman
Take that $500, 900 that he put upon the
bank of d. o. Mills and he has made sorry
showing" Clipped in Controller Colgan, as he
glanced over the returns from Sacramento
County.
Beamer said: "Take out that $500, 900 from
the bank of d. 0. Mills and he has not got as
much as Dick Irvine did,"
Mr.. Berkey said that when he first read
the article his feelings had been wounded,
and he hoped that Sacramento County
would not be dealt with in the manner
that the article had suggested.
Il did make that remark" said Mr..
Morehouse. "But the board had no hos
tile feeling against Mr.. Berkey at that
time. / repeat that remark still.''
Controller Colgan said that the article
had quoted him properly and correctly,
but the board had no hostile feeling
against Mr.. Berkey. All the acts of the
board were done in the open. They had
nothing to conceal and proposed to treat
every one alike.
This prompt acknowledgment on the
part OF the members of the board caused
the Assessors bombshelI to fzzle instead
of exploding. He then entered into
lengthy description OF his method of
assessing, but failed to explain the reason
why, when all statistics prove that Sacra-
mento was attaining rapid growth, the
assessment on property should fall
$436, 283 below the amount OF last years
tax levy. He attempted to show gain of
$363,71 over the list of 1894, but on de-
Quoting the 100000 assessment on the
bank of D. o. Mills, never before assessed
and now in dispute on the grounds of it
being National bank, he failed to make
his point.
Then the board in great good humor at
the fiasco of the intended explosion put
Assessor Berkey through trying course
of SPROUTS and among other things do