The San Francisco call., 1896-04-11
Deposits and Securities Valued
at $1oS,ooo,ooo Listed for
$6,oOo,ooo.
SOME STARTLING FIGURES
Carl w. Won Tiedeman and Harry
Wilkins Indicted for Perjury.
Frank Miller's Case.

Several members of the Grand Jury
strenuousEy denied yesterday that any de-
linouenc1es or misconduct had been found
in the Assessors office, or that any inves-
tigation of that office in particular had
been directed. 1t is known, however, that
the Grand Jury committee on Assessor,
Auditor and Treasurer, of which John
Landers is chairman. and to which G. III.
Umbsen and Theodore F. Payne belong,
paid visit secretly to John d. Siebe and
made inquiries concerning the general
management of the Assessors office. 1t is
surmised. moreover, that this committee
IS in possession of information which is
very important, if not startling.
Members of the Grand Jury gener-
ally are exceedingly reticent with
everything but denial, yet it was obvious
yesterday that John H. Burke had been
called as a witness by the jury. 1t is
2known that he gained great deal OF pub
i1ic notice some sixteen years ago in a per-
sistent effort to have Assessor Badlam list
,for taxation vast deal of property which
chad not then been assessed. The result of
.the agitation which he then instituted
land brought before the Grand Jury was
The creation of a supplemental assessment
sroll of 500, 600 O0G. The valuation of the
gas company's franchise was increased
from 81 ,OOO, 600 TO $5,0Oo,o00, and similar
raise put on the Spring Valley franchise.
Mr.. Burke was called as a witness late
in the afternoon, and was not detained for
a great length of time. 1t is understood
that he will go before the jury again.
When questioned as to the nature of his
testimony yesterday he divulged no fur
ther information than that it related to
the assessment roll.
The Grand Jury committee, however, of
which MIR. Landers is chairman, is be-
lieved to be in possession of data showing
hat sworn statements of nine of the banks
of San Francisco show that these institu-
tions possess So, ,00O, 900 more of taxable
property than they are charged with on
the assessment rolls. There Is data to
show that the banks of San Francisco, all
told, hold of taxable property $10S, 900 600.
Yet Assessor Siebe has assessed the whole
lot for only $4,000, 900. 1t is calculated
that from the $10S 600, 600 some $47, 600, 600
should be deducted for unsecured debts,
but that the residue is under the law tax
able. The point IS advanced, again, that
the banks are not entitled to the deduc-
tion because the assessments are arbitrary.
Had sworn statements been IL ade the off
set could be allowed, but not after neglect
or refusal to file sworn statements.
From what source the committee has
obtained this information does not tran
spire, but likely solution is that John H.
Burke, since his arrival from Minnea polls
two months ago, has been delving into
assessment statistics.
The observation has not escaped the
committee that the gas company fran
chise, once raised to S5,00o,000, is now
down to 81. 600, 900, and similar reduction
has followed with reference to the Spring
Valley franchise
The same rule of light assessment is said
to apply to the Pacific Improvement Com
pany, the Southern Development Com
pany and street railway franchises
generally.
conservative grand juror is quoted as
saying: "If this system of assessment is
carried much further the whole burden OF
taxation will fall on the owners of home
steads and the actual possessors of real
estate. AS it now stands, the vast volume
of cash. stocks, notes and securities de-
posted in banks and the great stores filled
with merchandise of common value paw
taxes on but a small percentage of Just
|, valuation, while the owners of real estate
must pay on a full valuation a rate
amounting almost to contiscation in order
TO furnish the millions required for the
tax-eating classes of the City and State
governments
1t is known that some members of the
Grand Jury are in favor of resolute meas.
lures to make the Assessor assess the rich
Fin the same degree that he does the poor,
sOthers of the jury are inclined to be con-
tservative, holding that public good would
not be advanced by the adoption of radi-
cal measures against corporations and the
rich.
The decision of the Supreme Court of
the United States in the matter of taxing
franchises is hailed as a benefit, and some
of the members Of the Grand Jury are in
terested in seeing that the franchises are
assessed to their full value.
Horace D. Dunn, expert of the Grand
Jury, has concluded his investigation of
accounts and records in the Recorder s