The San Francisco call., 1896-11-25
Proposed Changes in the State
Laws Discussed at the
Conference.
Committees Appointed to Further the
Reforms That Are Deemed
Necessary.

SACRAMENTO, CAL, Nov. 24-The
State Convent of Assessors reconvened
at 10 o clock this morning and the rollcall
developed that three more counties were
| represented by the appearance of their
Assessors. The newcomers were John
Monahan of Tuolumne County, who has
served as Assessor for eighteen years;
Frank Mattison of Santa Cruz ana b. L.
McPhail of San Benito.
The report of the committee on perma-
nent organization and order of business
was adopted.
When the report of the committee on
credentials was read Assessor Berkey OF
Sacramento moved to amend by allowing
all chief deputies TO have vote in the
convention. whether they came with cre-
dentials as representatives Of the Asses
sors or whether they came in company
with the Assessors. The motion met with
opposition from Barham of Tehama, who
declared that it would give an advantage
to counties which were represented by
both an Assessor and a deputy. He did
not believe il fair that one county should
have more voice in the convention than
another. and said all should be treated
alike. The motion to amend was voted
down and the motion to adopt the report
of the committee on credentials was car
ried.
81. NJ. Meacham of Napa was elected
vice. president, Deputy George Feather
store of Glenn, assistant secretary; J. H.
Simonson of Merced, treasurer. and Adams
of PAGER, Spencer of Ell Dorado and
Hayward of San Mateo. members OF the
committee on finance. Carl Piehn, pro-
fessor OF political economy at Berkeley,
who was visiting the convention, was ad-
mitted to its councils.
The convention tt en- took a recess of
twenty minutes 10 enable the chairman to
select the committees recommended in the
report of the committee on organization.
When the convention was again called TO
order. Chairman Scott announced the fol-
lowing committees:
Banks and banking-Campbell of Stanislaus,
Ortmau OF San Joaquin, Vanderhoof of So
noma, Summerland of Los Angeles and Vincent
oil Fresno.
Revision of the revenue laws-Sebe OF San
Francisco, Kendall of San Bernardino, Donlan
of Ventura, Barham OF Tehama and McFaun
OF Mendocino.
New Observation-Disclosures of Sacramento
| King of San Luis Obispo, Splitter OF Santa
( Clara, Meacham of Napa and NunAn Jr. of
| Calayeras.
The report of the finance com mittee, to
the effect that each memb Der OF the con-
vention be assessed 90 cents, was adopted
! 1t was agreed that Roberts rules should
BE- adopted to govern the convention, aad
each member present stepped up to the
captains office and deposited sc cents as
! a nucleus for the attention of the newly
| elected treasurer.
| Winfield Scott presented recon.menda-
tion regarding recommendations to the
! revenue laws, which was read and referred
/ Ia
posed amendments were TO sections 3647,
3S16. 1920, 1881, $3.50. 1877, 3629, 1851, 1888,
| 364S and 3649 and the repeal of section
1881 of the State revenue laws was advo-
Gated. The section the repeal of which is
recommended is as follows:
! Within fifteen days after the first Monday In
/ August of each year the Auditor of the county
or city and county must make careful exam
| ination OF the assessment book or books of The
county or city and county, and ascertain there
from the amount or amounts of all taxes that
| should have been collected by the Assessor in
pursuance of this chapter and which have not
been collected. lie must then state on ac-
| count TO the Assessor aud demand from him
| that the amount or amounts remaining un-
collected shall be paid into the county treas
ury within fifteen days from the date of said
demand. II at the expira ton of said time the
Assessor he's not settled for and paid SAID
amount or amounts into the treasury as afore-
! said the District Attorney must commence an
action in the proper court against the Assessor
and his bondsmen for the recovery of said
amount of amounts so remaining uncollected
and upon the trial of such action no defense
| shall be admissible except that the assessment
or assessments are Illegal, Invalid or void.
A resolution relative to the amendment
of section 1881, which relates TO errors on
the assessment-roll, was introduced bv
Siebe of San Francisco and King of San
Luis Obispo. Siebe's resolution follows:
Omissions, errors, duplicate assessments or
defects in form in any orig al aSSessme Mt
or from the sworn statement, field book eld
map, block book or any proceeding connected
Herewith, what was inte nded may, with the
written consent of the District Attorney, be
supplied or corrected by the Assessor at any
time prior to the sale for delinquent taxes and
after the original assessment was made.
A resolution was introduced calling for
the repeal of the law providing for field
enrollment-b book. This law compeis As
SCISSORS TO visit each house and place of
business in their district and enroll all
male persons over the age of 18 years and
nnder the age OF sixty years residing
therein. The Information required to be
obtained from every person SO enrolled is
very exhaustive.
Scores of resolutions relating to amend
ments of code sections were presented and
referred to the committee on resolutions,
Chairman Scott moved that the conven-
tion go into a committee OF the whole and,
in company with the Code Commissioners
and the State Board of Equalization. con-
s'der the resolutions that had been pre-
sented. The evening was consumed in
discussing these resolutions.
ONLY SAIED BY STRATEGY.