The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-07-13
-CORNERED
ANNUAL TUSSLE,
Supervisors and Assessor
on the Rack Of Pub
lie Opinion.
BETWEEN TWO EVILS
A MaSs-Meeting That Furnished
Much Food or Political
Thought.
RATS AND FEVER IN JAIL.
A Gorgeous Patrol Sys EN- That Came
and Vanished in
Month.
RATS AND FEVER IN JAIL
oAk1Axp orrEcr Sac FRAxcrgco CAI1.l


is regarded with more than the usual
amount OF interest. Three out of five Su-
pervisors will be elected this November,
and the trio. who are all anxious for re-
election, are worse off than the proverbial
man between the deep sea and something
else. Pelouze, johnson and Bailey are the
anxious ones, and if they can steer their
political barks to victory next November
they Will prove themselves diplomats of
more than ordinary ability.
The com plication is pretty. To politi-
cal student il is superb, as it offers more
ground for probabilities than has ever
been seen in this county. The great point
the pons asinorum of the situation is the
question OF reducing the assessments of
the banks and corporations, notably the
Southern Pacific property, from the figures
fixed by the Assessor. 1t is situation
difficult to approach either with pen or
word of mouth, for the honesty of both
sides can be assalled. no matter what they
say or do. Take Assessor Dalton's posi-
ton.
He has raised the assessments to man.
moth figures when compared with those
that were compiled by men known to be
friendly to the railroad. Yet he declares
he has been guided by the best of advice,
and perhaps one good proof of this is that
several other Assessors in the State have
followed his example. Dalton certainly
has revolu tionized the assessment rolls,
but he he has met with such strenuous OPP
position that whatever merit his work may
have possessed has been considerably neu-
tralized, and every effort made gives his
work the appearance OF having been I'M
dertaken for the purpose of political clap
trap. 1t has even been limited by his
extreme enemies that Assessor Dalton has
an eye on the Governorship. All these in
situations make his position unpleasant
in some respects, and would discourage
him if he could be discouraged. Dalton
however, ought to know by this time that it
was not the votes of the men who put him
IN Office who are now opposing his assess
ments and slurring his motives.
The Supervisors are infinitely worse off.
They are in a very hades of trouble. On
Monday night there will be mass-rneet-
ing at the Tabernacle, and in the call are
these significant words:
An honest, fearless Assessor has done his
duty by the people OF Alameda County. Prop
erty values have been fairly assessed, and the
great corporate interests of the county have
or the possessor OF moderate home. From
experiences gained last year il is probable that
the County Supervisors, sitting as q County
Board OF Equalization, will attempt to undo
the work of our Assessor. That the voice of
the people may be heard in Endorsement of the
assessment and in protest of any reduction of
it by the Board of Equalization, the under
signed, representing al political parties, pro-
pose mass-meeting for Monday evening, July
ID, at the Tabernacle, with local speakers cap
able OF explaining the position of the people.
As the question of the assessments re-
ferred TO is now in the hands of the Su-
pervisors the call for the meeting can only
be construed as a political movement.
pure ana simple. In Great Britain it
would be called coercion. If the Super
Tisors have any consciences they will
surely use them, independent of a mass
meeting. Ii they have not, a mass meet
ing will not affect them. If the assess
ments are reduced the outgoing Super
visors are doomed; if they are not re-
duced, the manipulators of the mass.
meeting will take all the glory, and will
declare that they "stiffened up" the board.
This way of doing" politics is suggestive
of unfair play, because the men most af.
fected have no means by which they can.
with decency, reply. 1t should be renem-
bered that their treatment of the assess.
ments last year should have sealed their
fate, and if it did not, then a repetition OF
their work will not produce any more eff.
feet now. Bailey and Pelouze have made
their records-such as they are-and theil
consciences are as proof against mass.
meetings as their acts are from impeach-
ment under the present judicial admins
tration of the county.
The chief mover Of the Superyisoria
opposition, w. H. Friend, is in a worse fl
than any one. He has made great effort,
toward reform and deserves great credit
for what he has done. But he is now
neutralizing bis own. work. he is himself
TO face the public as a candidate for Super.
visor. This knowledge somewhat robs his
reform record of its value, and when he
makes patriotic speech at the Taber.
nacle his enemies will at once proclaim
that his desire to see the Assessor sus.
tanned is the natural consequence of his
ambition TO succeed one of the Super
vlsors whom he ''fears" will attempt to
undo the work OF our Assessor" II Mr..
Friend should announce from the plat
form that he is not seeking any thing more
dlthcult to obtain than glory he car
accomplish great local work between
now and November.
Once again the City Prison is to the
front For several years successive grand
luries and health officers have recon.
mended" that prisoners be kept in place
where there is no danger of them dying
from the effect of poisonous gases The
recommendations must be very bulky by
: this time, but the decayed, unhealthy
Fprison still remains. On several occasions
boys have pushed the tops from their cells
aud have walked out; other prisoners have
pushed through portion of the crum.
bling stone wall and have walked to lib.
srty-and yet nothing is done by way Of
relief.
Health Officer Bradley entered on hi: