The record-union., 1896-08-01
MORE THAN Was RETURNED.
Alameda'S Assessor Was Very Much
Mistaken.
Two Miles More Track Given in BY the
Southern Pacific Than It Had
in That County.

Yesterday was the time set by the
State Board of Equalization for hear
ing the representatives Of the Southern
Pacific Company and the Pullman Pal
ace Car Company. The former com
Dany was represented by E. Black
Ryan, its Tax Agent, and George T..
s<link, and the latter by j. P. Meehan,
she Superintendent on this coast.
Mr.. Ryan addressed the board for
Mr. Meehan, saying that the latter
asked for pro rata rating on the cars
OF the Pullman Company. The COM
pany had questioned the jurisdiction
Of the board to assess the cars when it
did not own or operate a road, but the
contention had been overruled. Now,
instead of prorating the cars in Califor-
aia, however, 1t asks that the prorating
extend clear to Chicago.
Mr.. Meehan stated that his conten-
ton was that both the cars owned in
conjunction with the Southern Pacific
Company and those owned entirely by
fhe Pullman Company should all be
reported by him and taxed pro rata
with the cars Of his company in other
States. but the Southern Pacific Com
pany would not consent and wished to
make it's own report on the cars owned
jointly. The Pullman Car Company
wished to make all its reports uniform,
and this was the reason for his request.
The number of cars required for the
service on the California roads was
seventy-six, one-fourth Of which was
valued at $4,000, and they run over
railroads in a number of States; for
that reason he thought they should be
Erorated according to the total mile
age, because they are taxed in the
other States also.
Mr.. Ryan said that the proposition
was that as the cars were used on 700
miles in California, out Of 1000 miles
of their total run, the Pullman Com
pany asked a pro rata of seven hun
dredtwo thousandths to be assessed
here. The Southern Pacific Company
did not ask for any such thing, as it
held that the board had jurisdiction
over every wheel that turns in the
cars in which it was interested, believ-
ing they should be taxed where they
y ere owned and used.
The statement of Mr.. Sterry for the
Atlantic and Pacific road that Mr..
board to assess the leased line belong
ing to the Southern Pacific Company
TO the Atlantic and Pacific Company,
1r. Ryan said that he had included
that portion Of the road in his report
and did not propose to change it. That
was matter on which the board must
act according to its judgment. The
Supreme Court decision of Illinois was
that track was assessed as a whole
and should not be assessed at higher
rate in one county than In another,
5nd he did not think the counties
would be satisfied to have the manner
of assessment changed. San Bernar-
dino and Kern Counties would natu-
rally say that they were not receiving
their proper pro rata Of the Southern
Pacific Companys tax If it was as
Eessed as Mr. Sterry wished For him
self, If the assessment could be legally
changed. he had no objection to the
granting of Mr.. Sterry's request.
Mr.. Ryan then stated that he ap-
peared for the Central Pacific Railroad
Company, the Southern Pacific Rail
road Company. the Northern Railway
Company, the California Pacific Rail-
road Company. the Northern California
Railway Company. the South Pacific
Coast Railway Company and the
Southern California Motor Railroad
Company.
He said that early in the season it
was stated that the Central Pacific
railroad Company and the Northern
Railway Company had returned their
tracks short Of the actual length in