The record-union., 1896-09-04

| 1AA. SHeSeDrOuSn asked IL the Odtd
rad been gathered by an expert ap-
POINTED by the board
Mr Beamer replied that he had en-
pioyed competent person for the pur-
pose. 1t made no difference whether
the data We're collected by an expert OF
not, so long as they were reliable. Did
Mr.. Chesebrough question their relia-
bility?
MI Morehouse said that when the
proud city of San Francisco puts upon
It's member the responsibility Of meet
ing objections instead Of having its
cltlzenS come themselves TO answer
questions, they shirk their duty and
force the board to draw a line between
him as member and as a representa-
tive of the city
| Chesebrough said the roll had been
| increased several millions. They
thought the assessment was fair and
that was the reason they did not come.
| Morehouse said that the other coun-
ties cited, from one end of the State to
the other, had sent their representative
taxpayers by land and sea to answer
questions. Why do not these San
Francisco men who complain come here
and look the members of the board in
the eye and answer questions as to
| their property as others do.
| Mr.. Beamer explained that he took
the licenses of the merchants based on
their sales and compared them with
the assessments on the roll and they
showed some queer things. For in
stance, the Standard Oil Company is
assessed for 100000 on all it's personal
L
terly sales of from S200,000 to 100000
say an average Of $.50000, showing
that it sold 4.16 times as much every
three months as it was assessed for.
| MIR. Chesebrough said he would not
say that the roll was perfect. He
might admit that it was too low, but
1t was as high as any city and county
OF similar size. The way of collecting
data was an unfair one, and in order
to do so man had to run down his
! own city. There was only one man
who could have furnished the data that
! had been given to Mr.. Beamer, and
Thomas Pedlar was the man who
had done so. He was a Judas Iscariot.
| Mr.. Beamer said that there was no
reason for attacking Pedlar He was
man Of high scholarly attainments, a
| perfect gentleman and a thoroughly
! honorable, reliable man. If he must be
q marked man because he furnished
data to the State Board, and that was
the best argument San Francisco had
to offer. things had come to q pretty
pass. He would ask if any data fur
nished by him are untrue. Licenses
are issued on sworn statements. DO
men swear to a larger amount than
their business really is and pay for IL
cense on it? If it is not a fair basis of
comparison why is it not?
| Neustadt Bros. average sales of
S4OO,OOO quarter. If so, they sell four
| times as much in three months as they
| are assessed for.
| Mr.. Chesebrough said that had moth
| ing to do with the stock on the first Of
March. rs
Chairman Morehouse said the data
vas gathered to aid the board in MAX
ing up their minds, not to satisfy the
merchants. They are SO we'll satisfied
with their assessments that they do not
come here. The board has had data
collected several times before, in Los
Angeles and other places, and no OBJ
lection had been raised. But this spirit
cisco, and a man who furnishes inform
alton to the board is forced out of his
position, as has been done before.
| Every man on the board is held up to
ridicule and slanderous attack, and the
leading papers do not publish the data
collected by the board fairly and cor
rectly, but they defend San Francisco
by Misrepresentation and abuse
Mr.. Beamer continued that Bucking-
ham & Hecht had an arbitrary assess
nlent of only $4,000.
Mr.. Chesebrough said that he had al
ways contended that the law should
be enforced and arbitrary assessments
so levied that they could be made to
| stick
Mr.. Beamer said that there were more
sworn statements now than formerly
| Baker & Hamilton, he said, We're as
sessed for only S240,00 while their
quarterly sales We're $780, 900, 12s times
as much as the assessment To be sure
the roll had been increased about So,
000,0OO, of which the city and town lots
were 100000, but when Mr. At
kinson, who was we'll posted, was asked
how much Of the S32 100000 increase
would produce revenue to the State he
| SdiL liiotl ltAcS WOulQ ne pdiu Oii dDOui
$4,000. .00O, and when asked if the other
S20O00,O00 would stand on the roll and
come to the board in the shape of a law
suit he said yes.
Mr.. Beamer said he did not himsel1
| think the honest increase was over
S12,000,000.
Then he switched off on the auction
sales of OFarrell e. Co., on August 20th
| ,-ba
on Fourth street, which rented foi
S1I5 per month and were assessed fol
81, $50, received bid of SIC, $50, but was
! withdrawn from sale. A house on Alice
street. renting for S4S and assessed fol
81 ,23o, sold for $500 A lot assessed
for 81, 100 and renting for $40, sold foi
-, 100. A lot near Chinatown, renting
for $40 and assessed for S4,s70, sold foi
$500 and one renting for $40 and as
sessed for $40, 200 sold for S11 900. An
other assessed for S., $50 was withdrawn
after 50, $50 was bid for 1t. Property as
sessed for $9,020 after the Supervisors
had reduced the assessment S4O0, solo
for $4,000.
Mr.. Beamer said he wanted to avoid
the charge that he had made selections
at such figures and said he could prove
to anyone who was fair that he had an
immense number of similar cases Of al
sorts, that indicate that property in the
city is assessed at 53 per cent. OF the
selling price and property withdrawn
from sale at that ratio
Mr.. Chesebrough said he did not dis
pute the fact, but wished to show that
the selections We're not fair and had a
long list of his own to which he wanted
| to call attention.
/ Mr. Mnrehnuse asked if IL WAS not q