The San Francisco call., 1896-07-28

sion ordered to be recorded by the clerk of said
board in book keptfor that purpose and said
assessment of said franchise of said Spring
Valley Water Works lowered by said defend
ants as aforesaid to the sum of $1,000, ,000 as
the full and actual cash value thereof now
stands as the assessment of said franchise for
the purposes of taxation in said City and
County for the fiscal year 1S96-97 upon the
books of said City and County
Further accusing the defendants the
Grand Jury alleges that the assessment of
the Market-street Railway Company was
reduced from 81. 800, OOO0 to $4,000, 600. In
this count, as in the Spring Valley accu-
sation, all the preliminary matter is re-
peated concerning the election of Super
visors, the election of the Assessor, the
assessment of property, the turning over
of the roll, the sittings of the Board of
Equalization, the application of the COM
pany for reduction of the assessment of its
franchise, etc. The allegation is also made
that the seven defendants and each and
all of them "willfully, knowingly and cor
ruptly and with intent to defraud said
City and County of portion of its rev.
enue, and with the willful and corrupt
intent TO aid and assist said Market-street
Railway Company in evading payment of
its just proportions of taxes due and to
become due, did, in their official positions
as Supervisors and as members of the
Board of Equalization, consent, counsel
and agree to the reduction of the assess
ment from 50, 500, 900 to $2.000,000
1t is alleged further that the seven de-
PENDANTS, in reducing the assessment of
the San Francisco Gaslight Company from
81 1888, ITO to 81, GOO 600, did in their official
capacities corruptly and willfuIly change
the assessment by lowering 1t.
In the case of the gas company it is fur
ther set forth:
''That the defendants did in their official
capacities willfully, knowingly and cor
ruptly alter, change and cause to be al
tered and changed the assessment on the
improvements on pieces and parcels of
land in San Francisco, more particularly
known and described as block BAL of 100
vara lots, subdivision 1, located at the
north corner OF First and Howard streets,
from $35, 600 to $4,000"
The concluding paragraph of the accusa-
tion is in this form and language:
Wherefore said Grand Jury prays that said
defendants and each and all of them may be
adjudged guilty of willful and corrupt miscon-
duct in Office and that they may be each and
all removed from said Office of Supervisor of
said City and County of San Francisco.
FRANK MAsKEY,
Foreman of the Grand Jury OF the City and
County OF San Francisco
1t is understood that the member of the
Grand Jury agreed without hesitation to
the finding of the accusation.
The petition 10 remove the Supervisors
from Office will be assigned to one of the
departments of the Superior Court. The
defendants will have ten days to answer
the accusation.
Regarding this form of proceedings
against the Supervisors District Attorney
Barnes advised with other eminent law.
yers.
This is the first I have heard of any
action on the part of the Grand jury
said supervisor Scully when seen at his
home late last night. 81 came home this
afternoon as soon as the board adjourned
and heard nothing of the matter up to
that time.
IF the Grand Jury has instituted pro-
ceedlngs am perfectly willing to answer
any and all questions if called into court.
The Grand jury has perfect right to de-
mand an explanation if they think things
are net all right, and am perfectly will
ing to explain to them anything they
ask.
"In regard to the reductions in the
assessments OF the Spring Valley and
other corporations, / will saw that IL INV
memory does not fail me, it was done
upon the advice of Mr. Siebe. As I re-
member it, Mr.. Benjamin proposed a
reduction of 81, 600, 600, and when Mr.
Hughes said he thonght $500, 900 would be
about right Assessor Siebe agreed that
that was about fair. If had thought