The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-03
REBATES CAUSE TROUBLE.
The Treasurer Will Confer With
the City and County

There is prospect of spirited fight be-
tween City Treasurer Widber and Delin-
uuent Tax Collector Willett over the hold
ing back of the rebate on taxes. for which
property holders have been clamoring for
weeks past.
At the time Auditor Broderick turned.
the tax rolls over to Tax Collector Block,
Mr.. Willett, who was employed by the
Finance Committee of the Board of Super
visors to collect delinquent taxes, re-
quested that body to delay the payment
of the rebates until he could make list
of the delinquents of former years who
had rebates coming to them this year.
He declared that the board had the
right to hold out the amount delinquent
from the rebate and OH this showing pay
ment was delayed until yesterday. Mr..
Willett admitted that there was only
about $4,000 that was owing to the City
from those entitled to rebates, ana yet the
whole amount that is owing tax payers
nearly $175, 0O0-was tied up in the
treasury.
While this delay, which amounted to
several weeks, was in progress numerous
brokers about town saw chance to make
money and began to send out postalS TO
the property-owners warning them of
prospective trouble in collecting their
dues and offering to buy their claims.
A majority OF these communications
were exceedingly misleading, giving the
re baters the i'm preston that they might
never get their dues. As a result one
broker has bought 500, 900 worth of claims,
others less amounts, and it is probable
that very few receipts will be presented
outside OF those held by the brokers.
When the tax Dooks were in his office
Auditor Frederick went to the trouble and
pains of making up second set of rebate
books containing computations of the
amount due each rebater and with place
for his or her signature in case the Treas
urer cared to make use OF them. These
books were not demanded by the law, but
were made by the Auditor at his own
volltion to help out the City government.
These books were entirely comprehensive
and so arranged that four clerks could
work on them at the same time and pay
off the rebates in very short time.
But the order OF the Board of Super
yisors stood in the way, and still stands,
having been extended to December Is.
Now, Treasurer Widber says that he is
tired of having his Office thronged with
anxious taxpayers, that he does not think
that the Board of Supervisors has any
right to hold the rebates in the treasury
on this or any other ground. and that he
thinks that Mr.. Willett erred in advising
the board that it could do so.
II have been looking up the authorities
on this matter" said Mr.. Widber yester-
day, "and 1 cannot see where the board
gets any power to interfere with the pay
ment of the rebate. The law says that /
must pay these demands on demand, and
unless some legal obstacle is placed in my
way shall delay no longer, the Board OF
Supervisors to the contrary notwithstand-
ing.
II shall have conference with the City
and County Attorney tomorrow to make
sure of my position, and If he says am
right shall go ahead, unless Mr.. Willett
has me enjoined by the courts"
Auditor Broderick is with Mr.. Widber
In his belief that Mr.. WiIlett's advice to
the board was erroneous, and stands ready
to turn over the rebate books whenever
they are asked for.