The San Francisco call., 1896-04-14
Views of John Landers, Chairman
of the Committee of
Grand Jurors.
HAS CONFIDENCE IN sIEBE.
Conservative Members of the Jury Op.
posed to Commuuistic Raids on
Corporations.

for misconduct. He holds Steadfastly to
the opinion that it is the duty of the pres
ent Board of Supervisors, through its
Finance Committee, to see that the As
sesSor performs his duty and does not
allow valuable property to escape assess
ment. Mr.. Menzies said:
The Finance Committee of the board has
power to investigate every department of the
municipal government, and it is also vested
with authority 10 act, if the fact is disclosed
that g public officer is not performing his
duties. In dealing with assessments grand
jures, as a rule, do not show much strength.
1t may be that members are timid, fearing that
the Assessor win get back al them. es, l be-
lieve that all kinds of valuable property should
be taxed, as the law directs. The burden
placed on real estate is too heavy. Franchises
stocks and securities belonging TO corpora
tions should be assessed For example the
managers OF the Spring Valley Water Company
80 before the Board of Supervisors and ask
that rates be established so to permit them
to pay per cent interest on their investment
of 100000 or S2O,00O000 According to
the same rule they should pay tax on like
valuation.
l. J. Truman of the Civic Federation
said:
Our inform alton, derived from the report of
Colonel Lambert, Il capable expert, who made
q thorough examination of the books of the
Assessors Office, is TO the effect that Assessor
Siebe is performing his duty. The expert was
directed by the federation 10 make thorough
inquiries. and in the course of his examination
he found discrepancies in valuation, and went
TO Mr.. Siebe Tor explanation. These discrep-
ancies were explained 10 Mr.. Lambert's
satisfaction.
Now, as to taxing franchises. ! do not think
there is much in it. The proper course to
pursue is TO tax the tangible property. Ii the
water company goes before the Board of
Supervisors and asks for the fixing of a rate
that will allow the corporation TO pay interest
on $4,000 600 worth OF property it is fair to ask
the corporation to designate the property. Let
the company say how much of this proper ty is
in Alameda County, how much in San Mateo
how much in Santa Clara and how much in
San Francisco The company should be taxed
then for all the property il owns. If it owns
property to the value OF SIS, 900 600 it should
pay taxes to that amount.
Yesterday John Larders chairman of
the Grand Jury committee on Assessor.
Auditor and Treasurer, in view of recent
newspaper articles on the subject of prop
erty assessments, accorded THE CALL an
interview. MIR. Landers did not speak for
the Grand Jury or his associates on the
mmittee-G. H. Umbsen and Theodore
F. Payne-but spoke for himself. He
said:
am in favor of taxing all property in pro-
portion TO its value, and regard it as incon-
sistent with equity that heavy burden
should rest on real estate as is now imposed.
Just when we were on the mend the Board OF
Supervisors gave the City a fearful blow in
raising the tax levy from 81 90 to 81 % This
single stroke did more to retard prosperity than
the long period OF hard times through which
we had just passed. You must understand
that one investing in property at first inquiries
GLOW much viii the investment pay over and
above taxes, insurance and repairs?'' When
81 % for taxes is placed against the account
OF income the investment is rendered unde-
sirable. tax rate OF this kind is almost
crime. The present Grand Jury, believe, will
do all that men can do to have the Board of
Supervisors reduce estimates for the next wear
so that this enormous tax on the people will
be diminished
Now as for Assessor Siebe have had several
interviews with him aud he assures me. and I
lave confidence in his assurance, that per-
sonal property assessments will be raised and
that much property of value that has hitherto
escaped taxation or has been assessed at a
very low figure will he listed for its actual
value.
see danger in the agitation for radical de-
parture in methods of assessments We must
guard against communistic tendencies You
would be surprised if you could read some of
the communistic communications which
have received on the subject of assessing the
property of corporations. The radicals, if un-
restrained, would confscate the property of
banks and corporations. What we need now
and what the Grand Jury is seeking through
the Assessor to accomplish, is the assessment
OF all property. real and personal liable under
the law for taxation. Beyond that we want
that which is of still greater importance re-
duced levy on the increased valuation. so that
taxes may be brought down to a living figure
Mr.. Siebe told me a few days ago that he won Id
soon be ready TO produce figures showing a
marked increase of the roll.
Now as TO the assessment of the Spring VAL
ley water corporation, which is so frequently
cited. The Assessor tells me that it pays axes
now up TO the top notch. 1t has property in
San Mateo, Alameda and Santa Clara corn-
ties, as well as property in San Francisco.
Much OF 1T is real tangible property, which can
be seen and reached by the Assessor.
Personally am not interested in the stock of
any corporation in this City. Some time
ago 1 sold my small holdings of Market
street Railway and Pacific Gas I'm
proVement stock. l that it is not
felr TO assess the stock of corporation on the
basis OF a few daily transactions The value
VIII decline, as was taught when only few
shares were placed on the market. There
would be great depreciation if half the stock
OF corporation were offered for sale.
corporations are taxed in many ways. For
example the Manhattan Life Insurance COM
pany OF New York, which 1 represent on the
coast, pays State tax for the Insu rance Com
missioner, pays quarterly license tax TO the
city, pays personal property tax on furniture
and fixtures and is assess ed for whatev yer bal
auce it may have in bank here on the first Mon
day in March Other corporations are taxed in
the same measure.
1t is true that capitalists conceal money
from the Assessor. A man having $4,000 in
commercial bank may buy bill of exchange
on New York a oay or two before the Fl rst
Monday OF March an make oath that he has
no money on hand. citizen may do this, if
he can square his conscience by saving SllOO
1t is done frequently. About the frst Monday
No -ch .ha i..s;t