The record-union., 1896-09-04
SAN FRANCISCO'S INNINGS.
equalizer ChesebrOush Acts in a Dual
Capacity.
DC Represents the Merchants Associa-
ton and the Assessors Office
Before the Board.

Tnere was no excitement in the Su-
preme Court room Yesterday morning
Wnen the time set for the meeting of the
state Board of Equalization arrived.
IL was the day for hearing the argu-
menus In the case Of San F'rancisco's
assessment, but the usual array OF Of
nclals and business men who attend on
such occasions was conspicuous by it's
absence, and instead Of viva voce pro-
test only a statement by the Mayor,
chairman Of the City Board of Equali-
zation, officials of the Assessors office
and the Merchants Association was pre-
Sented by Equalizer Chesebrough, they
having shifted, as far as possible, all the
responsibility upon his shoulders.
Chairman Morehouse stated that the
city and county of San Francisco had
been cited before the board to show
cause why its assessment should not be
raised.
The roll of that city and county had
been before the board <oftener than that
of any other county within the past
fourteen years. 1t now finds that the
assessment roll for last year was left
by the board several millions higher
than 1t is to-day, although the improve
ment of the city has been steadily going
its assessment roll was in round num-
bers S371 100000, but the next year it
dropped down to S32S, 100000 1t al
ways drops right back after it has been
raised.
Mr.. Chesebrough said he supposed
there was some reason for its doing so.
Mr.. Morehouse said the board was not
at present discussing reasons. In 1896
the roll is $50, ,000,0 600 less than it was in
1894. The board believes that this state
of affairs should not exist. Why it does
not send its taxpayers and those who
assess them to answer questions, Mr..
Chesebrough could perhaps answer the
question.
Mr. Chesebrough said he was here to
represent San Francisco. Whether per-
sonally or to represent all the officers or
not, the board could determine for itself.
Mr. Morehouse said that it had been
the opinion of the board for many years
that the roll was too low and was syste-
matically kept so, thus perpetrating
great injustice on all the rest Of the
State
Mr.. Chesebrough said the merchants
and taxpayers had left the matter in the
hands of the board. They felt that the
assessment was all that could be ex-
member of the board had ever been
called on to defend the assessment Of
his county Messrs. Morehouse and
Beamer had years of experience on the
board and Mr.. Colgan had been the
watchdog Of the treasury for years.
He did not intend to deny that San
Francisco was the metropolis Of the
whole State 1t must therefore respond
to the general cry of distress and feel
it, He did not say that the roll was per-
feet but he was surprised that there
were so few mistakes in 1t. He could
leave it in the hands of the board with
perfect confidence in it's justice, and had
not intended to say more If 1t had net
been for the article in the evening paper
He had heard members Of the board
say that it was not its forte to write
letters. The article last night indi-
Gated that the board thought that, with
the data at hand, San Francisco would
he raised He thought they should
have waited till San Francisco was
heard before making such statement
He had always treated the other mem
bers we'll, and considered he had been
treated unkindly in this. He had,
when Mr.. Morehouse had been attacked
hy the San Francisco papers, felt 1t
more keenly, if possible, than the lat
ter did
Mr.. Morehouse said that if Mr.. Chese-
brough could find any statement made
by him in reference to San Francisco he
would like him to read 1t. Mr.. Chese-
brough read the headlines Of the artl-
Gle and Morehouse said that he had
never said what was charged, and was
not responsible for the headlines. He
did not say anything except what was
actually attributed TO him in the article
itself. and would not deny what he had
said. He was not responsible for what
newspapers said.
Mr.. Beamer stated that he did say
what was quoted. He felt that he had
good and substantial reasons, but if
Mr.. Chesebrough could present facts
that would convince him he would be
glad to change his opinion. 1t was an
unpleasant duty that devolved on him.
and which he shrank from, but it was
his duty to do right in the matter. 1t
was not pleasant to be roasted, broiled
boiled and served UP in every conceiva-
BILE shape by the Bay newspapers with
out cause, but he could not be blind to
the distress of the interior counties and
the low assessments of all the property
around the Bay, making an unequal
assessment Of the State and an injus
tice to all the interior.
Mr. Chesebrough said Beamer had al
ways excited his admiration by the
manner in which he defended the coun-
ties in his district. Many Of the coun-
ties are under high pressure, while
things have declined and expenses Of
the State must be met. He felt that
San Francisco was looked toward to
make up the deficiency. He did not see
how the counties could be compared
10 San Francisco.
Reamer asked If he took the ground
that San Francisco suffered from the
depression, and Chesebrough answered
that he certainly did. Beamer said he
differed from him. The products Of
the counties are depressed, but all trade
drifts to San Francisco as surely as the
water of the river to the bay. and the
produce is shipped from there in vari-
Gus directions to all points. That city
has certain advantages which other
narts of the State cannot have; San
Francisco and contiguous towns get the
benefit. and the rest Of the State gets
very little
Mr.. Chesebrough instanced a sale OF
Eastern white lead in one of the bay
counties. and the question of gentle
man as to why San Francisco mer-
chants could not sell it instead OF letting
outsiders beat them.
Mr. Reamer said he had heard 1t
stated that the San Francisco mer-