The San Francisco call., 1897-07-16
some SARCASM
FROM MR.. WELLS
Equalizers Indulge in a
Lively Exchange Of
Words.
East Oakland Railroad Makes a
Showing That Excites
Sympathy.
ROeth Moves for the Biggest Reduc
ton of Assessment Made During
the Day.
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN FRANCISCO CALL
LII,


sos Broa way, July 10.
The Board OF Equalization spent this
morning trying 10 arrive at conclusion
regarding the value of a street railroad
that has de.aulted to lis stock holders and
to its bondhoiders and is now doubtful
security for lis outstanding receivers GER
titica:es; that does not pay operating e1-
penses and that had to borrow money
last year with which to pay its taxes.
Such is the condition of the East Oak
land railroad, and Assessor Dalton values
it. with the franchise, at about $50 600. E.
?. Vandercook its manager thinks he
would have great difficulty to sell 1t for
$50, coo and thinks that it should be as
sessed for less. He stated that TO assess
the franchise, which is really nothing put
the privilege of being permitted to SINK
money, at SIS, 900 is something he cannot
understand.
This receivers certificates, which lake
precedence of every other Indebtedness,
amount TO $4S 600, and Mr.. Nandercook
was not SURE that the road. which was
originally bonded for $230,0C0, was an
equivalent value for the certificates. Ate:
hearing all the arguments the board
granted the reductions.
The feature Of the afternoons proceed
I0GS T..
tie assessment OF the Contra Costa Water
Iompany's franchise in this city from
$75 QUO to 81. This assessment caused the
only turmoil OF the day. Mr.. Roeth
made long speech, in which he referred
to the constitution and franchises and
wound UP bV saying that 1t would be but
right to reduce the assessment TO 81 and
instruct Assessor Dalton to notify the AS
SCISSOR of san Francisco that The iran
ob,sa nraDarlV aSspSSahia there
the company's chief place OF business is
there.
The motion of Roetb prevailed, and
then there were lew minutes OF farce
before adjournment. Supervisor Wells
made the following N 0tion: That the
clerk of this board be instructed 10 cause
to be publ shed in some paper a notice
that all the taxpayers come before the
board and have their taxes reduced" Mr.,
Church quickly seconded the motion.
Mr.. RUeth rose TO point of order and
said he did not think the chair could en-
tertain any such motion, as there was a
notice to taxpayers already published.
This motion will be entertained by the
chair" said Mr.. Talcott, but | wish Mr..
Wells should withdraw it. The purport
would be reflection on this board, and l
DO not think it should so upon the
minutes" Mr.. Wells then Withdrew ii,
while Roeth remarked that instead of
Board of Equalization. they should call
themselves Board of Reduction.
81 do not see why we should be so one
sided" said MIR. Wells I'VE are re-
ducing the assessment of all the big cor
porations, but when poor farmers come in
here and ask reduction, they do not get
it," Church contradicied this, and the
session closed with q speech from Mr..
Talcoit, who said he had no doubt that
every mem Der of the board was acting
cons scentiously IN the matter, and that he
board room was not place for gallery
playing.
The Oakland, San Leandro and Hay
ward electric road asked for the following
reductions:
from $4,000 To $4,000; $50 miles, from
S3l, ,75O 10 Sl3, ,702; franchise on above IRON
$4,000 10 $l3,702.
Cars, from S36 500 TO $50, 900; machinery,
from S17,500 10 $I25O0
On lot 10, block II. from $3.50 to $40; i'm
provemeh,s from $1,000 10 $500.
anchise city OF Oakland aud Twenty third
avenue TO Tweuty-third avenue snd Twenty
seventh street, from $500 10 800.
Franchise FrultVale avenue, from $500 to
800.
S19 600 TO S1O.21S; 10 miles. from $500
10 T4420; franchise from $4,000 to $4,000;
francnlse. from $1,000 10 81; franchise, tlom
$4,000 TO 81.
san Leandro-92 miles from $4,000 to $2392 ::
franchise. 5000 10 81.
Havwards-l.29 miles Of track from $4,000
10 S3354; LOO mics OF track rom $1,000 to
500; horse, from 800 to 81
o. kiand Town~nip-2 81 miles OF truck
from $3O,925 TO SIS, ,655 30 miles from $1,000
10 500; IL miles from $3.50 to 1885, SO
$1450 to 1862
Franchises on the above. S52. 800 to $4,000.
Tie total reductions asked for are $194 100.