The San Francisco call., 1897-09-05


ROBERT J. ToBIN.
This dispatch closed the Hibernia Bank
incident
Herzer made the general statement that
twenty counties ! ere assessed lower IMAM
San Francisco, ay1 Los Angeles was men
toned as one. The correctness OF the
statement was disputed so lar as LOS An
geles was concerned.
Sales made under the "eagle eye" of the
Probate Court were then introduced oy
Herzer. One hundred and twenty EIGHT
transactions were noted. The total
amount realized was 1898 600. The assess
ment thereon was $659 45O, or 6I per cent.
Real estate sales by agencies were next pre-
sented. On bona-tde transactions num-
bering $40 the sum realized was 81. POP, 361
The assessment thereon was " 552,94
In this compll alton all suspicious sales
we're excluded. 1t was asserted that the
State board could not impeach these fig
ures.
Long argument followed on the ques-
tion whetl er an increase would bear
harder on the poor than on the rich. The
board held that If the assessment made
by the Assessor was equal and uniform
the increase would fall Oh all alike. The
Mayor said it would bear heaviest on the
poor. VINO owned suburban homes and
were now paying all they couId stano for
street i'm prOvement.
The mortgage interest assessment hg-
ures adduced by the San Francisco dele
cation were challenged. Volume l OF
50-yaras was taken up to prove the lncor-
rectness OF the ASSESSOR figures. The as
sessment was given at $2,803. l05 ard The
mortgage interest a s., 0l9, 067.
Mr. Beamer then produced from up his
sleeve a record of 195 pieces taken from
volume l. He gave the mortgage interest
at 50 3O4 O65 and the assessment 81, OH. 0OO.
II was then contended that S2S3,O0O had
escaped assessment.
Deputy Herzer insisted that the boards
figures were in error and that his own were
correct, and he main tanned, moreyer, that
he could prove the ,correctne OF his
figures. He had the totals OF each volume
10 sustain his position and really got the
better of Beamer and Morehouse ii the
round Arnold did not intervene and
Cnesebrough was an attentive listener, but
a non-com Datant. Controller Colgan was
an interes ed spectator, but had no sug-
gestlons to offer.
Beamer and Morehouse were not quite
satisfied, and asked that volume OF 100
varas be taken up. In Warehouses sleeve
there must have been something, but be
did not bring it forth. Herzer gave the
figures of volume at 81, 218, $50 for the
mortgage interest, and for the assessment,
49, 010, 3l7.
Mayor Phelan asked Morehouse and
Beamer where they cot their figures, and
they replied, From the books in San
Francisco.
DR.. Clinton lntervened to say some
thing about the good showing OF these
| figures, but it did not take Morehouse and
Beamer long to dispose of the Supervisor.
| The TACT was made known at once that
figures were required to meet figures, and
| the doctors only figures were figures OF
which did not cOnOt
Mayor Phelan introduced James b.
| nenman to the State board. Mr.. Den
man submitted figures to show that prop
erty in the region of Howard, Main and
BeaIe streets, as we'll as lands and house
in other sections of the City, had been as
sessed at higher figure than the actual
| cash value.
He sought to show the general depreeia-
| ton of real estate values since 1880, and
made a very comprehensive argument.
| George T. Marye was next presented.
| He had his argument well prepared, but
he began his statement by assuming that
the Board OF Equalization would be
governed by certain rules. Morehouse at
once said:
May L interrupt you just for a mo-
ment? Don't assume that the action OF
the board always esta blishes value. If
that were so you would not be here"
Marye proceeded TO present statistics
showing The decline in manufac cturing en-
ergies in San Francisco since 1890.
Beamer wanted comparative figures.
Marye was not confused by the Interrupt
ton, but went on with general figures, in
which a loss of $50, 600 900 in ma2ufactur-
ing and loss OF So, 000, 900 TO labor were
computed.
Beamer wanted to know if Marye knew
that the principal increase IN the assess
ment of San Francisco was on outside
tb RI oil TO in ha hrlS
ness and manufacturing region had been
advanced in value for assessment Marye
had his ammunition, and insisted on tir-
ingit. He mentioned that the rental of the
S ock Exchange buildlng had fallen from
,691 I.er annum to $6275. The same de-
cline applied to the Merchants Exchange.
a shot that had been held in reserve for
weeks wa then fired bv Beamer, to the de-
light of Morehouse. Marye was asked il
he knew how much the Murphy block,
which sold for $460, 900, was assessed for.
The fact was disclosed that the assessment
was 500 600.
CHEESE brougb, Mayor Phelan and Won
Rheln all explained that with the land
and building went the good will of an old
established institution, which Adam
Grant would not permit any one else to
get
Charles Hobrook entertained the board
and answered questions readily about his
| own house and It's methods OF rendering
returns for assessments, but he could not
enighten Beamer, who wanted 10 know
how it happened that Hoffman's slock OF
merchandise was assessed Tor $l9, 600 and
vet when a fire occurred the loss which
the insurance companies paid was $12l 600.
HolbrooK said his firm was assessed tor
$l5l 900 Tor goods.
Watson OF the Standard Oil Company;
Borden, representing CAPTAIN Thompson.
and .. +. Won Rhein each made a state
ment to the board. The members of the
board then addressed Mayor Phelan,
telling him that the oppressive
taxation in San Francisco was due to ex-
travagance III local government and that
the Board OF Equalization was in no wise
responsible. Figures as to the population
and wealth Of San Francisco and Los An
geles were read to show that the Cost of
local government in San Francisco was
outrageous. Mayor Phelan replied:
Il admit that the municipal govern
ment of San Francisco is extravagant;
but We have responsibilities and obliga-
tons as metropolis, which we seek to
fulfill We pay much more money to
maintain schools than we secure in ap-
portionment Our park is maintained at
an expense of $1,000 day for the people of
the whole State. Our institutions, such