The San Francisco call., 1897-03-23

1t had been already condemned by the
Grand Jury and the county officials. all OF
whom to unit were opposed 10 1t.
Assessor Siebe talked very freely on the
subject. There was much room for re-
form in the constitution, he said, but tie
one solid reform was the single tax.
"The longer I am here" added Mr..
Siebe, 'the more convinced am that the
single tax is neces ary. The present
method of assessment is farce, because
In the great majority OF cases all property
is not given in to the Assessor in the
statements, and it is next to impossible
for him to find it. There are honorable
exceptions to the rule, however. One is
Claus Spreckels, who gave in his state
ment two years ago $1,000, 600 in cash to
be assessed Tor the purpose of being taxed.
This was the highest money assessment
ever had from any single individual. If
he hadn't given 1t in to me never could
have found it. Last year he gave in
$278. 600. l am satisfied that there are
other individuals who had just as much
money, but could not get the evidence
'Tne single-tax system would largely
reduce the expenses of my Office. Under
the present system any body can get the
better OF the Assessor by conceallng per-
sonal property, but land can always be
found. My office, were it not for the cost
of collecting personal property taxes,
is the annoyance and the temptation that
is laid before them to commit perjury
making their statement.
Then, again, especially in the case of
people who have personal property unse-
cured by real estate, you have to go to a
dozen times i'll the attempt to coll Iect from
them. 1t is all right in the country, but
whom we have to collect this tax.
1.-THE law SAWS that I shall saiza tho
identical property 1 assess. Now, it is
next to i'm possible to collect from ships if
they did not wish to pay, but they gem
orally pay. We 60 to the books at the
Custom-house to assess ships, but when
We go,to collect they are off in some other
part of the world.
IF e constitutional convention should
be decided upon by the people we could
get together and suggest such reforms as
our experience has taught us are neces-
sary. l think the sentiment of the people
is in favor of new constitution"
Tax Collector Block was not prepared to
express decided opinion on the subject,
but he was in favor of amending the con-
stitution, allowing special legislation in the
case OF the City and County OF San Fran
cisco.
''The collection of taxes in this City is
of such magnitud and the system is so
different from what obtains in the coun-
try that the same rule cannot be applied
to both. Under the present constitution
we cannot make special Law for the City
and County of San Francisco. 1t is a
good thing to prohibit special legislation,
but 1T is little unfortunate that the same
revenue laws must apply generally
throughout the State.
"The constitution should be amended"
continued Mr.. Block. $50 as to give
municipal corporations of certain popu-
lation the exclusive right to collect their
revenues in their own way and not allow
the Legislature to have anything to do
with it. Assessments should be regulated
in the same way. If we could elect con-
stitutional convention consisting of men
of integrity and knowledge and business
requirements and who are familiar with
the needs of the various counties and
of the State it would be
a good thing to have such convention"
Police Judge Campbell favored the call
ing OF convention. "There should be-
he said, "a change in the constitution, so
as to allow metropolitan cities to frame
their own government. Thers are other
instances in which we must have special
Chief of Police Crowley said that it
would be very good plan to call a consti-
tutional convention. for the present con-
stitution had not given satisfaction to the
people.