The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-09-15
A SECTIONAL BIAS.

CTRONG vivid and intense is the display of sectional bias
on the part of the Sacramento Bee commenting upon
the proposed constitutional amendment aboshng equalization
districts and providing the election of Equazers by the ola
large We need better proof than is afforded by te b
of the truth of statement that under the present system
Equazers regarded the special champions OF particular
districts rather than impartial arbitrator elected 10 apPouo
the burdens of taxation fairly among the counties Oh ue ~
The Bee declares that Governor Budd and Mayor Fhean
who approve the proposed amendment are TOO se"o nut
that the members of the board are CHOSEN al
large instead of by Districts San Francisco would nave HUE
difficulty in securing board that would be more favorable
her interests than to the interests of the rest of the State
This declaration shows how completely the sectional pias
has perverted understanding of the Bee San FRANCISCO
does not dominate the State and could not elections by the
whole people elect single Equalizer who did not receive
strong support from the interior counties.
AT the Presidential election the total vote OF the city
64S2o while the total vote of the State was 2ooo7
Thus the vote of San Francisco less than oneouh of the
the State large and consequence the vote OF
the city were cast unanimously for single ticket of Equal
zers that ticket would be elected unless received the
ballots of more voters in the country than in the city,
AS all counties represented in State conventions IN
proportion the votes they cast in preceding elections oan
Francisco would be poweess to dictate the nominations OF
Equazers as to them in opposition to the country The
city vote in either is but fraction of the whole and
have more than its poportona share in determining results
Governor Budd and Mayor Phelan too shrewd not to
understand facts and the Bee not perverted by
sectional bias also would be sheWd enough to understand
them.
Passing from that point the Bee declares the assessments
property San Francisco have been always much lower In
proportion values than those of the interior Counties 10
prove the fact cites the figures given in the proposals recently
made sell land to the city for park in the Mission In
these proposals. as THE CALL has repeatedly shown the
prices asked the various tracts far in excess OF the
assessed values and the Bee holds that the prices asked repre-
sent the true value of the land.
Here again. however, the Bee would have been shreWd
enough better had it not been biased The prices
asked in these far above the market value of the
tracts as to be out all reason and only the spirit of the
verse could have mpeed contemporary to accept the
statements of real estate boomers trying to work scheme for
selling land the city proof that San Francisco
ments are too low.
lis put end to just such sectional antagonists
these that THE CALL advocates the proposed amendment
evident the and the of the Bee that
there exists belief in the interior that San Francisco desires
shi her share of State On the other hand there
exists this city belief that the interior counties trying
to shirk taxes.
This being the condition of the public mind the Equalizer
who tries to act fairly always in danger of being denounced
traitor his district If he from the south he must
try to shift the burden the north, if he from the
interior he shift to the coast he represents the
country he work against the city, and in the meantime
the representatives of the assaed districts expected
retalate in kind.
The Bee declares 'the farming counties should stand
shoulder to shoulder to prevent such change the law
We declare that farmers and citizens alike should stand
shoulder shoulder make just that change In the work
equazng there should be suggestion of sectional
antagonSms, prejudice bias for district against
another attempt impose undue burden upon
taxpayers order that another shrk their ghtu charge
Justice fairness and mpaay should direct every step taken
the Equaze and in order that they may be free do
each and all of them should have direct responsibility all
taxpayers equally.