The San Francisco call., 1897-07-19
DOING POLITICS
AND BQUALlZING
Sidelight on the Annual
Struggle Over the
Assessment.
Why Oakland Needs a Visit
From the White House
Occupant.
Result of the B. Fay Mills Mission Not
Changed by His Recent
Conversion.
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN Francisco CALL, |
Q,S RrOad NAV IuIv Is


9U8 Broadway, July Is
Every year it is conelusively proved
that no confidence will be reposed in the
Board of Equalization OF this county un-
less they succeed III tablishing an assur-
ance that politics are not dominating
their deliberations. This cannot be done
unless the Assessor also seeks TO establish
the same record. The criticisms on the
uoings of the board during the past week
we're not unexpected and have had no
effect on public opinion. 1t IS not ques-
tion OF equalizing, it is q matter OF poll
tics, pure and simple. Before the cleo
ton of Mr.. Dalton he made large anti
corporation professions, and particularly
pledg ged himself to reduce the taxes OF
small owners % per cent by making the
large corporations pay on higher assess
ments than in the past.
Mr. Dalton's campaign may have been
sincere and it may not have been. He has
now served two and a half years and the
people are intelligent enough to Judge for
themselves. Mr.. Dalton was an Inde-
pendent Republican, and naturally was
and is not in harmony with the regulars
of his party. He went into Office on an
Incorporation platform and each year
he has placed high figures on their prop
erty; but instead of doing it unostenta-
iiously it has always been done with
flourish of trumpsts, which is 10 be re-
gretted, because Mr.. Dalton is evidently
sincere.
Under the circum stances it is not to be
supposed that his political opponents on
the Board of Equalization would Jump
right in and help Mr.. Dalton's political
aspirations. That is not the way things
are done in Alameda County. Mr.. Dali
toms friends also made another error
They sought to bind candidates for the
Office OF Supervisor to sustain his assess
ments. and the developments clearly
showed whom they found agreeable and
who proposed to be independent.
Under these conditions nothing tran
quill or satisfactory can be expected from
the Board of Equalization.
Even when the rolls were handed over
to the board they were accompanied by
message referring TO the just assessment
of corporations and such, which Mr.. Dal-
ton well knew was not intended for the
benefit of the Supervisors. There is no
doubt that Mr. Dalton's assessments are
made with as keen an eye on their politi-
cal effect as are the reductions made by
the board.
In the mean time neither side is max
ing any capital politically, because the
people of Alameda County have been so
we'll schooled in the devious ways of poll.
tics that they can judge every phase OF
the situation solely on its merits.
No section of the State is more anxious
to see President Mckinley than Alameda
County. There is great feeling of pride
IN this county over the success OF the last
general election, and there is naturally
great desire to see the man who was so
huf hA hac hoa
seen by more than one hundred out of the
many thousands who showed their con-
fidence in him by their votes last Novem-
Der.
Since Mr. Bryan's visit to Oakland there
has been an increase of the desire to see
the man who beat him. Last Novem Der,
when Thomas Reed was here, he effect
lively overthrow the blatant hopes of the
FuSionists, who were claiming everything
in sight Now it is argued that if Reed
could have such an effect on one county
as to develop Republican majority that
saved the State, President Mckinley could
exercise an influence as proportionately
greater as the Office of president is greater
than that OF speaker.
Alameda County is possessed of the idea
that Mr.. Mckinley owes them a debt for
their Republican loyalty, and no stone
will be left unturned TO bring him TO the
Coast. Oakland has a we'll grounded
grudge against the presidential Office, and
Mr.. Mckinley could do 8 gracious act OF
wiping it out. Some years ago Mr. Har-
rison was in this city, and things not be-
ing entirely to his liking he drove rapidly
through the city, declined the delicate
offers OF thousands OF school children and
others and left bad impression behind.
Every body would like to see Mr.. McKin-
ley eradicate II.
No news of q religious nature for years
has caused such surprise as the news that
Rev. B. Fay Mills had changed his faith
and has joined the Unitarian church.
When Mr.. Mills was here five years ago
he created q profound impression. and
hundreds of people can still be found who
profess to have been converted under his
ministrations. Mr. Mills was very auto
cratic in his ideas. He was not persuaded
to come till a huge tabernacle had been
built for the meetings.
The big building proved to be as great
a benefit to the city as the mission, for it
has made possib BILE the holding of several
expositions and events that would not
otherwise have ben condueted. Mr..
Mills visit here will long be remem bered,
and it is interesting that news of his
change of views should be received just at
the time when big industrial exposition
is in progress in the building that his re-
Iigious career made possible.
STUART W. Booth.