The San Francisco call., 1897-09-02

to carry out their pledges be it
ResoIUed, That in the perform
ance of such duty they should dis
regard the appeals of certain citi-
zenS of various sections who desire
local Improvements to be made at
the expense of the entire commu-
nifty without regard to such pledge
and the rate of taxation.
This was the declaration of the Asso.
ciated Improvement Clubs of this City, as
unanim ously expressed at their meeting
last night, on the subject of the proposed
Mission Park and Zoo.
The park and zoo were not specially
mentioned, but every property-owner who
attended the meeting knew that that was
what was meant when the resolution con-
tain ng the foregoing paragraph was
adopted.
The sense of the meeting was expressed
also that the blockade OF streets by corpo-
rations and individuals should be stopped
and the course of THE CALL in condemn
ing the blockade of Stockton street was
commended by the speakers.
Resolutions were also adopted protest
ing against the proposed raise of the City rs
taxation by the State Board of Equaiiza-
tion. The arrest of Contractor Kelso for
per day on the postotfice site was ap-
proved.
James Bowlan offered the following
resolutions, and they were unanimously
adopt without debate:
ReSolued, That it be and is the sense of this
organization that the secre ary be instructed
to indite communication to the Stale Board
OF Equalization pro testing against raise in the
City's assessment, and that a copy OF the same
be forwarded 10 the Mayor, who will appear
before said Board OF Equalization in con-
junction with special committee of the Board
of Supervisors, other City officials and
prominent business men and taxpayers to
argue against such proposed ra Sc, and, if
possible, to prevent its consummation.
ReSoLued, That it be and is the sense of this
organization that the secretary be instructed
TO communicate with the Mayor. soliciting
him TO place himself in comm munication with
the proper authorities of the Federal Govern
ment and place before them the status of the
excavatlng of the postofiice site,. and respect
fully and earnestly ask that they have the
law strictly enforced.
The law referred to in the second reso-
luton is the Federal statute prohibiting
the employment of laborers on pu bile
buildings of the United States for more
than eight hours in any calendar day.
The resolution had direct reference to the
arrest of Sub-contractor John Kelso for
working hi: employees more than the
legal mum ber OF hours per day on the ex-
cavatoE for the Postoffice site.
The principal talk OF the evening was
on the following resolution, offered by
Mr.. Bowlan and adopted unanimously:
WHEREAS, 1t is for the best interests OF
the community that public officers faithfully
carry out the pledges made by them before
yHar . ha,,
Supervisor did pledge themselves before their
election to keep the taxes down within the
dollar limit; and whereas, it is their duty to
carry out their pledges, be it
ResOtued, That in the performance of such
duty they should disregard the appeals OF GER
tain citizens OF various sections who desire
OF the entire community without regard to
said pledge and the rate OF taxa
ion. 1t is we'll known that
high rate of taxation is detrimental to the
commercial and industrial interests of the
community and thus tends to the deprecia-
tion of the value OF property. Citizens should
remember that they cannot have costly i'm
proyements without paying for them and that
it is wrong on their part 10 urge any public
Official to break his pledge. And therefore
the appropriations should be limited to such
necessary improvements as will keep the rate
OF taxation within the dollar limit
DR.. Saalfield said that if the Supervisors
were honest and had the interest of the
people at heart they would so manage af-
fairs that there would be enough money
in the treasury to pay for all the improve
ments asked by the citizens in every part
OF the City. But things had been so
manipulated that the taxes were inordi-
nately high, and the gas and water and
street railway companies and the big
monied interests were assessed too low,
and 1T was the coor real-estate owners who
had TO sand the burden of the lost oner-
Gus taxation in proportion to their wealth.
Mr.. Bowlan said that the manner in
which assessments were made in this
City for the purposes of taxation was a
farce and premium on bribery and per-
jury. No corporation in this City, he
added, ever went to the Assessors office
to make sworn statement OF its prop
erty, but the Assessor is allowed to m a Ike
an arbitrary assessment against which
the corporations never protest, because it
suits them too well.
B. Mckinne made q little speech in
which he said that they could not have
m municipal Improvements without paying
for them, and while the people were cry
ing for economy in the public expendi-
lures they were asking tor things which
the Supervisors could not grant without
going beyond the dollar limit.
He explained that the reason why San
Francisco wa. always Disseminated
against by the State Board of Equaliza-
ton was that the majority of that board
was elected by the country outside of San
francisco. This City should send large
delegation to Sacramento next Saturday
to appear before the board and see that
this City got fair play.
E. P. E. Troy intimated that the Super
visors were unduly influenced by the public
utility corporations wnen they equalized
the taxes.
Mr.. Bowlan called the attention of the
meeting to the articles in The CALL con-
demning ne blockade of Stockton street
by the Spring Valley Water Company.
He was in favor of instituting a reform
in the matter of streets, and in the matter
of the slipshod and dishonest manner in
which gas and water corporations re-
paired streets which they had torn up for
the purpose OF laying pipes therein.
Mr.. Bowlan was appointed committee
of one to lay the matter before the charter
committee of one hundred.
On motion of Mr.. Troy it was decided to
invite Congressman Mcguire to address
the association on the single tax PROPOSE
tion At G. time convenient to him.
The meeting then adjourned