The San Francisco call., 1898-10-07
.LE BRETON'S
 LONG KNIFE
 FOR S|EBE A Non-Partisan Row
 Explained. CAUSE OF THE AGITATION TEN MILLION DOLLARS ADDED TO THE ASSESSMENT ROLL. The Institution of Which MT. Le Breton Is President Had to
 Stand a Raise of
 $34O,OOO.
CAUSE OF THE AGITATION
TEN MILLION DOLLARS ADDED
 TO THE ASSESSMENT ROLL.

Since Supervisor Dodge's picture in
 the Non-P Partisan gallery was turned
 to the wall and that of John Siebe for l Assessor displayed, Edward J. Le Bre- ton has been anything but happy. Of all the long knives flourished in this municipal contest the one that Le Bre- ton has out for Siebe is the longest and sharpest.
 Among the Non-Partisans are many of the smoothest of the old-time poli- ticians, and they know that something more than political revenge inspired the onset of Le Breton. It is not difficult to trace the cause of the Le Breton dis content In 1896 Mr. Siebe, as Asses sor, followed the suggestion of the | State Board of Equalization, and added
 to the personal property roll about ten
 million dollars of solvent credits, rep.
 resenting the value of loans on stocks and bonds This addition to the roll ! increased the assessment of the French l Savings Bank, of which MT. Le Breton 1 is president, to the extent Of $340,0OO i Other banks were approximately tn- l creased according to the amount loaned on stocks and bonds, but the mana
 gers of the other institutions were will l ing to abide by the decision of the courts on the legality of the Assessor s
 action. The slow process of the law
 was not suited to the Le Breton notion of civil administration. The Superior | Court however, has determined that the assessment of the solvent credits was correct according to the constitu- tion, and the question is now on ap- peal before the Supreme Court Of the State.
 Whatever opinion the members of the Board of Equalization may have enter
 fni stocks and bonds were assessable, they had no doubt that a solvent credit, cre- ated on a loan for which the stocks and bonds stood as security, was as-
 sessable and should be taxed When Mir Siebe increased the assessment roll to embrace property of this kind he re- sponded to a sentiment in the commun- ity that there should be no privileged classes in the matter of tax paying.
 In 1896, when the increase was made by the assessment of such solvent credits. there was a great outcry and some of the bankers fancied that the ruling of the Assessor was contrary to the law. After reflection the interested parties decided to appeal to the courts for justice, and there the question now
 rests. MT. Le Breton Is accredited with saving that he does not entertain
 feeling of personal hostility toward Assessor Siebe, but the politicians of the Non-Partisan convention, and they
 are apt ones, aver that Le Breton is
 out for revenge on Siebe, courts or no courts. They fancy that Le Breton in tends to punish Siebe for following the repeated directions or suggestions of
 the State Board of Equalization.
 The ordinary everyday taxpayers who do not arrogate to themselves all
 the virtues of the world are surprised
 that the pure and lofty -Partisans should engage In an effort to punish a public officer for performing his plain
 duty. So far as John Siebe is con-
 cerned, he gained the indorsement of
 the convention. He does not want to reopen the controversy, and his friends
 are not anxious that 1t should be re- opened, but the people who heard the roars of the discontented capitalist are inquiring as to the cause of the agita- tion in the Fitch -Phelan convention.
 So far as can be ascertained Assessor
 Siebes ruling in 1896 caused the Le Breton agitation of 1898.