The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-07-15
Mr. DALTON'S
AMBITIONS
Anxious for a Seat on
the State Board.
AFTER WAREHOUSES; PLACE
RECENT ASSESSMENT ROLL AS
a CAMPAIGN DOCUMENT.
Morehouse May Have to Restore Ten
Millions That Has Been Diplo-
matically Taken OFF for
the First Time.
Oakland Office San Francisco Call.

sos broadway, July IA.
1t is now generally believed that Coun,y
Assessor Dalton, who says he is yet un-
decided as to his political future. Is anx-
ious to succeed Mr.. Morehouse IN the
State Board of Equalization. Mr.. Dalton
has repeatedly stated that he does not
know whether he Will run again for
County Assessor independently or
whether he Will seek the Republican nom
ination. Everything now points to the
possibility that Mr.. Dalton aspires higher
than any county office.
Six months ago a Democratic paper an
nounced Mr.. Dalton editorially as a very
strong candidate for a member If the
State Board of Equalization. and local
politics, in so far as Mr.. Dalton is con-
cerned, for the past few months, have all
tended TO strengthen this belief. The as
sessment roll recently completed for this
county is said TO be one of the most pro-
nounced campaign documents ever COM
piled by a candidate. It reduces the en-
tire assessment of the county nearly u per
cent. This, Of course, represents the
amount deducted from the holdings of
small prOperty-Owners On the other
hand. large properties have been in
creased, and the water front property,
which was taken from the rolls three years
ago. has now been returned 10 them, fer
the same reason that IL was stricken off
the waterfront cases have not vet been
interpreted by the local courts in accord
ance with the order of the Supreme
Court, but 1t is a good thing politically
to have 1t on the rolls at this time, and it
is there.
The present member of the State Board
of Equalization from this county is l.
G. Morehouse. Mr.. Morehouse lives in
San Leandro and he and Mr.. Dalton have
frequently clashed during the past four
years over local assessments. Mr.. More
house Is Republican and naturally his
vote in the State Board will decide the
fate Of Alameda Countys State assess
ment.
Should he decide Alameda County is
no less valuable this year than during the
other three years Of Mr. Dalton's ad-
ministration he may be forced to add the
ten millions to the roll for State eQualiza-
ton purposes. This would naturally be
taken advantage of by the friends Of
Dalton to make Mr.. Morehouse unpopu-
lar, and the whole business is regarded
as a shrewd political move.
Mr., Warehouses; supporters are already
declaring that Mr.. DaltOn's reduction is
TO great extent unwarranted. They as
sert that there are more Improvements,
more street railroads, more docks, more
large buildings and in every way more
time during the past. four years. They
declare that were Mr.. Dalton a Republi-
can he would not attempt to discredit
the fact that times are better now than
under national Democratic administra-
ton.
The contest is very nicely balanced. On
one SIDE is Mr.. Dalton, independent poll
tics, and the prospect of a reduction of
taxation; on the other hand is Mr. More
house, Repubicanism, and the possibility
that he may decide that Alameda has
not become y per cent poorer under Nc
kinleyS administration.