The San Francisco call., 1898-07-12
ASSESSMENT WAR BEGINS
FIX SUPERVISOR PELoUZE IS
 GRANTED A REDUCTION.
Water Companies, Railroads and Other Corporations Have Not Yet Filed Their Annual
 Protests.
Oakland Office San Francisco Call.

The annual war over the county assess rnent roll commenced this morning, and for the next two weeks and longer Ii the State board be agreeable the Supervisors will hold daily sessions until all petitions, whether for. reductions or raises, are passed upon.
 The rolls contain that section of the water front awarded to the Water Front Company by the Supreme Court. There is some doubt as to whether this property, valued at $60Q.000 should be on the roll or not. as the decision of the Supreme Court in the matter was not final. The case was sent back to the Alameda courts to be retried and for judgment to be rendered along certain lines. The situation is be- ing watched with great interest, for there is some doubt as to whether the Water Front Company will object 10 the assess ment or pay its taxes.
 For nearly Q year, or since the ren- dering of the opinion by the supreme Court, the agent for the Water Front Company in this city has been trying to negotiate the sale of some of its prop erty, and has gone so far as to promise a guarantee to prospective purchaSerS that they shall be forever protected in their title. This information has come to the knowledge of the Assessor, and he will use it as an argument against the company should it object to the assess ment.
 There Is another point In connection with the water front that is also being brought forward. During the time of office of eX-AssessOr Leck1e, the water front was placed on the roll at low figure and the company paid its taxes regularly. The payment of taxes for many years was one of the prominent ar guments used by the Water Front Com- pany during the trial of the great suit. When Assessor Dalton took othce in 1oS4, he took the assessment off the roll on the ground that the property belonged to the city. For three years the property was not assessed and there is some talk as to whether MT. Dalton was justified in taking it off the rolls, and if he be not personally responsible for the three years taxes that have been lost to the county. MT. Dalton declares he is will ing to combat this position. and says he has no fear regarding the legality or all he has done:
 The first applicant for reduction of assessment at to-dayS session was eX- Supervisor W. S PelouZe. After mak- from $750 to $500. Another reduction thar he asked was not granted. One or two smaller reductions were asked, but no ap- plications from the Southern Pacific. the street railroad companies or any of the larger corporations that annually creatS much trouble have yet been filed.
 Another interesting fight is expected over the assessments of the water com panies. When fixing the rates last Feb ruary, the two companies gave much data regarding the values of their plants. This ata showed that the joint value, accord ing to the company's figures, approaches $1l 900 900. Owing to the assessment be- ing placed in the different townships and cities, it Is difficult to arrive at the total assessment, but as the Assessor has been guided by the sworn statements of the companies there will probably be warm contest