davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The herald., 1898-09-15
TO BUNCO TfNDfRfffT
THE DOLLAR TAX LIMIT so HELD
BY FREEHOLDERS
A DECIDED CHANGE OF BASE
No Consolidation Of Ofices-Mr
Variel Threatens to Resign If
Limited in Speaking

The board of freeholderS seemed to be
excited by the political atmosphere of the
city for they talked and argued like dele
gates to a convention. Major Lee. Messrs
OMelveny, Graft, Croft. Cohn, Newmark
Davidson, Morgan, Willard, Stephens, Va
rel and Hazard were the members present
Mr.. Graft took advantage of the first mo-
merits Of the meeting to present mos,
volumtnous amendment to the report of
the committee on utilities, which was
adopted.
The most important clause Is that af-
fecting street railway franchises, provd-
ing that hereafter adj franchises shall be
granted for thirty-five years. For the first
five years Of this life the city is not to gain
any income; on the second five years the
city Is to receive per cent of the gross re-
ceipts and for the remaining twenty-five
years the street railway company is to pay
per cent annually into the city treasury.
Mr.. OMelveny then proposed to cut GU!
the clause formerly considered, providing
that the city shall take the county's as
sessment roll as basis for the city assess
ment. The speaker said that he had been
in favor of this plan but on bnvestigat ton
he had come to the conclusion that 1t was
impracticable. The assessment roll would
not be presented In time, the expense of
fees to the county recorder and of vertical
tior would be considerable, and the County
pa;ess.nent had always been erroneous
and generally several millions less ON the
city than that made by the city assessor.
In order to keep ITO the dollar limit, tie
city assessment must be high enough to
produce THE amount needed by the city;
SO that If the county assessor were asked
to raise the city assessment 20 the required
amount. city properly owners would then
be obliged to pay increased taxes to the
county and state. He went into exhaustive
details as to his objections and recon-
mended THAT the plan be left out of the
charter. but that an effort be made to Sc
cure legislative act at the next session
compelling The county tax collector to COL
The herald., 1898-09-15

Oct 9TH over the Santa Fe. 1t will be a
vestibule train, comprising palace coaches,
diner, ETC.. and as complete n all Its APP
pointments as ever left Los Angeles The
number of coaches depends upon the mum.
Der Of Knights Templar, Masons and
friends who comprise the party. The list
Is already large and growing daily.
Whether Los Angeles commandery will &c
as commandery is not yet determined on
account Of the uncertainty Of some OF.
icers being able to go; this will make no
difference with the party. Tickets for the
round trip to Pittsburg have been placed
at $3.50, good for sixty days. Stop-over
privileges will be granted for the return
trip.
The herald., 1898-09-15
Overcome by Gas

While working in an excavation six fee
deep on North Spring street, opposite
Franklin yesterday, Mat Fairbrinker, ar
old woman, was overcome by the fumes Of
gas which were escaping from leak in g
pipe. His companions dragged him out
and seated him on the curbstone to await
his recovery. His wife passed while he was
there, and on learning: that her husband
was i'll and seeing him nearly unconscious
she went up to him and began to lament his
supposed death. Sergeant Lehnhausen
called q carriage and had T'airbrinker re-
moved to the receiving hospital, where he
soon recovered.
The herald., 1898-09-15

eminent, bu. it was not proper subject
for the board.
Take off the dollar limit, the plan to
bunco the tenderfoot to his undoing Take
1t off and all the objections to this COM
bination method of assessment will fall to
the ground"
|. Mr.. O'Melveny replied that Judge Varieps
argument did not touch the point. He had
to seek refuge in another alternative, that
of changing the limit. IF that is done, the
charter will never be adopted, for the peo-
pie, rightly or wrongly, and I believe
wrongly, have been educated to belief in
it, and will never vote for a charter tina t
changes the limit"
Mr.. OMelveny recited again some of his
objections and showed conclusively that
little or nothing would be saved by the
combination method.
Finally Mr. O'Melvenys motion to strike
out the sections providing for a combined
city and county assessment was then
adopted by vote with only Judge yariel,s
mo- against it.
On Judge Variers motion, the committee
was instructed to report a system of CITY
assessment based on the provisions of the
present charter.
Following out this idea, Mr.. O'Melyeny
moved that the offices of city auditor and
assessor and those of treasurer and tax
collector be not consolidated, which was
adopted.
MI. U Melveny then asked for instruc-
tons as to whether the city attorney should
be selected by election or appointed nv the
mayor.
Mr. Hazard held that he should be elected
Mr.. Graft thought that a good LAWYER
could only be had for the place by appoint-
ment.
Mr. Variel-I think that there should be
something IN this charter for the common
people. You are chasing rainbows too
much. believe the scheme of combina ton
Of offices would commend the charter 20
the people,
Mr. Graff-Tha; question was settled. Mr.
Variel.
Mr.. Variel-That's all right have a
large orbit, but I get around 1t all right
in the end. think you have made mis- takes
In taking so many things from the people.
think the people can pick on. a good law.
yer as an attorney.
Then came series of motions and amend
mems.
Judge Stephens offered subs titute, that
the city attorney be appointed by The may
or with the advice and consent Of the coun-
Gil. He held that good lawyers could not
would no., get these nominations. The
trouble showed Itself in the district attor-
neysh.p; he had asked Republicans why
they did not go 10 a representative attorney
and make him candidate, and they told
him they could no. ge. such a man tn 90
through the mire of politics.
why. you Cunning to Judge varieD
could not get in the convention now being
The herald., 1898-09-15
The Immunity Of the City

lect the city taxes. The lesisla tive act
would remove the objectiona bic difficulties
Judge Stephens spoke gains', the dollar
limit as a fraud and delusion. The amount
OF money required for the city is to be
raised anyway, as the assessment is always
made 20 be high enough to provide the
needed sum.
Mr.. O'Melveny pronounced the dollar
limit sort of bunco proposition ITS
chief advantag e is THAT when a tenderfoot
comes here he asks what the tax rate is.
Only one dollar: that's the limit he is
told, and he goes away thinking it is very
lew and safe
Judge Variel spoke on the objection to
having the statements to submit to the city
and the county, and then paying taxes
twice, once to the city and then to the cour-
ty tax collector.
The $4,000 required by the city assessors
office this year. he argued, under the COM
bina ton system could be reduced $4,000.
AS in Oakland it only costs $4,000 to verify
the county roll.
Mr.. O'Melveny remarked that this was
all wrong; that Oakland was mo criterion,
as it would cost much more.
Judge Variel said: UNLESS you can give
L
talking through your hat"
Mr.. Newmark tried to argue that same
point with Mr.. Variel, but could not stem
his stream of reasoning, and he continued
to argue tIhat the objection to the county
assessment could easily be removed.
The exchange of personal remarks be-
came $50 vivid that Mr.. VaGdel finally stated
he did not intend to hurt anVoneis feelings
and did not mean what he said to be Of
fensive; at which everyone laughed and
the speaker Joined in. He argued agairst
the dollar limit. but chung strongly to the
combined city and county assessment.
Mr.. Hazard thought that the only way
out of 1t was to investigate she question
whether the city could not be freed from
the maintenance of city and county
government as wel. The proper way is to
stop the double syst en- of government and
have only the one government, like San
Francisco.
Mr.. Variel-It cannot be done. will
stake my reputation as a lawyer that we
have not the power.
Mr.. HaZard-Then let us apply for o
constitutional amendment permitting our
freedom from county government. Or
ange county has been cut off; Pomona
warts county. They Top off portions of
the territory and leave the city TO bear the
burden. Now. Let us see If we cannot make
provision in THE charter for such change
when 1t can be brought about.
Mr.. Variel then went into the details of
his studies of the constitution of the state:
he had made an investigation of the SUBJ
ject, and he was prepared to answer Mr.
Hazard that 1t would not be legal or
proper for the freeholders to go any further
in the matter of taxation than the pro-
posed combination assessment He favored
the separation of the city and county gov
The herald., 1898-09-15
CITY NEWS IN BRIEF

DR.. E. Campbell removed to Laughlin
building.
C. d. Howry, undertaken. Fifth and
Broadway. Lowest prices in the city.
Call telephone main 243 for ambulance.
Bresee Brothers. Sixth and Broadway.
Robert Sharp & Co.. funeral directors. 75l
and 1853 South Spring street. Tel main 1929.
Watches cleaned Is cents; mainsprings,
20 cents; crystals, 10 cents. Patton, IA
South Broadway.
The charge Of embezzlement against
Frank l. Kuhn was continued until the
10th inst. by Justice Morrison yesterday.
Adams Bros, dentists. 2391t South Spring
street. Plates from "a. Painless extracting.
80 cents. Filling speciality. Hours. to s:
Sundays, 10 to II.
Justice Morrison yesterday continued the
case agains; Anna Seifert, charged with
stealing $500 from Mrs I. Kennedy Of
Orange street, until Saturday at $3.50 a. m.
Justice Morrison fined Thomas Ghidos
SIS yesterday for having violated the IL
cense ordinance by selling liquor without
having first procured the necessary license.
Charles Redona was fined 81 by Justice
Morrison yesterday for having disturbed
the peace on Los Angeles street by fight
ing with a companion. Redona paid the
hne.
Do you know that framed picture makes
a most desirable wedding present? If YOU
are looking for anything in that line do not
fail TO call at H. e. Lichtenberger's art en-
porium, POP South Spring street.
]. Short fell out Of his wagon at the cor
ner of Santa Fe avenue and Third street
Yesterday while he was intoxicated and
cut his head and bruised himself. He was
taken to the receiving hospital.
The series Of farmers institutes which
we're to have occurred this week. has been
postponed. The new dates are as follows:
September 10. at Inglewood; September 20
and q, at Pasadena; September % and %, a;
Azusa.
DR.. Rebecca Lee Dorsey, Stimson block.
first floor, rooms 1873, 1874, 1876 Specia! attcn-
ton given to obstetrical cases, and all DIS
eases of women and children. Electricity
scientifically used. Consultation hours,
10 5. Telephone 1921.
Artistic picture framing is our leading
specialty. We make every effort to please
our customers. Special designers and fin
lshers of frames TO order. Large line of
moulding 10 select from Sanborn Vail &
Co.. 1888 South Spring street.
Deputy Constable Mugnemi arrested
Louis lie Grand of the Hotel Lafayette yes
terday on a warrant charging him with dis
turbing the peace. Louisa Nicely, resi-
dent Of the house, complains that LIE Grand
has been on spree for some days past and
has been very abusive.
The herald., 1898-09-15

ard selling of stock are done in San Fran
cisco. But the sale has been made beyond
any possible doubt, and the new owners will
take possession Immediately. From the in
formation that The Herald has received,
and which comes from an unques.ionable
source, there is little apprehension to be
fel: that any material change will be made
in the working force on the line, and Mr..
Wood, will 1t Is thought, retain his place.
However, the matter has not progressed
sufficien ,ly for all such details to be settled,
and, in fact, they have not been thoroughly
discussed by the new owners.
Whether Gen. Sherman will care to take
the burden Of management. Is also not es-
tablished. He did not care to enter into de-
tails yesterday and refused to make any
lengthy statement. The only thing in this
connection which appears 20 have been set
tied Is that H. E. Huntington will be made
the president of the company, and therefore
Its management will probably be closely
modelled after tina, OF the Market-street
railway of San Francisco, of which he is
also the head.
The Immunity of the City
Some anxiety has been expressed as to
the effect on the city of the extension to
such a degree Of the interests of the Soul h.
ern Pacific and it's possible meddling in
municipal politics. That is something
which time alone will tell. but from inuqry
among those informed on the situation Of
the properly in its relations 20 the city,
there is no. much to fear in this line.
According to Mayor Snyder. who was
asked last evening whether such a danger
is TO be expected, there Is little that the
company could wish that 1t already does
The herald., 1898-09-15
He Had a Watch

Jake Peyton, colored, was arrested yes
terday morning on First street by Officer
Rom on a Cargo of petty larceny. Peyton
had a gold-fllled watch. which he had Of
fered to dispose of to some men. Peyton
claimed that he had found the watch at
Westtake park and had not offered to sell
1t until after an advertisement Of Its re-
covery had expired In local paper.
The herald., 1898-09-15
LECTURE ON PSALMoDY
Professor Tomlins at the First Congre.
gational Church

The lecture on "Psalmody' to be given
this evening at the First Congregational
church by Prof. w. L. Tomlins is intended
for the pews as we'll as the choir. Music
will be provided for all, and the hymns Sc
lected are the standards from all hymna1s.
Music reading ability Is not prerequisite.
1t will be all singing with just enough lee
ture interspersed for Prof Tomlns to make
his points clear The object of the lecture
is to demonstrate how standard hymns
should be sung The public Is invited.
The herald., 1898-09-15
Never Regained Consciousness

T. G. F. Patterson, an old soldier. was
found unconscious in his room in the
United States hotel yesterday morning by
Tony Mesmer, the manager Of that hotel
Patterson was removed to the receiving
hospital, where 1t was found That he was
suffering from stroke Of apoplexy. He
did not regain consciousness and was re-
moved to the county hospital, where he
expired last night about 10 o'clock.
The herald., 1898-09-15
Passes Into the Hands Of the Huntngtons
and w, Hellman
mot A SOUTHERN PACIFIC SCHEME''|
Holman Declares That the System Will Be Greatly Improved
"WM Not Be Subject to Any Other Corporation E.
Huntington Be President


con
Of
r. is
tt of
n
4
Interested pt" positively deny that the Evening included the DEAL but
in
D.
4
w. the
be the
o fgurs
iaton. is aryt the
The herald., 1898-09-15
Mexican Independence

Arrangements have been completed for
the celebration tomorrow evening Of the
eighty-eghth anniversary of the independ-
ence of Mexico. A musical and literary
program will be given In Music hall. at
which addresses will be made In bo.h Eng
llsh and Spanish. A ball will wind up the
evenings entertainment.
The herald., 1898-09-15
CITY NEWS
INDEX OF LOCAL EVENTS
Chronicled on Pages 1, 8, Z, 8 and u.

An undesirable tenant sought to be 1
+ elected.
4 Runaway accident which narrowly (
= escaped serious results.
= Pasadena bank wins an old suit (
Z against the Lacy estate.
= Women's Mcguire club decides to (
+ take In a few men, just to vary the mo- (
= notony.
4 Bids opened for the construction Of (
= the new insane ward at the county (
4 hospital.
+ Chamber of commerce wants the
= headquarters of the forest reserve es- :
= tAblished in this city.
+ Young man of pronounced religious <
7 tendencies and penchant for gam <
+ bling deserts his wife.
4 School trustees accept the Pico (
= Heights building and formulate plans (
+ for the opening Of school.
= Freeholders discuss the proposed 4
= dollar tax limit for the new charter (
: and characterize 1t as a bunco game. (
The herald., 1898-09-15
Landlords Meeting Postponed

The Landlords association of Los An
geles, which was to have met yesterday at
10 a. M, in annual session, postponed the
meeting one week. This association repre-
sents a large amount of capital and over
forty of the ) -sest business CLOCKS Of the
city.
The herald., 1898-09-15
A ParalYtic Stroke

CLEVELAND, o., Sept. Ex-senator
Kyle of South Dakota was stricken with
paralysis at the Forest City hotel today.
1t Is understood that the stroke Is slight,
and the senator is not in serious condiS
ton.
The herald., 1898-09-15
Held an INQUEST

An inquest was held yesterday In the
undertaking rooms OF Orr & Hines on the
remains of ]. j. Painter, who was found
dead IN bed Tuesday. A verdict OF death
from cerebral hemorrhage was returned.
The herald., 1898-09-15
Sharpshooters AhoY

The sharpshooters will meet to perfect
arrangements for a tournament and to de-
wise plan Of extending the scope Of theis
organization this evening.
The herald., 1898-09-15
Knights Templar Conclave

The Knights Templar of Los Angeles
and Southern California will make the pill
grimage TO Pittsburg and the triennial
conclave by special train, Leaving this city
The herald., 1898-09-15
EVENTS OF TODAY

= Orpheum-Vaudeville.
4 Los Angeles-"A Marriage Of Con-
4 venience."
4 Board Of freeholders meets, council :
= chambers p. m.
+ Annual all-day service Pacific Gospel
4 Union, 1923 East Second street-10 a. m.
= Special meeting Los Angeles Sharp
= shooters. Orpheum Theater halls p.
y m.
= Lecture on Christian Science, by e. :
= A. Kfmball. Simpson Tabernacle-S (
= p. m.
+ Psalmody lecture by Prof. w. L.
= Tomlins, First Congregational church
= IS p. m.
y
The herald., 1898-09-15
I Undelivered Telerrams

There are undelivered kilograms at tins
western Union telegraph office for Isaac
D. Holden and Fred L. Bulk.
The herald., 1898-09-15
A Missing Man

Robef Simons. janitor of the Childe
BLOCK IN South Main street, in which the
Orpheum Is located, has been missing since
The herald., 1898-09-15

Monday. S.mons had been on a prolonged
spree and threatened 10 commit suicide.
The herald., 1898-09-15

Latest styles wall paper at A. A. Eek
''rom's. s2a South Spring street.
The herald., 1898-09-15

DR.: Max Wassman, dentist, rooms 22t
and 226 Potomac block Broadway. between
Second and Third. Tel. Brown 1913.
The herald., 1898-09-15
THE WEATHER

TEMPERATURE-Rec of observat lions
taken at Los Angeles Sept 14th. The
barometer Is reduced to sea ievei.
Tine Bar 1hr. X. Ii. Wind Vel wenths,
sss s% s g q g 81 s W ] GI:s;
Maximum temperature, 49,
Minimum temperature, 4S.
Forecasts
Forecast for Southern California for
Thursday: Fair; fresh west wind.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-25

1 that the commerce OF the empire With
tho limited states was OF more value 10
| Germany than its commerce with spain'
] and that these declarations came upon
/ tho heel OF German retaliatory measures
against Dingleyism. we cannot put con-
strue that dental as indicating that Ger
many leans toward w as respects the
| cuban issue. We cannot but constrne II
| "a a hint TO Spain that che would do
well 10 keen the peace Further. In
weighing the worth of Germanys iriehu-
ship. we might do well TO consider that
she is one of SPANS heaviest creditors
and virtually the controlling force In the
Trlple Alliance BY reason OF these two
facts. she would be able 10 exercise
tremendous influence In causing Spain
TO think seriously before going TO war.
And II the latter should determine TO
take the chances of war. Germany's po-
sition I'm the Dreibund could be made by
the Emperor potent factor in eontri-
buting 20 Spanish isolation.
Emperor william has his faults. He
has done ana said, according TO our no.
ton, a good many foolish things; but he
is not a fool. or a weakling. Far from
1t. In many respects he is a strong
character. American efforts to belittle
him, to the contrary Notwithstanding, he
is a power, not only in Germany, but
in the rest Of continental Europe. Not
American allegations as to
his unpopuarity, he has an immense and |
ardent following throughout the empire. |
The emphasizing Of his utterances in the |
tone OF the official press is always ac-
,epted as evidence of his having spoken |
or the government. The emphasizing OF |
hem in the tone of the semi-official press,
IS in the case under discussion, must be
onsidered evidence of his having spoken
or both the government and his general
The conclusion of the whole
natter therefore, is that so far as 1t
omports with our dignity, we should
ultivate the Emperors moral support
! this crisis, as in so doing we would
e cultivating the moral support of Ger
lany and her continental allies. We
Mould, indeed, so far as it COMFORTS with
lr dignity and involves no danger of
lture entangling alliances. cultivate the
oral support of all the foreign nations,
against Spain.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-25
THE RICHMOND DISPATCH-FRIDAY. MARCH 81 1898.

1910 o'clock this morning. and two hours
ssi,,erward she anchored or Fort Monroe.
phe ~ the nrst battieship OF the new
s hampton Roads or Home Defence"
1TItuauron 70 arrive at the rendezvous
III, ne masnihcent armored cruiser Brook
yn. which will probably be the flagship
~ me new squadron, viii Join the Texas
~ lew Gays; She Is now lying on New
port News. These, with the Columbia
anu "a minneapolis. which are being manned
very fine coast defence sauadron. and
me me place OF rendezvous being central.
, icy can be sent North or South to
threatened points with equal celebrity.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-25
A Reply tn Mr.. Branch,

To the Editor of the Dispatch:
WIN Mr. G. w. Branch kindly consider
the following questions in regard to his
letter to the New York Herald. dated
March p. 1898?
Has Mr.. Branch studied Spanish char
acteristics as eyinced in early and modern
history? Has he read up data on Span
ish assassinations, trcachery. and greed
Who believes that Spain is willing TO
grant Cuba self-government? who does
not know that autonomy so far has
meant nothing to Cubans but rapIne
murder and systematized starvation?
Who can ignore the reports of the Con-
gressional Commission 10 Cuba. Senator
Proctor's speech in the Senate. and Gene
raj Lees experience? Who doubts that
the United States want peace, and whv
should their eventual Intervention on
humanitarian grounds lose them the
moral support OF foreign Powers? Does
Mr.. Branch expect that Cuba would be
happier under Spain than under self
rule. be IL ever so primitive? Who forces
Spain TO fight but her own stubbornness
and wilful ignoring OF existing facts. and
why does Mr.. Branch advocate peace
with honor" when such commodity a.
evidently not TO be had from Spain?
With all due reference to Mr. Branch's
judgment, his letter cannot fail to as
tonish even readers of most moderate
and peaceful tendencies, and II Is hard
10 believe the letter to be the mouthplece
II southern sentiment on this question
Of the day. Respectfully, Il. T.. S.
New York, March g. 1855.