The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-10-14
YET ANOTHER
PLATFORM IN
THE CAMP A|GN
Mr.. Schmidt Frames
a Novelty.
OPPOSED TO POLL TAXES
DEMO Gratis ARRANGE A TOUR
OF THE COUNTY.
Independents Will Not in Any Way
Interfere With the State
Ticket of the Repub-
icans.
OPPOSED TO POLL TAXES
DEMO Gratis ARRANGE A TOUR
OF THE COUNTY.
Oakland ONCE San Francisco can,

9OS Broadway, Oct. Is.
Yet one more platform, containing nine
teen distinct issues has been placed be-
fore the public. 1t is the document upon
which William ]. Schmidt relies to place
him where he will have something to say
about the laws made by the next Legis-
lature Mr.. Schmidt is an Independent
candidate for the Assembly from the
Forty-ninth District. A. A. McKeon was
nominated at the Republican convention
for this office, and in addition to Mr..
Schmidt, John league is also making a
race for the Assembly. So many candi-
dates rather complicate matters and If
they all go before the voters on election
day, there will be a chance for the Demo-
cratic candidate to win. 1t is believed,
however. that all three men will not de-
eide to make the race.
Two years ago Oscar Breiling was elect
ed by the Republicans in the Forty-ninth,
by a majority of about 500. Four years
ago the two parties ran so close that
there was a contest and the Legislature
decided in favor of the Republican by one
vote.
Mr.. Schmidt has concluded that some
thing new is needed to influence public
opinion, SO he has issued a platform which
he says is not so long as the State Re-
publican platform nor so short as the
county declaration.
Schmidt eulogizes President Mckinley,
would like to see a Republican succeed
Stephen NJ White, would abolish the poll
tax, would reduce probate fees and would
entirely eliminate bosses from all kinds of
conventions. He would also abolish one
Of the Justices courts Of the city OF
Oakland. He declares that there are
$4,000 persons in this county who are sub
Ject to pay poll tax, and only 11,4lS that
have been required to pay poll tax TINS
year-mostly poor people and employees
of firms and corporations"
Mr.. Schmidt's nineteenth declaration
contains figures which are of more than
ordinary interest. 1t says:
Water companies furnishing water to the in
habitants of towns and cities for domestic use
are required by law to present annually to the
legislative body whose duty 1t is to fix the
water rates sworn statement OF the value
of their property and plant. In so doing, the
water companies are not slow TO appreciate the
their works the greater Will be the percentage
income derived from their investment; hence
companies have invested fabulous sums In thelr
works, so that the City Council or other gov
a reasonable rate of interest upon their pre-
tended investment. The last sworn statement
city show the property and plant of the Oak
land Water Company to be of the enormous
ment OF the Contra Costa Water Company
shows its property and plant to be OF the value
of Sc 50o, 000 making $12, 600 coo the valuation
of both companies. This OF sl2 600, 900 con-
sttutes the basis upon which water rates are
which. as an investment. fair rate of inter
est is allowed as shown by the present exor-
bitant water rates.
II will be interesting for the people who are
required to pay water rates on an alleged in
vestment of SIP, 900, 600 to know that the Oak
land Water Company pays taxes only upon
an assessed valuation of S5s4,475, and that the
balance of the property of this company, to wit,
s4,9l5525, escapes assessment and taxation. Also
that the Contra Costa Water Company pays
taxes only upon an assessed valuation Of S1o7s,-
1875 and OF fits property as shown by It's sworn
statement SIS, 420.S75 escapes assessment and
taxation. The total amount thus escaping taxa
ton is $40, 335. 400.
F. w. Sawyer, the candidate for District
Attorney on the fusion and Independent
tickets, says that his remarks at Lorin
on Tuesday night had no reference what
ever to Mr.. Metcalf. He says he had no
idea of attacking Mr.. Metcalf, but he
wished to impress his hearers with the
fact that the Congressional fight has
nothing to do with the county fight, and
that although Mr. Metcalf should be
elected and the Republican county ticket
fell of election, 1t would not necessarily
mean that Metcalf would thereby be at
q disadvantage in Congress.