The San Francisco call., 1898-03-10
TWO VIEWS OF
 AN AMBITION People of Many Towns Discuss United
 Government. Report of the Comn1ittee Is the Cause of Much
 Debate. AI.,oeda Sends a Protest, but the Berkeley Delegates Are
 Favorable.

OAKLAND. March 9.-The question of a consolidated city and county was hefore the Board of Trade this even inc and delegates from surrounding towns were present. The committee annointed two weeks ago consisted ot Messrs Sol Kahn, J. T. Naismith and M. J. Keller.
 Chairman Kahn read the report and stated that 1t was the joint work Of the committees of the Merchants Ex- change and the Board of Trade. It read:
 The committee has seen fit to deal In two things. facts and figures only,
 and if there are any other reasons
 hevond these two that should argue in
 favor of consolidation we trust they
 wiil find expression in the debate
 which will follow the reading of this
 reDort. We herewith present figures
 which we feel will appeal to every
 taxpayer, every lndlvlauai payIlng " dn in-
 Rerkeley and Oakland property. These
 facts we know will convince them of
 the benefit of a cOnsoldated city ana
 o0STt'' We find that the city and county
 government can be maintained at an
 Approximate cost Of $lZle.0oO, as per
 the figures preSehleu Dy NIty Auuitoi
 solidation committee IT This dao oda on an s as,
 sessed valuation of 900 would
 make a tax rate of $1 70 on the $lOO,
 which compares favorably with San
 Erancfsco. It may be a surprise to
 some of you to know that for every
 s1OO worth of property assessed In oak
 land $19 50 is covered py hlortgage. h ga se
 and Berkeley on a like basis has s25
 covered by mortgage. Money Is bor-
 rowed in San Francisco at from 6E to
 per cent per annum. Here interest
 payers are taxed 8 per cent and over
 finder consolidation we could also
 borrow at per cent and less.
 Passing calculations on the lowest rates consolidation will annually save
 Oakland homeowners. yet interest
 pavers. sSS. 300; Berkeley, s2O,O00 and
 Alameda s32,775. In addition to these
 figures taxpayers would make saV-
 ing of s26O, 900 in taxes. We also de-
 sire 10 cali your attention to harbor
 interests in which we are mutually
 concerned.
 how the advantages that would fol-
 low from the consolidation would be of
 equal benefit to both cities e as far Id;,,as as
 the harbor IS concerned; dnese ;d po3hts IS
 The Call.
 MT. Gelder of Berkeley said the time has come when the people of Alameda County have got to do something foI themselves. Many people in Berkeley are in sympathy with this movement.
 Director J. F. W. Sohst surprised the meeting with his figures regarding tht difference of interest rate between Oak land and San Francisco, which he ob- tained by visit to San Francisco bank He said that for twenty years Oakland has paid 50 cents more taxe: than San Francisco, and yet 1t has nothing to show for it-not park. not a city hall, in fact, nothing. Berkeley is disgusted with her government and in fact, has no government.
 we have no Justice Court to enforce the law and cannot bring our cases tC Oakland. Can we not have one gov. ernment? We surely can. We nov pay a county assessor and each of oul cities pays again to have the property assessed again, and is that rational San Francisco Is interested in keeping us fighting in this county so that sht can step in and get our trade and ca up our spare money by taking 1t a: increased interest on mortgages. represent the small propery owners an( there are lots of us. We have nothing in Berkeley. Not a policeman, not ; fire department and electric lights, fo which we pay double to the same COT poration as you do in Oakland"
 MT. Naismith said there are four cit, governments, four sanitary districts several school districts. fire commis sioners at Temescal and Fruitvale, ant under consolidation there would be bu one City Council and a Board of Edu cation. The cost of all the election alone is enormous, and cannot b passed by, and believe the scheme vii be successful.
 T. G. Daniels of Alameda was invit ed to speak, 1t being well known tha he is opposed to the measure, and tn meeting being desirous of hearing hi objections.
 "The people of Alameda are almos to a man opposed to consolidation" h said. "The plan will not do away witt two governments, but you will neet nearly all the officials you have now Fire, police and street departments vii have to be largely expanded. You vii have, like San Francisco, Sheriff's of flee and a police department Naithe Is 1t certain that consolidation will reduce taxes It will GU off fifteen millions of assessabl property, which will decrease the in come which will have to be made ul elsewhere.
 Taliesen Evans, Craigie Sharpe, E. C Sessions, J. S. Emery also spoke Mrs Cunningham of Livermore spoke fo the other end of the county. She sal, that she did not know whether Murra, Township wanted to be left out, an, also made a request that at the mex meeting delegates be invited from al the little towns in the eastern end O the county. President Taylor said tn request would be cheerfully compile, with The next conference will b held the second Wednesday in April.