The record-union., 1899-09-02

The mountain laDOreQ anu brought
forth a mouse"
That was what Equalizer Beamer
said last night, after the State Board
in its wisdom had decided to accept
the assessments as fixed by the sew
eral County Boards of Supervisors and
returned by the Auditors, without
change.
And there was nothing pyrotechnic
about the meeting until it was all over.
The post mortem services, according to
Controller Colgan, were ever the most
trying, and SO they proved to be last
night. All the battle was fought over
again and facts and figures We're raked
up-after the whole business had been
settled.
Before the session the members
paired off and did little caucusing,
but when they finally ranged around
the tables, their books told nothing, and
If a combination had been formed it
was some time in cropping up.
After little desultory talk, Beamer
started the ball rolling. He had an eye
on Alameda County, and as it turned
out held no very high opinion of AS
SCISSOR Dalton's method of refusing to
give information respecting the build
ing OF his assessment roll.
Beamer, then, looked straight before
him and moved to increase Alameda
County's assessment 10 per cent. above
the Auditors figures. Thick silence
settled down for a moment and then
the talk broke loose again, but it did
not relate to Beamer's motion, directly,
at least
Chairman Brown mentioned Sacra-
mento County and said he was willing
to let it's roll alone He would vote to
increase its assessment except that he
had reasons which he could not di
vuIge. He believed the outside, or
country districts, had been assessed
fairly, but thought some of the prop
eTty in the city should have been raised.
L. II. Brown talked about a . per
cent. increase for Alameda, and Toland
spoke about a number Of other coun-
ties. Colgan alone sawed wood.
1t finally became apparent to Beamer
that nobody intended seconding his
motion, and having got his second wind
he revised it, moving that Alameda's
assessment be increased 10 per cent.
L. II. Brown talked about swapping.
While he persisted that per cent. was
a sufficient raise, he would vote for
Beamer's motion providing MendocinO
County's assessment was raised to the
same notch. He thought Colusa and
Glenn Counties should be raised as we'll
as Alameda.
Colgan, Toland and Alex. Brown were
opposed to any per cent increase, and
finally the latter. Strengthening up, sec
onded Beamer's motion.
The conflict was short, sharp and de-
cisive Toland, L H. Brown and Con-
troller Colgan united forces and laid
Beamer's motion among the daisies,
and then the talk again became gen
eral, and at times personal. L. H.
Brown finally moved to increase Ala
meda's assessment per cent, and
stony silence followed, broken at last
by Beamer who said it was about time
for somebody TO move that the
Auditors returns for the several coun-
ties be accepted by the board without
change
Beamer glanced at Colgan as he
fired the shot and COlgan took the
cue, saying:
well, I guess it's up to me. I move
that the Auditors reports be accepted
by the State Board, without change,
and that values be equalized on that
basis"
L. H. Brown commenced to speak
about Mendocino County, but changing
his mind, seconded Colgan's motion,
and the serious business of the session
was on.
''Beamer!" called Secretary Coglan,
who was ordered to call the roll
But Beamer apparently had not made
up his mind. He seemed dazed. 1t
was evident that he had not expected
just such move. After squirming for
five minutes he haltingly said:
Il hardly think it's right-after two
months work-those fellows ought to
be raised-no it isn't right, and I'm
going to vote against IT." And so he
voted.
It's up to you, Toland," piped the