The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-04-03
ASSESSMENT OF GOODS
IN BONDED WAREHOUSES;
ALFRED G. PLATT TO BE AP-
POINTED A DEPUTY ASSESSOR.

The Board of Supervisors at to-days
meeting will begin a systematic attempt
to ascertain the value of the amount Of
goods &c local importers have in the
bonded warehouses. Chairman Phelps of
the Committee on Personal Property AS
sessments will introduce a resolution re-
questing the board to instruct Assessor
Dodge to appoint Alfred G. Plat as a
deputy assessor and in conjunction act IS
advisory expert to the committee. This
has been precipitated by the statement
made to City and County Attorney Lane
by Collector Jackson that he had no par
ticular objection persona.-y to give out
the information about bonded goods, but
that he would be unable to do so since it
would be contrary to the regulations of
the Treasury Department. He further
stated that it was the first time in the
history of the Custom-house that such
request had ever been made and he would
have to be guided by the authorities in
Washington. Mr.. Lane has withdrawn
from the controversy, saying that he has
no desire to pit himself against t..e Treas
ury Department.
When Mr. Platt, as a representative of
the Board of Supervisors, was detailed
some time ago to get information in or
der that goods now in the bonded ware
houses on which the duty was unpaid
could be assessed by the board as per-
sonal property, he was told by Collector
JACKSON lnaI no information could be
given in regard to one importer as against
another which would tend to benefit
either party. He took this stand by rea-
son OF Treasury decisions promulgated on
the subject. Platt reported TO the Super
Visors, who then delegated Mr.. Lane to
get the information, with the above re-
suit.
1t is with the idea of clothing Platt with
the necessary authority that the resolu-
lions will be introduced and the interest
ing point will be determined whether the
State or city and county has the power
to assess goods which are actually in the
possession of the Government, though in
reality owned by the importer and espe-
cially in the case of goods on which the
cost, freight and insurance has been paid.
The point involved is whether the United
States Government can stand in the way
of the municipal authorities getting such
information as may be necessary for
1t is certain that the matter will eventu-
ally be decided in Washington, and as the
Board of Equalization meets on the first
Monday in July, an early decision is de-
sired by the Supervisors
Vast quantities of goods have hereto
fore escape taxation because they were
contained in bonded warehouses, and the
Personal Assessment Committee takes the
stand that the State has a perfect right
to take steps to ascertain the owner
ship of the goods. BY having qualified
deputy assessor it will give him the right
to make the necessary Investigations.
He will then request to be shown the
withdrawal entries made after the first
day In March for the purpose of ascer-
tanning who is taking the goods out of the
warehouse and so assess them accord
ingly.
considerable interest by the importers, as
much money is involved. They are de-
termined to take the matter to the courts
should the decision be adverse to them
TO inspect the Government books in or.
der to assess the goods.