The San Francisco call., 1899-09-11


How to raise more revenue for the city
treasury than will be produced by sources
OF income at present established is the
grave question the City Council is now
racing. Much is expected of this Council
us platform is very progressive and the
character of its members is such as 10
preclude the idea that they are merely
an aggregation OF selfish politicians, with
no idea OF carrying out their pledges.
They have already decided 10 carry out
one pledge by limiting the tax levy 70 a
dollar. This fidelity to their promise.
however, places them face to face with
another dilemma. With the present low
assessment the dollar limit Will not give
them enough money TO run the city along
the progressive lines 10 which they are
pledged. The only means by which money
can be raised Is by placing 2 license tax
free. Any tax OF this nature must Of
necessity be special In its character and,
therefore, open TO argument and opposl-
u0n. II VIII require al the diplomacy OF
hlch this Council is capable 10 avoid the
apparently inevitable deficit. Merchants
VIII object 10 tax on their business
wheels; others viii object 10 tax on
their vehicles; and SO on, wherever an eT-
fort may be made tO raise income
Within the past three years taxes have
been levied on outside firms doing busI-
ness in this city. with the result that all
those taxed have avoided its payment by
opening & branch house in Oakland and
Osteusibly doing business as local mer-
chants. This is nothing but an evasion in
many instances. but il is q legal evasion.
The adjustment of the inter-City trading
Is delicate matter, as II Is directly Op-
posed TO the principle OF free commerce
which is guaranteed between States by
the interstate commerce law Oakland
merchants have frequently complained
bitterly that their travellers can 90 IN
limited business without being taxed IN
any State of the Union except California,
but that II they send d drummer 10 any
city IN this State he is at once required
20 do business at great disadvantage,
while drummers from other States can
traverse the whole Of California free Of
all licenses. This IS one view OF the sit
uatiOn. Cyclists will be told that II they
pay small tax 1t viii go into the street
fund and guarantee better streets, but
they will not be satisfied unless assured
that the owners OF all other vehicles viii
pay in proportion There are many oCher
views Of the matter demanding careful
consideration and no matter in what man
ner the solution is arrived al, II Will meet
with certain amount OF Lnpopularlty.
The meeting last Tuesday evening at
the City Hall was revelation some
thing went 70 pieces. Somebody snip
was wrecked, while the lobby wondered
4 few weeks ago & little whispering was
being done as TO whether the support o. a
certain political element should 60 10 Mr.
Mott or Mr.. Rowe. FOR some reason not
Yer DEVELOPED the temporary favor Of this
Tuesday evening Mr.. Rowe was excited.
at times evidently forgetting that he was
in the presidents chair, for otherWise ne
would certainly have refrained from TAX
ing part in q debate without leaving the
rostrum. Mr. Mott caught the fiery spirit
that was in the air and caused II 70 De
known that he resented criticism and was
capable Of acting Independently OF any
leading strings or programme MT.
Meese, the most conservative man ana
one Of the most practical in the Council,
for the first time showed that something
had tired him and he proposed TO snake
il of Had the fiery Cuvellier been pres
ent. Il is probable that the meeting would
have suggested the Fourth Of July that
succeeded the destruction OF CerTera
4aer The least observanr could see that
something was doing" and for the next
few weeks affairs at the City Hall will be
watched more keeuly and analytically
than thew have been since the Old admin
isrratiou walked out. II would be idle 70
guess al the origin Of the new order OF
things Il will have 10 unfold itself
STUART ". BOOTH