The San Francisco call., 1905-08-05
County Assessor Replies to
the Attack by Supervisor
Rowe Upon His Methods
HARSH THINGS ARE SAID
Echoes of the Fight Likely
to Disturb Conventions for
Several Years to Come

Assessor Dalton issued an open letter
in which he put Mr.. Rowe on the grid
iron and argues that IL is the Super
visor who is the faker. Dalton scores
some hot points on Rowe
And so the county officials are
battling back and forth, and are start
ing an official and political row that
will echo down the course of Alameda
County politics for several conventions
10 come. Both are men of influence in
The political world and have large fol-
lOwings.
The following is the signed state
nlent Assessor Dalton issued to-day:
In charging me with official dereliction in
the matter of assessments Supervisor Rowe
makes the extraordinary confession that ne
has FOR three years been neglecting MS own
sworn duty.
he says have been for that period under
assessing certain corporations. which he re
trains from calling BY name yet in ali that
time he has never made the slightest effort
10 correct the public wrong Of which ne alleges
He has sat on the Board Of Equalization
ali this time and allowed the alleged under
assessments 10 stand without protest making
move 10 correct them, or bring them to the
attention OF the Assessor ana the other MEM
bers OF the board
with much hre and fury be mentions the
speclnc instance ot the assessment OF a pank,
which he also refralned from naming, giving
figures 10 back Up his assertion. II Supervisor
Rowe knows OF any such instance it was
1he matter ia the Board OF Equalization and
move to have the assessments adjusted in &C
coroance with his idea Of the amount which
The ssid~ bank should pay taxes
i is also a self-evident proposition that il
ASSESSED within Mr. Rowe's knowledge it was
his sworn duty 10 endeavor 10 have those
assessments raised His own admissions, made
10 afford him a pretext for assaiiing me, con- !
The law relating 70 assessments.
WHO Is A FAKERs
In answer to Mr. Rows's allegation that /
did not turn the books over TO the Board OF 4
Supervisors, sitting as a Board Of Equaliza- 4
tion. Ia the time specified by law. Mr.. Rowe 4
Under the law the Assessor is allowed 1
twenty days after the nrst Monday in July 4
complete the assessment roll / turned the 1
assessment roll over 10 the clerk Of the Board 4
a Equalization on Saturday. July p. whereas /
! had until July "a The Board Of Equaliza- i
tion under the law is allowed TWO weeks 10 1
equslize the assessments. This year they com
menced sitting Board Of Equalization on 4
Saturday July -. and will end their session 4
to-morroH, August 3 this, as figure it, being !
same length OK time in which they have equal 1
lied during other years
Mr.. Rowe quotes saying; He SAYS 4
that his assessment OF the Traction and Key
Route companies is only % per cent of their 1
value" / defy Mr.. Rove any other per 4
SON responsible or irresponsible 10 show one /
instance wherein 1 have said that the Trac-
. per cent OF their value / have never said 1
50 and ] believe that Mr. Rowe knew il 4
when he made the statement
The properties OF the above companies 4
assessed BY what I consider their cash 4
value. Lie No. nailed Who is the faker?
Mr. Rowe points 10 the assessment OF the /
banks. In answer let say that the prop
erty Of the banks Of this county is assessed |
higher than any other class OF property on
account of 50 much Of their property being
ia the shape Of mortgages which are assessed /
at about one hundred cents on the dollar.
The money and assessable securities Of the
banks are assessed as sworn 70 by the bank 4
officials.
money made against the Central Bank and the /
Oakland Bank Of Savings was not made as
. II should have been.
BANK ASSESS MENTS.
Permit me TO say to Mr.. Rowe ana all other
people interested. that |. Assessor, have /
the sworn statements as to the amount OF /
Mr. Anson Blake, cashier Of the Central /
Bank. and Mr.. ". W. Garthwaite. cashier OF
the Oakland Bank Of Savings and the assess
ments against their banks was based on their /
sworn statements
or child in the county Of Alameda that would 4
not take Mr.. Blake's ana Mr. Garthwaites 4
word in any business transaction. I have 4
found the banks Of this county always ready /
TO strsighten out and fix up any error made /
in their assessments, whether il be for or /
against them. The real estate and improve /
nents OF the bank have been assessed equally 4
and in proportion TO other real estate and I
improvements in the county.
Nj Rowe complains because the county paid /
70 Sacramento IN trying 10 prevent the State /
Board OF Equalization from increasing the i
valuation OF Alameda County property about i
10 Der cent and coming from a man who /
lives IL a glass house, the complaint. is good. 1
been raised as contemplated il would have 1
taken about 100000 additional out Of the pock-
claim some credit for defeating the con-
fernplated raise, and I feel that the taxDayers /
OF the county wiz agree that the Sl5o was ]
money well expended.
Now let US see where Mr.. Rowe gets off. |
Boards consideration OF the Alameda County |
Assessment would be taken up at 10 oclock 1
untfI half past II a m or until after the |
Alameda County assessment had been finally |
Mr. Rowe's visit was therefore useless
Under such circumstances Il would be nat !
by desire 70 save the taxpayers all unneces- |
his actual expenses
But does Mr. Rowe do it2
ROWE A FINANCIER.
II paid his railroad fare both ways the /
amour. would be about So. but Mr.. Rowe
charge Of SIS. putting into his own pocket a /.
modest Droht OF only 200 Per cent per day, I
not Der annum, for ne returned TO Oakland /
the same day.
lIr. Rowe is a good fnancier for Mr.. Rowe |
The get-rich-euiek echemers and the loans {
70 salaried people sharks can get pointers I
from him that viii make their own methods
look honest and moderate in comparison.
" no is the faker2
Mr. Rowe says, referring to me: He is re-
heavily taxed as it is.'' Let me call the |
attention OF the people 70 the above state !
The Assessor Is responsible simply for the i
amount Of the assessment OF the county. and 1
amount Of money collected ana expended Lei !
look at The increase IN the assessment roll 4
and the increase Ia the expense OF the county I
since Mr.. Rowe has been a Supervisor.
In 1901 Afr. Rowes first year, the county I
was assessed at $S7, ,ze7. 434 tax rate Of 81 25
on inside property and 81 65 on outside prop
eTty was nxed, which collected from the 1
people and expended by the Board Of Super |
visors, the amount being Sl.1T4 76O 62. Two /
years later, with an assessment OF SI26, $685.
81 20. the Board Of Supervisors fixed a tax /
rate OF 81 81 on inside property and 81 - on !
outside property. which realized the county for /
running expenses the immense and unheard /
Of sum Of 81. SO s25 -. or an increase OF 4
$c6s. O6z 76 for county expenses in two years (
time after Mr.. Rowe elected Supervisor.
INCREASE OF TAXES.
Who is responsible for the increase In your |
taxes2 I say that Mr.. Rowe is in the face OF I
the above showing
Who Is q faker2
8fr. Rowe seems 70 be very particular about /
eQualizing the assessment of the property OF /
the county Now this fact was called to my /
attention this morning. Mr. Rowe built |
house on the rear end OF his lot where he /