The San Francisco call., 1906-05-12

Legislature for the purpose Of pre-
senting TO the committee the legisla-
tive needs OF their respective cities ~
conjunction with the needs OF San
francisco. After hearing a statement
OF the conditions in the outside cities
The Representatives were instructed to
prepare q series Of suggestions for en-
bodimeht IN the Governors proposed
call to the Legislature and TO later
furnish the committee with drafts Of
the acts themselves so that they may
be reviewed and Incorporated with the
legislation proposed for general relief
throughout the State.
Attorney John E. Richards, repre-
senting the Mayor and city Of San Jose
and the county Of Santa Clara. said
that not only does the city require
instant relief but that legislative ac-
ton for the county is also imperative.
He urged that the constitution Of the
state be amended so that the people
OF San Jose may amend their charter
10 meet urgent requirements. He said
Il any such amendment was made 20
the constitution San Jose must be en-
sbled TO amend her charter.
Attorney Richards then referred TO
the damage done the public schools and
the absolute need Of relief legislation
10 secure school attendance and shell
ters for school children. The State
should also provide money, he added,
for repairs to TIE Courthouse, Hall Of
Records, State Normal School, Agnews
Asylum and otter State buildings.
HEAVY LOSS AT AGNEWS.
Professor Maurice E. Daley of the
State Normal School said that the ar
chitects have reported that s69, 900 will
be necessary for the repair Of the build
ing. He said that the third story
would probably be removed and q sep
arate building erected. In explaining
the urgency Of the need he said that
the institution would have to close
should the appropriation not be made.
J. Q. Hayes Of the State Hospital for
the Insane at Agnews reported that
S2o0.00o would be needed for the repairs
OF the structure. He added that il was
not necessary TO dwell on the impor
tance OF the quick repair Of the insti-
tuition
The 3oint committee appointed each
prepare the suggestions they advanced
at the meeting for embodiment in Gov
ernor Psrdee's proposed call and to
later draft the necessary acts Of legis-
lation.
Mayor J. T Overton and
City Attorney Thomas J. Geary
appeared on behalf Of the city Of
Santa Rosa and announced that the
loss on public buildings in their city
was slight IN comparison with other
stricken places. They were, however.
requested to formulate statement of
their needs and prepare the necessary
legislative acts and report back to the
joint committee.
Bank Commissioner c. H. Dunsmoor
suggested TO the committee that the
Legislature give the State Bank Com
mission discretionary power to take
under its supervision banks with funds
Jet technically insolvent- II the Com
MISSIONS powers are enlarged the diff
fculties Of the banks may be overcome.
IN the commissioners opinion it is alb
solutely essential that the bank laws
be amended. The Bank Commission was
requested by the joint committee to
draft acts covering the needed legis-
lstion
INCREASE OF TAXES.
p. Increase of taxes on the estates left
BY the dead and increase Of the tax on
corporations doing business in Califor-
MIA was recommended to the joint COM
nlittee by State Attorney General U. S.
Webb. He argued that these taxes are
TOO low at the present time and that
the slight raiss proposed viii place
more than p million dollars in the State
treasury 70 make UP the revenues de-
pleted by loss Of taxable properties in
San Francisco. Santa Rosa, San Jose
and elsewhere.
The statement Of the Attorney Cen
eral was formulated after a consulta-
ton with R. II. Countryman, who was
appointed by the committee to confer
with the Attorney General and W. w.
Douglas regarding means for making
up the deficiency in the State revenue
caused by the earthquake and fire.
Attorney General Webb said that
the act Of 1893 brought the State a far
greater revenue from corporations
than the act Of 1905. He advocated an
amendment to the constitution abolish
ing the later act and providing for an
increase from SO to $50. $50 and even
$50 more than the corporations are at
present paying. He said that such tax
was more In proportion to the value
OF the privileges accorded corporations
by the State, and that the corporation
refusing to pay just tax were not
wanted. He then added that when the
new tax law was instituted most OF
the corporations accepted it without
oemur. About 10000 corporations. how
ever, as a matter of form instituted
proceedings TO test the legality of the
. act Just before the disaster Judge
Sloss decided the act legal, and these
corporations are now delinquent and
the amount coming from them and
due the State would reach 500, 900
He quoted the rates Of taxation IL