The San Francisco call., 1906-05-10
This Years Roll to Be Made Out
on Basis of Valuation After De-
crease on Account OF Fire.
Law as to TakingFigureS Of March |
Must Be Overlooked as a Matter
OF Equity to Sufferers.

Assessor Washington Dodge made a
fslatement yesterday 10 the joint com
nsfttee on a special session of the
Legislature. giving his ideas as TO
methods to be pursued IN the future
valuation Of san Francisco property
Dr. Dodge spoke as follows:
Last years assessment roA was
about S525 009 .0o0. made up follows:
Land. SSO5 000. 600; buildings. $sIoo9e5o;
personal property. Sl2S,o0oooe.
An entirely new assessment roll
must be compiled, as the one which
was IN course Of preparation has been
destroyed.
Much Of the personal property
amounting 10 23,00o 600, has been de-
stroyed.
The larger part Of the assessment
on buildings has been lost through the
destruction Of these buildings. 1t has
always been the custom heretofore
when a building has been destroyed
bv fire prior 10 the closing OF the
assessment rolls 10 reduce the assess
r1ent Of the building 10 nominal
amount In making up new assess
rnent roll for the coming fiscal year
It IS my intention to follow the usual
custom in this regard.
RETALIATION IMPERATIVE.
Regarding the assessment OF land
values e revaluation Is imperative
in limited areas values are enhanced;
assessments should be increased In
the greater part of the city land values
have greatly diminished. 1t is un-
questionable that land values as new
IL established will show some net de-
crease.
"All these changes will, as stated,
result in a marked decrease in the
total OF the roll. This decrease the
State officials expect. They do not
expect nor could they with reason ex-
pect this county 10 pay State taxes on
a fictitious or forced valuation, which
would compel our property-owners to
contribute more than their share of
state taxes. II our revenue for city
purposes is insufficient on our les
sened assessment roll our rate must
be increased beyond the dollar limit
On such property as actually remains
in this city,
In framing the list of suggestions
that win be presented TO Governor
Pardee as subjects demanding legisla-
tion for a special session Of the Legis-
l. ature the joint committee decided
that a provision be urged relating TO
instruments and records destroyed and
tor the reproduction of all records and
papers lost or destroyed that belonged
10 the public offices. A committee will
be appointed later to frame the neees-
sary laws.
NEED STATE BUILDING.
II was decided that in view of the
absolute lack of fit building for the
housing Of State offices the Legisla-
ulre be asked to appropriate funds for
tho erection OF a State building to
properly house State officers, includ-
ing the courts. These funds viii be
asked In addition TO money appro-
pIiated for repairs TO existing State
buildings
Another matter that the Legislature
viii be urged to consider is the post
pcnement OF the proposed new scheme
OF taxation until normal conditions
prevail With this in view it was
moved that the consideration OF any
new scheme for State taxation shall b'
postponed until the first regular session
otz<he Legislature
II was decided unanimously by the
members OF the joint committee thaI
the disaster does not make necessary
tbs changing Of the laws governing tn,