The San Francisco call., 1906-05-16
Property Owners Must
Contribute Out Of
Big Profits.
Needs Of Municipality
Increased Greatly
by Influx.

OAKLAND. Nay l5.-Property own
ers who have increased rents exorbi-
tantly because Of the demand created
by the sudden influx OF business from
san Francisco viii be subjected to q
sti6 Increase IN the assessment valua-
ton when the City Board Of Equaliza-
ton takes over the assessment rolls
this fsu. Arrangements have been
quietly made 70 collect evidence in
the shape of leases, rent receipts, old
and new, and other proof Of increases.
for use BY the board IN raising the
assessment roll on such affected prop
critics.
Many owners have raised rents from
50 per cent 70 500 per cent. Sather
block stores, Seventh street, between
Market and Myrtle streets, which had
rented for SIS a month have been
raised 10 SIS. Washington street store
rents are 80 70 loo per cent higher.
The same condition prevails on Broad
way. Not few merchants Of this city
who for twenty 70 thirty years, and
even longer, are being forced out OF
-es-ablished places OF business by
owners who have been grasping enough
20 forget the past.
The emergency in many cases has led
20 much hardship because Of the policy
which has been adopted by taking all
the traffic viii bear. II is 10 combat
.is spirit as far as possible that mem
hars cf The City Council have decided
- force higher valuations upon much
property as z LaI-paying basis.
Edwin lIccse chairman Of the Coun-
? cl finance committee. said in this con-
tsec1ion:
The city of Oakland viii be con-
&. onted by q heavy demand the coming
-scsl year for increased revenue.
There viii be need OF a large increase
I'll tle Police Department Fire fight
-ug facilities must be improved. Street
improvements must continue on the
same liberal scale which has marked
rhe present years work. Repairs 70
public buildings VIII be required. In
sddEr. the sudden increase OF probably
more than % per cent in population
means a heavy increase in the cost OF
cgndEclng the city.
The main source of revenue IS from
-tse- 6trect property taxes based on an
assessment valuation fixed by the
county assessors: that valuation is en-
rirelv insufficient for municipal puT-
poses Il is figured on a county and
STATE basis and has always been in
adequate for city use.
TO increase that valuation viii
mean long and ar6uous labor by the
cry Board Of Equalization, but this
must be done, for there must be an
increase IL municipal income. ! shall
make every effort TO secure increases
on al property where the owners have
materially Increased rental incomes.
Th6 tremendous rise In rents on many
pieces Of property makes il imperative
rrat the city government should take
-s-ogrizauce of the increased values
represented by this increase We pro-
pose 10 fortify ourselves with the
rrODe- evidence and compel property
owners who are enriching themselves
bv reason Of the new conditions 10
besr a greater share Of the burden
which the city must carry
Councilman Meese says the present
fiscal year viii close without q deficit,
despite the great amount Of street i'm
provencnts that have been made, and
the heavy drain incidental 10 general
relief work. Neese estimates that not
Jess than twenty-five new policemen
VIII be required al once.