The San Francisco call., 1909-09-14
Southern Metropolis Grows
Hysterical Over Prospect OF
Paying More Taxes
"South California State League"
Organizes to Carry on Cam
paign for Separation
Threat to Defeat sl0,oOO,O00
Bond Issue for Improvement
of San Francisco Harb0r
rsseoinL Di.patch 10 The Coll

ISeeoiol Dispatch 10 The Call
T os ANGELES, Sept. 1S.-State di-
vision was vehemently urged at
1.-Two mass meetings Of Los Angeles
citizens today, one in the afternoon
called by the realty board. the other In
the evening al meeting of the fed
>, Grafton of state societies. Both gather-
inss were engulfed in separation senti-
ment and speakers eulogizing the
great state Of South California" were
loudly cheered-
South California State League
At the afternoon meeting the South
California state league was mace d
permanent organization. with George
X Rlaok as president and Herbert Bur-
seste and B. A. stephens as secretaries
Many Of those present at the meet
ing today wore badges inscrloeo
south California State League Inc
vearinS of these badges and many OF
,ba ,sDeeches made reflected strong
sentiment in favor of state division, ana
fb,s was later crystallized in set OF
,sso,nttons passed by the meeting.
The resolutions, after saying IN the
nreauble that ~the state board OF eqnai-
fzation by the votes of the three mem
ters representing the districts OF cen
4rsl and northern California has un
iustIv fastened upon the Il counties Oh
the southern district a grossly excessive
burden OF taxation. and the actions OF
the three members of the state board
mentioned have demonstrated conclu-
xiveiv that the injustice was premeoi-
tated." follows this with resolutions
strongly against the action of the board
and declaring that .the men guilty or;
perpetrating this outrage have ADDED
f,s, "a the fame OF sectional animosity,
thereby crystalIizing into an issue OF
the fret magnitude the question OF
state division" Jen McElvaine, mem
her Of the board from southern Caiifor-
n,a. and State Controller A. B. Nye are
commended by the resolutions for ef-
forts 70 secure "a sincere and nonest
-eoualizstfon from the state board.
Demand for Readiustment
The resolutions close with a demand
.upon the state legislature for read
iustuent of the equalization districts
on the basis of the distribution of as
sessed valuation, thereby giving to
southern California an equal half OF the
membership and relieving this end Of
the state from the intolerable tyranny
OF taxation without representation
There was some opposition to that
norton of the resolution referring to
division of the state, and motion
to strike it out was made but voted
down and the resolution passed.
I'VE Have Been Jobbed"
we have been jobbed; the whole
scheme was carefully worked out" said
George N Black, speaking of the heavy
increase in the assessment of southern
California property by the state board
OF equalization.
state division is the only way out
OF the diffculty,T said Hans Jevne. 1T
is inevitable commercially and econom-
ieally, and must come sooner or later.
Now Is the time to bring il about"
In the discussion which followed as
10 means OF bringing about division
OF the state the Pico act, passed by the
state legislature in 1859, was mentioned
asa possible means Of reaching the de-
sired end.
Thomas z. Gibbon offered the fol-
lowing resolution:
Resolved that until the present
Inequality in taxation established
by the state board of equalization
shall be corrected the people of the
counties affected shall oppose all
bond issues or any increase in the
state indebtedness, except in case
OF sI,500,Ooo bonds in favor of har-
Dor improvements at San Diego
The reading Of the resolution was
greeted with cheers. Gibbon declared
that the attitude of San Francisco il
unwarranted in view of the great
wealth Of the city.
Would Iniure San Francisco
Il don't believe in entering a fight
he said. without a weapon to fghi
with. In this case the people of south.
ern California have the club. Sar
Francisco wants $4,000. 600 for the i'm.
provement OF IFS harbor in preparation
for the finishing Of the Panama canal
The harbor is under state control ane
the people of southern California easil,
can defeat the voting OF bonds for thi,
purpose and also the proposed goot
roads bond issue, from which residents
Of the northern counties would deriv'
the most benefit"
The meeting of state societies in th'
evening was called to make arrange
ments for a reception TO President Taf
on his visit TO Los Angeles October II
but number of speakers took advan
tage OF the opportunity to discuss th'