The San Francisco call., 1910-02-12
BIG THINGS DONE
BY REALTY BOARD
Its Efforts Have Saved City Tax
Payers Many Thousands
of Dollars
BY WILLIAM BASEL WHITE


real estate board, in February of last
year, Samuel G. Bucisbee. then elected
to his second term as president of the
board, predicted that there would be
plenty of work for the organization for
the ensuing year, closing his remarks
with the statement that he expected
every member to go to the bat when
ever called on and hit with all the
force that his mortal frame could mus
ter"
At that time the state legislature was
in session, and a steady stream OF bills
was pouring into both houses; some
of them bad all through, and some bad
in parts. Among them was bill amend
ing certain provisions of the mechanics
lien law. This bill in the main was
good. but hidden away in its text was
provision designed TO give the lien
holder priority over the mortgagee as
10 certain securities for the loans.
This provision was vicious, and II
adopted would have materially dimin-
ished securities for loans, and would
have paralyzed the very life of building
industry. Now, the real estate board
is not in the Business of law making
or law breaking, but it is alive tosthe
promotion of legislation beneficial to
who furnishes the wherewith for build
ing. 1t was, therefore, up 10 the real
estate board to kill that provision, and
it did so in the face of strong opposi-
tion, with the resultant preservation OF
safe security for building loans.
GOT MONEY FOR ARMORY
At the same session of the legislature
committee of progressive San Fran
ciscans, including Colonel j. r. Howell
of the real estate board. secured an
/ appropria tion of S400, 900 for the build
ing of a national guard armory in this
city. An additional 100000 was need
ed for the purchase of a site for the
armory, and in the work OF raising
this amount the real estate board rem
dered substantial aid, and today but
| $4,000 remains TO be subscribed.
One of the notable accomplishments
of the board during the last year was
| its defeat of the much talked of 40 per
/ cent raise in the assessments of prop
erty values in this city, as fixed by
! Doctor Dodge, our assessor. 1T was
generally known that the members of
| the board of equalization, with the ex-
! ception OF Scott, our local representa-
| tive, entertained the belief that San
| Francisco was largely underassessed
| To correct this impression a demonstra-
| ton of the actual values of San Fran
cisco properties had to be made. The
| got to work. The city was divided into
districts and members of the board as
/ signed to each district. with instruc-
tions to get the prices of all property
| sold since the fire, as we'll as the con-
! tract prices at which all properties
/ were listed for SALE
In this work Doctor Dodge COOP
Grated with the board. and before the
work of equalization was taken up by
! the state officials the rea estate board
| was in complete possession of ample
! data to show that san Francisco prop
erty was assessed up to so per cent of
| its actual value, the standard adopted
! for assessments in this state
EFFORTS WE'RE EFFECTIVE
/ Two hearings were had before the
| board Of equalization and the result of
| the work of the real estate board is
now matter of common know edge
! San Francisco received raise of but
! 10 per cent. which in view of the
marked increase suffered by many
! other counties of the state, can be re-
garded as a substantial victory for this
city, and property owners may rest
assured that the assessment of prop
erty values viii not be disturbed for
| some years to come
! The demand for city deeds has been
source OF much worry and expense
! to property owners in this city for
/
of the McEnerney act and through the
| work of tho San Francisco real estate
! board in protesting to the board of
i supervisors the utter uselessness of
the city deed it has been laid at rest
| forever and thousands of dollars have
I been saved to the property owners.
/ At the present time the real estate
board is cooperating with the chap
ter of architects of this city and the
! building trades council to bring about
amendments to certain provisions in
our building laws. which when adpoted
i were thought to be beneficial but
which. in the light of recent develop
ments. have been proved otherwise. The
real estate board. in taking up these
amendments, realizes that our citizens
are entitled to the comforts of ample
light and ventilation. but believes that
thee present laws are in some respects
too drastic and should be changed so
that equal regard shall be shown to
the enterprising builder as well as the
| prospective tenant.
OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS
During the last year the real estate
| board has earnestly co-operated with
other organizations of this city on all
movements looking to its betterment
and all committees appointed for those
| purposes have been actively engaged
in the work. Recently the board gave
| much of its time to the promotion of
what is now an actual fact-the con-
! vention lea gue--and We are informed
/ that up to last week no less than eight
conventions have been brought to this
city through its promotion work.
/ The creation of the appraisement de-
! parInaent OF the real estate board has
| filed a long felt want of the>property
| owners of this city. In the past APP
! praisements of property have been
often sought in the making of loans
sales and exchanges with results fire.
quently unsatisfactory but with the
establishment of this department of the