anaheim-gazette 1908-09-17

WHAT'S DOING IN POLITICS THAT SALE OF GOOD ROADS BONDS IN LOS ANGELES How Machine-Made Members of Board of Supervisors Set Will of People at Defiance—Senate Amendment No. 1 Again—Political Notes The secret sale of $3,000,000 of Los Angeles "good road bonds" by the "solid three" of the supervisors of that machine-ridden county, at a premium of a fourth of one per cent, when a much higher rate could have been secured had the bonds been offered at public sale, is forcible illustration of what we attempted to point out last year, that this whole "good roads movement" is merely a political device to enrich a few and to strengthen the railroad machine in this state. The three Los Angeles supervisors standing for this infamous act, and which one authority avers will cost the people a round half million of dollars, are the solid three nominated and elected by the railroad machine. League republicans put the political noses of these chaps out of joint at the recent primaries and they were retired to the obscurity of private life. But they seem to be improving each shining hour while yet they remain in office, with a view, probably, to leaving behind them as much of the scent of polecat as possible. That these superwhenever it makes its appearance this side of Buena Park. Philly Stanton is going to another crack at Orange county next session of the legislature, viding he's elected, and there' much doubt of that. Stanton d believe enough money is being upon the public thoroughfares the region of Bay City; but there many sections in Orange which are in fact no better off this picturesque seaside resort states his case in the following sonal letter to Senator Anders. Los Angeles, Cal., Aug. 26 Hon. John N. Anderson, Santa Cal.-My Dear Senator: I have trying for several months to get supervisor from this district in Bay City is situated to go over town to look over road matters thus far we have met with no s We are doing everything we give Orange county an opportunity make good on some of the pro made to us at the last session legislature, but thus far our have been in vain, and I am w you this to let you know the st affairs, so that you can act premises as you see fit. I tell you in all candor while it is a matter of indifference whether we are in or out range county provided we secure cent treatment, I shall certainly the biggest kind of an effort out of it at the next session legislature, unless something is for us. While I would exceedingly revive this matter, yet I cannot justice to the amount of mon ated and elected by the railroad machine. League republicans put the political noses of these chaps out of joint at the recent primaries and they were retired to the obscurity of private life. But they seem to be improving each shining hour while yet they remain in office, with a view, probably, to leaving behind them as much of the scent of polecat as possible. That these supervisors acted in the premises without knowledge or consent of the political push which placed them in office, is not to be considered for a moment. Indeed, they are not free moral agents—they lose their individual identity once they become affiliated with the push. They are pious and cogs in the machine. They are puppets who dance when the boss pulls the string attached to them. It is not difficult to see who is responsible, and who the beneficiary, for this latest and most noisome bit of political Los Angeles (pronounced Loce-Ahn-hel-es) graft (pronounced grawft.) The solid three might have got a crust of it, but the juicy plums of the haul go into other coffers. Supervisor Alexander, who was knifed to death in the recent republican county convention, was conspicious in standing up for the interests of the people in this unspeakable deal Clean men of the city have taken the matter up, with a view to declaring the steal illegal and void. What has the railroad machine to do with this good-roads movement? It framed the law providing for good road bonds, did it not? There will be millions paid for hauling rock from Arizona to the counties of Southern California, will it not? The railroad machine controls political matters in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Ventura and the other counties now agitating good road bonds, does it not? It put up a successful fight in San Bernardino to keep an engineer in employ of a rival road off the "good roads commission," did it not? The railroad has been running free special trains to up-state cities where the good roads are being agitated did I tell you in all candor while it is a matter of indifference whether we are in or out of range county provided we secure cent treatment, I shall certainly the biggest kind of an effort out of it at the next session legislature, unless something is for us. While I would exceedingly revive this matter, yet I cannot justice to the amount of money have invested, simply lie down permit the Silurians of Orange to run our affairs. Very truly P. A. STANTY Supervisor Moore takes excuse to Stanton's statements, and actively speaking, tans the santa Ana, Cal., Sept. 7, P. A. Stanton, Bay City, Cal. Sir: It has come to me that you writing to different parties in my county that you cannot get fairment from the supervisor in the ond district. Now, Mr. Stanton have not written or said anything about the roads in your county, you have not asked meet you to look over the road Larter came to me some time said that he had a letter from asking him to see me and getting come and meet you at Bay City I told him I would meet you any time, he was to let me you could see me the next Sunday called him up by phone and been unable to get you but would find out and let me know you would be at Bay City. Ab days ago Mr. Edwards spoke about it and I told him that he come out to see you the next day, but Sunday I was sick and not go but wrote you the reason I do not know whether Mr. Edwards saw you or not as I have had ter from you and do not know her you received mine or not has not been returned to me. Now, Mr. Stanton, if you w see me 1 will meet you any Bay City except days when visors meet. I think if you haven ten to me it would have been as I am not hard to find. W want anything from me write not other people. Hoping railroad machine controls political matters in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Ventura and the other counties now agitating good road bonds, does it not? It put up a successful fight in San Bernardino to keep an engineer in employ of a rival road off the "good roads commission," did it not? The railroad has been running free special trains to up-state cities where the good roads propaganda was being agitated, did it not? Now why all this activity on the part of the railroad? Merely the carrying of millions of dollars worth of freight, and, should senate Amendment No. 1 be carried the exemption of the railroad from payment of its burdens of this good roads taxation. The railroad is out for business, and "good roads" is a good enough shibboleth for pulling wool over people's eyes. The proponents of last year's proposed Orange county bond issue were in the main men who train with the railroad machine, and the boss snipe-shooter in the county was selected to be chairman of the good-roads commission. When it comes to issuing bonds honest men of this county would not trust this pack of plutocrats as far as they can sling a bull by the tail. Before we issue $600,000 bonds for good roads in Orange county, let us start right. Let us have a clean commission to begin with, and then let Pa Nickey give us a square deal as to the location of the paved thoroughfares. But no railroad machine, built up of snipe-shooters and pot-wrestlers for Orange county. We want no bond scullduggery here, and we will tread on the head of the railroad machine Now, Mr. Stanton, if you see me 1 will meet you any day Bay City except days when the visors meet. I think if you have ten to me it would have been as I am not hard to find. What want anything from me write not other people. Hoping to from you, I am, yours truly, GEO. W. MOOR Supervisor Second Republicans of the machine never showed their obsequious to the railroad push more convincingly than in their action at the land convention in endorsing Constitutional Amendment which, as we have shown, seek empt railroads and other public service corporations from paying just burdens of taxation. The never a more infamous thing led to the people of California this outrageous amendment, republican state convention voters to support it! Shades patriots of the past, to which uses has the party come at last. The amendment provides separation of state from location by designating certain of property which shall be taxed state purposes only, and proves method by which each such clue be taxed. Classes of property ed for state taxation only are: A. The operative property following groups of public services. Such corporations taxed at the following rates to their gross earnings from tion: makes its appearance in Buena Park. Stanton is going to take it at Orange county the day of the legislature, pro-lected, and there's not of that. Stanton doesn't have money is being spent public thoroughfares in the city City; but there are bills in Orange county fact no better off than que seaside resort. He use in the following per-To Senator Anderson: Holes, Cal., Aug. 26, 1908 N. Anderson, Santa Ana For Senator: I have been several months to get the form this district in which situated to go over to our over road matters, but have met with no success ing everything we can to county an opportunity to on some of the promises at the last session of the out thus far our efforts vain, and I am writing that you know the status of what you can act in the you see fit. You in all candor that matter of indifference to we are in or out of Or-provided we secure de-ent, I shall certainly make kind of an effort to get the next session of the unless something is done would exceedingly regret to matter, yet I cannot, in the amount of money we 1. Railroads, including street railroads, four per cent on gross earnings. 2. Sleeping car and other car companies, three per cent on gross earnings. 3. Express companies, two per cent on gross earnings. 4. Telegraph and telephones companies, three and one half per cent on gross earnings. 5. Light, heat and power companies four per cent on gross earnings. B. The premiums collected by insurance companies, the rate being one and one half per cent thereon. C. The capital and surplus of banks less the assessed value of real estate taxed locally, the rate being one per cent thereon. D. Miscellaneous franchises other than those covered by the foregoing taxes. All other taxable property is to be subject to local taxation as now. The defect in this proposed new law, as we have already pointed out, is the loophole whereby every corporation would escape all responsibility for local improvements. The percent paid by the corporations to the state is estimated to be its fair proportion of the ordinary burdens of government, and cannot include anything to offset the extraordinary burdens brought upon localities for local improvements; hence the corporations would escape their proportion of the taxes for local improvements altogether. Very few, if any, public improvements, as the Orange Post points out, are made with the ordinary taxes; they are secured by donation, special The Pullman company's own for this year was 89,893 seats and 48,040 tourists, which number certified to be required year. It will be seen that the number of cars actually found state exceeded very largely the number reported by the company. "When the company came to the board this year there was denial of the accuracy of the figures of the county assessor was maintained that the figures represented the average year, while the assessor was made at the time of year the tourist travel is at it and the number of cars in O is exceptionally large. "The state board decided a moderate increase of the assessment over the figure's year, and doubtless it would make a larger increase but fact that it appeared that law Pullman assessment was heavy one. My own personal sion was that the Pullman is not assessed any more ought to be, but some other companies and a great many large corporations are pay much less than they should" The subserviency of the lature to boss rule was shown in the act it passed tage independent candidates ning for office. This outraga as outlined in the Bee of last attempts to make it a pee offense for a voter to sign tion required of an independ didate in case the signer part in a primary or been a should exceedingly regret to matter, yet I cannot, in the amount of money we had, simply lie down and illurians of Orange county affairs. Very truly, P. A. STANTON. Moore takes exceptions on statements, and, figurating, tans the seat of his to the following effect: Ana, Cal., Sept. 7, 1908. Boston, Bay City, Cal.—Dear you come to me that you are different parties in Orange you cannot get fair treat the supervisor in the SecNow, Mr. Stanton you written or said anything to the roads in your part of you have not asked me to look over the roads. Mr. B. to me some time ago and he had a letter from you to see me and get me to meet you at Bay City and I would meet you most of the was to let me know if see me the next Sunday. I up by phone and he had it to get you but said he out and let me know when he at Bay City. About ten Mr. Edwards spoke to me and I told him that I would see you the next Sunday I was sick and did wrote you the reason why. Now whether Mr. Edwards not as I have had no letu and do not know whetceived mine or not but it has returned to me. Stanton, if you want to still meet you any time at except days when the supI think if you had writet would have been better hard to find. When you going from me write me and people. Hoping to hear government, and cannot include anything to offset the extraordinary burdens brought upon localities for local improvements; hence the corporations would escape their proportion of the taxes for local improvements altogether. Very few, if any, public improvements, as the Orange Post points out, are made with the ordinary taxes; they are secured by donation, special tax or bonds. Now corporations are not very liberal donors—in fact, the officers haven't any right to give away the stockholders' money—and they are released from all local taxation by the new method. We are warranted therefore, in concluding that, if this amendment be adopted corporations will be exempt from bearing any part of the burdens of public improvements in the localities where such corporations exist and transact their business. As a corollary of that proposition, it necessarily follows that all the burdens for every public improvement, no matter what its character or extent, must be borne by the small taxpayers, who do not belong to some corporation, in addition to meeting all the expenses of the local and county government. From subdivision(d) of Section 14 of the amendment, it is evident that any enterprise or industry may incorporate and thus escape local taxation. For instance, a merchant or partnership may incorporate with himself and partners, or members of his family as directors and officers of the concern, and pay an annual tax to the state according to the capitalization which tax, following the precedent of the previous subdivision, shall ce in lieu of all other taxes and licenses, state, county and municipal, upon the property of such companies, except county and municipalities on real estate. This tax to the state ranges from $10 up to $250, according as the capitalization ranges from $10,000 to $5,000,000 and would be less than the ordinary tax for the local government, to say nothing about the special taxes for local improvements. The same would be true of every other industry, and the effect would be to withdraw a portion of the ordinarily burdens brought upon localities for local improvements; hence the corporations would escape their proportion of the taxes for local improvements altogether. The subserviency of the lateature to boss rule was shown in the act it passed the age independent candidates using for office. This outrage as outlined in the Bee of last attempts to make it a per offence for a voter to signification required of an independent candidate in case the signer part in a primary or been able to party convention. And nothing in the law limiting qualification of the voter to rent year or any period of time. Think of the absurdity of a man to the penitentiary years for signing a petition. The fact that a voter has a primary, or been a delirium convention this year or a year, should not disqualify a signing a petition to enable didate to get a place on the ballot. A signature to suction implies a willingness such a candidate a chance it does not imply or pledge But, even if it did, why vote the right to change if he sees fit to do so? In any case, what right legislature to make it any anybody to sign a petition sort? The Bee sees no reason a party candidate for office should not be permitted to sign the petition of an indent candidate for the said purely as a matter of course this paper is of the opinion boss-ridden legislature which the enactment under com made a ridiculous stretch thority, and that the act unconstitutional and void. This measure actually each signer to such a person subscribe to an oath that disqualified under the act purpose a separate certificate be made out for each signer circulator of such a petition cessarily be accompanied by justice of the peace or s person authorized to oaths. The decisive defeat of S Stanton, if you want to meet you any time at except days when the supporter I think if you had written would have been better hard to find. When you bring from me write me and people. Hoping to hear them, yours truly, GEO. W. MOORE, Supervisor Second District. Ins of the machine stripe saved their obsequiousness road push more contemplation in their action at the Oakland in endorsing Senate Real Amendment No. 1, we have shown, seeks to excludes and other public-servations from paying their taxes of taxation. There was an infamous thing submitting people of California than serious amendment, yet the state convention advises support it! Shades of the past, to what base the party come at last! Amendment provides for the state from local tax-signating certain classes which shall be taxed for taxes only, and provides the which each such class may Classes of property select taxation only are: Operative property of the groups of public service corporations Such corporations to be the following rates applied gross earnings from opera- This year the state board wanted to find out just how many cars the Pullman company was really running in California, and so the county assessors were directed to take the names and numbers of all Pullman cars, both standard and tourists, in their respective counties at noon on the first Monday in March. They found 140 standard and 82 tourists. Respecting the suit brought by the state against the Pullman company for taxes, State Controller Nye makes the following explanation: "Last year the Pullman company replied that it was operating lines in California which required to "fill' them 83,113 standard cars and 43,703 tourists cars. As everybody knows now, the state board of equalization last year made a great increase in the assessment of the company, raising it from about $600,000 to a little over $1,600,000. A rehearing was demanded, but the board refused to reduce the assessment; then the Pullman company went into the United States courts asking for a restraining order, but was defeated; after that it refused to pay its taxes in consequence of which it is now being sued for them. "This year the state board wanted to find out just how many cars the Pullman company was really running in California, and so the county assessors were directed to take the names and numbers of all Pullman cars, both standard and tourists, in their respective counties at noon on the first Monday in March. They found 140 standard and 82 tourists." The decisive defeat of Skeny in the Washington district is testimony to the vast political instrument for waging 'undesirables.' The view that Ankeny was beaten not to one and can now return fitable money lending business Seattle Post-Intelligencer article on Ankeny summed case against him thus: Of the two republican for the high office of Uncle senator, the readers of this per have had its opinion done In brief, Mr. Levi Ankeny man of mild disposition, kept his personal aims are not thwarted, amiable to the avaricious in money matter accumulated the greatest of the state by the thrifty rate the country money lender familiar in every community and no worse than most character everywhere. In solutely unscrupulous and that men are to be bought like the cattle and grain it has dealt largely during his Caring only for the title, the control of his senator combination of unscrupulous mercenaries. That is a moderate starethe case and it proved an company's own report year was 89,893 standards for tourists, which was the certified to be required to will be seen that the numers actually found in the needed very largely the numered by the company. the company came before this year there was no accuracy of the figure county assessors, but it stained that the company's represented the average for while the assessor's count at the time of year when travel is at its height number of cars in California annually large. State board decided to make the increase of the Pullman set over the figures of last doubtless it would have larger increase but for the it appeared that last year's assessment was a rather My own personal concluthat the Pullman company assessed any more than it be, but some other railroad and a great many other corporations are paying on than they should pay." observiency of the last legislboss rule was strikingly the act it passed to discourendent candidates from runoffice. This outrageous law, al in the Bee of last Monday to make it a penitentiary for a voter to sign the petired of an independent cancase the signer has taken primary or been a delegate with the voters. Ankeny would never have had the smallest chance of election to the senate on a popular vote and only got there by the use of money placed by agents. His successful opponent is Wesley L. Jones, ayoung country lawyer, who wins on personal merit. It semes as if the time were coming when the senate will no longer be the most exclusive club of millionaires and their attorneys. There is a touch of kinship between the politics of New Hampshire and California. There, as here, the fight is on to deliver the state government from the domination of a big railroad. The Boston and Maine governs New Hampshire even as the Southern Pacific governs California. The parallel persists in that in the first battle in both states the railroads won, but the New Hampshire fight has reached a more advanced stage than that of the conflict in this commonwealth. After their victory the railroad people accepted the situation as a vindication and approval of the corrupt practices of the past, and Winston Churchill, the novelist, sums up the proceedings of the legislature in humorous vein: Two notable joint resolutions were considered at this session, one to provide squirrels for the state house yard, and one calling upon the federal government to take means to exterminate the dogfish in the Atlantic ocean. An amendment was proposed and debated upon that the dogfish should be muzzled. For the odd $12000, which a session costs the voters of New Hampshire, we have as a net results laws relating to the costumes of bathers, the spelling of Wolfe- TUSTIN FARMER'S INSTITUTE A farmer's institute will be held at Tustin Sept. 23 and 24. The meetings will be held in Bank Hall. Prof. R. F. Smith of Whittier experimental station will speak on "Diseases of Citrus Trees." He will deal especially with efforts to control the gum disease. "Nature and Importance of Humus in Soils," Dr. R. H. Loughbridge, University of California; "Planting Eucalyptus for Lumber," Ernest Branton L. Ang; "Sanitary Housekeeping," Mrs. M. E. Sherman of Fresno; "Top Grafting and Budding Walunts," J. B. Neff, Anaheim; "The Use of Commercial Fertilizers," Dr. S. S. Twombly, Fullerton; "Use and Conservation of Water in Soils," Dr. R. H. Loughbridge, U. C.; "Promising New Fruits," C. P. Taft, Orange; "Pure Food from the Housekeeper's Standpoint," Mrs. Sherman. Other papers upon such subjects as chillis, growing citrus fruits, agricultural CHARGE DISMISSED On motion of Deputy District Attorney Rutan Justice of the Peace Lemqke of Peralta, dismissed the charge of assault with a deadly weapon against Oleviano Lemas. Two witnesses declared Lemas sought to use a knife on Pedro Lopez, while Lemas and his brother testified that Lopez was the a ggressor in an attempt to make Lemas pay $8 for the hire of a horse and buggy. 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