anaheim-gazette 1910-10-27

VOTE NO UPON THIS JOKE How Senate Amendment No. 1 Is Drawn in Interest of Corporations When the revenue and taxation amendment was before the people two years ago, we opposed it, but we expressed the hope then that it might be amended in such particulars as would remove the objections to it and then be resubmitted. Some amendments have been made, but, in our judgment, not enough to make it acceptable to the people of this county. One change has been made for the better. The original amendment fixed a definite percentage of tax to be levied by the state on public service corporations and banks, but there was no provision for varying this percentage to meet changing conditions in the state except by the slow and cumbersome process of passing another constitutional amendment. The present amendment provides that the legislature every two years may fix this percentage by a two-thirds vote. That is a decided improvement, but the other objectionable features have not been removed. One point on which there was doubt has been cleared up and that is the holding of railroads and other corporations for their share of the bonded indebtedness of counties or school districts created before the separation of state and local taxation; but there is a "joker" left in this section. The amount so paid is to be deducted from the amount paid by the corporations to the state, so that the counties are left holding the sack, so to speak. They must pay what per cent the amount of such sums would be upon the total valuation of all the property in the state, and fix the state rate of taxation accordingly. The only difficulty with the present system is in getting a fair assessment of all the property in the state; but that is no worse now than it would be under the proposed amendment, since all private property must be assessed, in either case, for local taxation and there is no more difficulty in assessing the property of corporations than there would be in ascertaining what the gross earnings of such corporations were. Instead, however, of the definite methods of the present system of taxation, which bring accurate results, the separatists want to introduce a guessing system, which might bring too much or too little revenue by the percentages imposed on the corporations in the amendment. Then, if this first guess is very wide of the mark, the next legislature—or perchance a special session—will make another guess by raising or lowering the percentages on the corporations. So every regular session, and many special sessions, of the legislature will keep shifting the percentages up or down in a vein effort to regulate them so that they will yield approximately the amount of revenue needed. If the gross earnings of the corporations, which form the basis of the percentages, would continue very nearly the same from year to year, the percentages might eventually, after repeated guesses, be adjusted so as to produce approximately the desired revenue for the state; but One point on which there was doubt has been cleared up and that is the holding of railroads and other corporations for their share of the bonded indebtedness of counties or school districts created before the separation of state and local taxation; but there is a "joker" left in this section. The amount so paid is to be deducted from the amount paid by the corporations to the state, so that the counties are left holding the sack, so to speak. They must pay off these bonds, but the railroads will escape their share of the tax burden. In this connection there is another objection to the amendment. There are in several counties, notably Riverside and San Bernardino, school districts where practically all the assessed value is railroad mileage. That is true in the desert sections. Under the proposed amendment the railroads would pay only a state tax and the schools in those districts would be left without any support. To provide for this emergency it is specified that the counties shall provide for these schools out of the general fund. But that is not fair; it is the state and not the counties that is to get the railroad tax under the new plan and therefore the state and not the county should take care of the schools which are impoverished by this change in the system of taxation. Another serious objection, the most serious in our judgment, still remains. The amendment aims to separate local and state taxation, and to provide for meeting the state expenses from revenue derived from the public service corporations and the banks; but the right is reserved for the state to come back on the counties for a state tax just as at present, in case the revenue from the corporations is not sufficient to meet the expenses of the state government. That might be done every year and it is a dangerous proposition. Why not raise the rate on the corporations instead of coming back on the counties? The counties lose all the revenue from public service corporations and then they may be asked to dig up after all to help pay the state taxes. That does not look good to us, though it may be quite satisfactory to the corporations. If we are to separate local and state taxation let us separate it in reality and not in name. The amendment does not do that and for this reason more than any other we advise voters to oppose it. The proposition needs fixing some more—Riv gislature will keep shifting the percentages up or down in a vein effort to regulate them so that they will yield approximately the amount of revenue needed. If the gross earnings of the corporations, which form the basis of the percentages, would continue very nearly the same from year to year, the percentages might eventually, after repeated guesses, be adjusted so as to produce approximately the desired revenue for the state; but the gross earnings of the corporations vary widely from year to year, fluctuating up or down according to the patronage such corporations receive, and would therefore be a very uncertain basis upon which to figure percentages. Even the proponents of this taxing system virtually admit its uncertainty, by providing in the amendment that, if the amount of revenue thus raised be insufficient for state purposes, a general tax may be levied on all the property of the state to make up deficiency. Hence as we said on the start, the method of raising revenue, embodied in senate constitutional amendment No. 1, is fundamentally wrong. The objection to this amendment, that was briefly presented last week, will bear a wider range of application than has thus far been accorded to it. This system of separating state and local taxation, would not only relieve the corporations from their fair share of the burdens of local improvements, but it would relieve them from liability for improvements of every kind. If, for instance, the people of the state should vote the $39,000,000 of bonds and special taxes, which they are asked to vote at the November election, the railroads and other public service corporations would not be required, under this amendment, to pay a cent of taxes toward the interest and principal of such indebtedness. The same would be true of all burdens incurred hereafter for the development and upbuilding of the country, whether by the state, county or municipality; the aforesaid corporations could not be required to bear any part of such burdens. The Post has received a communication from the proponents of the measure, setting forth that all the realty boards, chambers of commerce, boards of trade, etc., in the central part of the state, are in favor of this amendment and that it will not only produce more state taxes, but it will also reduce the burdens of farmers and small taxpayers. It makes no A SNARE AND A DELUSION The purpose of Senate Constitutional Amendment No. 1, is to separate the sources of the state taxes from those of the county and other local taxes. This is to be done by requiring all railroads and other public service corporations to pay over to the state a certain percentage of the gross earnings of such corporations each year, in lieu of all other taxes for which they might otherwise be liable. This percentage is arbitrarily fixed, varying according to the classification of the corporations, and is supposed to be high enough to meet all the regular expenses of the state government. As a corollary to the foregoing proposition, all the property in the state, other than that of the aforesaid corporations, will be conditionally released from paying the ordinary state tax, but will, on the other hand, be compelled to pay all the county and other local taxes. Now, it must be evident to even the dullest mind that the gross earnings of certain classes of corporations will be a very unstable basis upon which to figure the state taxes. As it is now, the state board of equalization, with a definite valuation upon all the property in the state before it, can add together the various sums which it is necessary to raise for state purposes, and ascer- Motorton, Sr.—You kept the car out rather late last evening, son. What delayed you? Motorton, Jr.—Had a blowout, dad. Motorton, Sr.—H'm. A tire or roadhouse. LETTER FROM THE NORTH San Francisco Chamber of Commerce Favors Harbor Bonds We are in receipt of the following letter from the San Francisco chamber of commerce relative to the India basin act and the seawall bonding act, with a request for its publication. The Gazette has published a number of articles, forwarded from San Francisco, against these bond issues, and on another page this morning presents the subject, pro and con. We likewise comply with the request of the San Francisco chamber of commerce. What voters of Southern California want is the correct dope upon these questions, and San Francisco seems to be at cross-purposes with herself concerning them: San Francisco, Oct. 19, 1910. Editor Gazette.—Two years ago we requested you to join with us in opposing the passage of the issue of the $2,000,000 twenty year bonds for seawall extension and docks at San Francisco, and the $1,000,000 twenty-year bonds for the purchase of submerged lands at Islais creek, for the extension of this harbor, which were before the people at that time, our objection being based on the fact that the bonds were to run for twenty years only, and we felt that longer termed bonds were more desirable in the interests of the harbor's finances. This objection, however, does not now hold in the case of the bonds for seawall extension and docks at San Francisco and at San Diego, and for the purchase of Islais creek lands to deliberately falsifying, so as to mislead the voters of the state. Do not be deceived by paid writers who stop at no misstatement in their efforts to unload upon the taxpayers of the state, this pernicious bond issue. Vote against the "India Basin Act" Respectfully, SAN FRANCISCO HARBOR LEAGUE W. B. Wilshire, Secretary. Here is another contribution upon the subject: San Francisco, Oct. 17, 1910. To the People of California: The San Francisco Call of October 16th published a letter that was to be sent out by the chamber of commerce, merchants' exchange and merchants' association of this city, to similar commercial bodies throughout the state, asking support for different bond issues, namely: the $9,000,000 issue for improvement of San Francisco harbor, the $1,500,000 for San Diego harbor, and the $1,000,000 for the socalled India Basin Act, and state that their objection to the India Basin Act, two years ago, was on account of the issue being for 20 years. Evidently the chamber of commerce and merchants exchange have forgotten the decided manner in which they condemned the India Basin Act two years ago, and not because it was a 20 year issue, but in the following unqualified terms: The merchants exchange, by a postal vote of its members, condemned the India Basin Act, 207 members voting to condemn, as against 83 voting for, and not on the ground of it being a 20 year issue. The chamber of commerce said: RAISING HIGHGRADE SEED Crops of Sweet Corn, Garden Peas and Beans of Good Quality Always in Demand There is profit in raising highgrade seed. Seed crops of sweet corn, garden peas and beans of good quality are in ever-increasing demand, and the quantity needed yearly has become so large that the seedman is obliged to have the major portion of his stock grown for him by others. Within the past few years there has been an enormous increase in the quantity of seeds produced for commercial purposes. This has been due in large measure to the development of seed growing and handling as a business. There are now nearly one thousand seedfirms doing business in the United States. One of the largest of these uses buildings with an aggregate floor space of more than 16 acres. This space is much larger than was occupied by the entire seed trade of the country only fifty years ago. The quality also has vastly improved. One of the most encouraging developments in the growing of garden vegetables is the increasing recognition of the practical importance of using pure and uniform stocks of seed whose varietal characteristics adapt them to distinct local conditions and market requirements. Another consideration is the fact that the growing of seed crops of these vegetables can be undertaken without any radical change in the farm equipment. These conditions make this industry well worth the attention of farmers who are located in merged lands at Islais creek, for the extension of this harbor, which were before the people at that time, our objection being based on the fact that the bonds were to run for twenty years only, and we felt that longer termed bonds were more desirable in the interests of the harbor's finances. This objection, however, does not now hold in the case of the bonds for seawall extension and docks at San Francisco and at San Diego, and for the purchase of Islais creek lands, to be submitted to the voters of the state of California at the coming election in November. The objection to the bonds submitted two years ago having been removed by legislative action, we now request you to join with us in supporting both the issue of $1,000,000 seventy-four year bonds for the purchase of Islais creek lands known as the India basin act, and the $9,000,000 seventy-four year bonds for seawall extension and docks at San Francisco, known as the San Francisco harbor improvement act of 1909, and the $1,500,000 bonds for seawall improvement and docks at San Diego known as the San Diego seawall act of 1909. Will you kindly urge the press of your community to further all they can the adoption of these measures? Not a dollar raised by direct taxation will be required to pay the interest or the principal of these harbor bonds. The acts authorizing the bonds provide that both principal and interest shall be paid out of the revenues of the port. Thanking you in anticipation of your active support of our request, we are very sincerely yours, The Chamber of Commerce of San Francisco. By Wm. Matson, Acting President. We concur in the above, The Merchants Association of San Francisco. Now comes the San Francisco harbor league with the following against the India Basin Act: San Francisco, Oct. 20, 1910. To the People of California:— The newspaper correspondent, who is hired by the proponents of the India Basin Act, is sending articles to the various newspapers of the state and in one particular article of Oct. 8th, says: "The San Francisco waterfront is state property, the income from it going to the state." "But if the state fail to secure the India Basin, as provided in the two recently chamber of commerce and merchants exchange have forgotten the decided manner in which they condemned the India Basin Act two years ago, and not because it was a 20 year issue, but in the following unqualified terms: The merchants exchange, by a postal vote of its members, condemned the India Basin Act, 207 members voting to condemn, as against 83 voting for, and not on the ground of it being a 20 year issue. The chamber of commerce said: "No basins are needed to make our shipping safe, for we have a natural, safe and land-locked harbor." Capt. Wm. Matson, who is now acting president of the chamber of commerce, said in an article published in the San Francisco Chronicle of October 28, 1908: We have upon our present water frontage area to accommodate four times the business and facilities that we have at present. Nature has given us one of the greatest harbors in the world, and we do not need to buy any extensions to it, and to buy additional area upon which to dig a harbor, has no merit, and is only advocated by real estate interests that have a personal and sectional benefit in view. More than 75 per cent of the members of the three commercial bodies which have been named, are against the India Basin Act, but they fear that to come out in an open statement and say so, might tend to defeat the $9,000,000 issue. The shipowners association of the Pacific coast, American shipmasters association, twenty-two improvement clubs of this city, and this league, all have openly denounced the India Basin Act. The membership of this league is far greater than either of the three bodies who have tacitly endorsed the India Basin Act, and includes a large number of the members of those bodies. Can commercial bodies of this city tell the voters of the state to condemn the India Basin Act one year, and in two years hence, ask them to support it, with only the flimsy and untenable reason that it was because they were 20 year bonds? This league thinks the intelligent voter and commercial bodies of the state will have little confidence in such an (endorsement)?. Do not be deceived by paid articles that appear in some of the press of this city, but vote and work against the India Basin Act. Yours sincere, SAN FRANCISCO HARBOE LEAGUE vegetables is the increasing recognition of the practical importance of using pure and uniform stocks of seed whose varietal characteristics adapt them to distinct local conditions and market requirements. Another consideration is the fact that the growing of seed crops of these vegetables can be undertaken without any radical change in the farm equipment. These conditions make this industry well worth the attention of farmers who are located in sections where soil and climatic conditions are favorable for the best development of such seeds. However, the raising of these vegetables for seed crops is not recommended for all circumstances, even when soil and climate are suitable. The farmer who contemplates under taking seed crop farming will do well to consider thoroughly the many elements which enter into profits. The seedsmen are often able to place contracts for growing seeds at very low prices—even lower than that at which grain of these same species can be sold on the market. Such a condition might be due to any of several causes, but usually rests on an oversupply or a demand for an inferior product. HIGHWAYS OF PEACE It was the unanimous opinion of the delegates to the recent interparliamentary conference, Brussels, that all great straits and interoceanic canals should be free to commerce, unhampered by any act of war. One of the German delegates submitted the outlines of a treaty intended to produce that desirable condition. Special reference was made to the Strait of Magellan, but the plan would include such waterways as the Bosporus, the straits of Gibraltar and Dover, and the narrow passages that connect the Baltic and the North seas as well as the Suez and the Panama canals. The United States has always insisted that the straits connecting oceans and bounding nations are international highways, open to all ships in time of peace. The interparliamentary conference seeks to keep them open in time of war, so that there may be no blockading or other interruption to peaceful business. Fortification of such waterways is not inconsistent with their neutralization. The Suez canal has been neutral since 1887, and no warlike act may be done within its waters or within three miles of either entrance. San Francisco, Oct. 20, 1910. To the People of California: The newspaper correspondent, who is hired by the proponents of the India Basin Act, is sending articles to the various newspapers of the state and in one particular article of Oct. 8th, says: "The San Francisco waterfront is state property, the income from it going to the state. "But if the state fail to secure the India Basin, as provided in the two acts which the voters must pass upon this election, the Basin must, to a certainty, fall into the hands of 'the interests.'" "The private harbor that the interests would maintain, would pay no state tolls; would promote monopoly in transportation, would to an important degree place the commerce of the port at the mercy of 'exploiters.'" In answer to this article, we will say: the state does own the waterfront in San Francisco harbor; and the state also owns India Basin, but the act the people are to vote on, at the coming election, is the so-called "India Basin Act," and has no bearing on India Basin. The opponents of the so-called India Basin Act do not desire to dig out a basin, but oppose it, and the socalled India Basin Act proposes to condemn and purchase a lot of submerged land and mudflats to dig out a harbor from. If this socalled India Basin Act is defeated on the 8th day of next November, the parties owning these submerged lands and mudflats will reclaim them, and erect factories and various other industries upon them, and all commerce passing to and from these lands must pay tolls and dockage to the state, as the state owns and controls all the waterfront on these lands. The writer of the above mentioned article knows the facts, as we state them, are true, and we believe he is and in two years hence, ask them to support it, with only the flimsy and untenable reason that it was because they were 20 year bonds? This league thinks the intelligent voter and commercial bodies of the state will have little confidence in such an (endorsement)?. Do not be deceived by paid articles that appear in some of the press of this city, but vote and work against the India Basin Act. Yours sincerely, SAN FRANCISCO HARBOR LEAGUE Room 324 Foxcroft Bldg. W. B. Wilshire, Secretary. SUPERVISORS IN SESSION Sign Contract for Paving In Front of Courthouse At the supervisors' meeting held last week Chairman Angle was directed to sign a contract with the Fairchild-Wilton-Gilmore company for the paving of Sixth street adjoining the courthouse. Said paving is to be done for 12-1-2c per square foot. The clerk was directed to advertise for bids for 5000 gallons of distillate for the courthouse. Bids to be opened Nov. 2, 1910, at 11 a.m. The action of the board of supervisors, directing the county auditor to draw a warrant in favor of Miller Bros. for $500 for repairs on the detention home was rescinded. The action of the board of supervisors, directing the county clerk to publish the election proclamation in three newspapers, was rescinded, and the clerk was directed to post said proclamation at the polling places in the county. The salary of the superintendent and matron of the detention home was fixed at $75 per month. The county clerk was directed to advertise for bids for furnishing the detention home with necessary furniture. Bids to be opened November 2, 1910, at 11 a.m. Fortification of such waterways is not inconsistent with their neutralization. The Suez canal has been neutral since 1887, and no warlike act may be done within its waters or within three miles of either entrance. It is the general understanding that the Panama canal will also be open to the commerce of the world, and that such fortification as may be erected will be for the protection of the highway from the depredations of Isthmian revolutionists as much as for its preservation against other hostile attacks. The demand for neutral highways for commerce is an interesting illustration of the growth of the commercial spirit. Men used to go to war for trade. They now demand peace for the same reason. Blobbs—I don't know what to make of that boy of mine. He's never around when he is wanted. Slobbs—Why don't you try and get him on the police force? Chief Editor—Look here, Sharpe, here's a fiddler been hanged for murder. How shall I headline it? Musica' Editor—How would "Difficult Execution on One String" do? Singleton—I can't understand why a man's wife is called his better half. Wedmore—You would if you had to divide your salary with one. Nell—That Miss Copleigh is an awfully cold sort of a girl. Belle—Mercy, yes. Why, she's so frigid that wherever she goes on rainy days it snows. Seaside Visitor (admiring a seagull)—How nice and clean he looks. The Boatman—Ah, ma'am, if you spent as much time in the water as he does, you'd look clean, too. HIGHGRADE SEED Set Corn, Garden Peas of Good Quality in Demand It in raising highgrade rops of sweet corn, garbeans of good quality reasing demand, and needed yearly has bethat the seedman is the major portion of him by others. Last few years there morous increase in the goods produced for comms. This has been due to the development and handling as a are now nearly one forms doing business in es. One of the largest buildings with an agace of more than 16 he is much larger than the entire seed trade only fifty years ago. has vastly improved. most encouraging deme growing of garden the increasing recognitical importance of uniform stocks of metal characteristics distinct local conditrequirements. Andon is the fact that seed crops of these be undertaken withchange in the farm these conditions make well worth the attenwho are located in School Supplies Scratch Tabs, Copy Books, Composition Books, Slates, Pencils and Pencil Holders, Rulers and Drawing Material, Text Books, Everything in the line of School Supplies, AT DICKEL'S ANAHEIM Cigar Factory ARNOLD & SON, Props. West Center St., Anaheim. Manufacturers of The Anaheim Eagle and Rosebud Cigars. We make a Specialty of Private Anaheim Bakery Peter Syre, Prop. Fresh Bread Cakes and Pies Confectionery, Etc. Wedding Cakes a Specialty Los Angeles and Cypress Sts. The Best Cuts of ANAHEIM Cigar Factory ARNOLD & SON, Props. West Center St., Anaheim. Manufacturers of The Anaheim Eagle and Rosebud Cigars. We make a Specialty of Private Box Trade. O. LAGMAN BUILDER. Graduated as Architect in 1885 Will Furnish Plans, Specifications and Estimates Free of Cost Will Build Mod. 5-R'm House, $1,000 " " " 7-R'm " 1,400 If you have a lot I will Build a House On Monthly Payments Pacific 1111 406 E. Center St Elasitic Roof Coating, The Best on the market. A permanent waterproof enamel covering and preservative for all kinds of felt and metal roofing. Also iron work. Pence posts dipped in this material will last for years. Try it and be convinced. HOLBROOK & ROSE, Sole Agents, Anaheim, California LUMBER, CEMENT, BRICK ARDEN PLASTER MILL WORK Beveled Well Curbing C.GANAHL LUMBER COMPANY CHAS. F. GRIM. Manager FOR SALE Clean Alfalfa Hay On field or Delivered. JOHN F. ROE, Tanglewood Ranch Sunset Phone 262. OLIVER HILL City Livery Stables Fashionable Outfits at Reasonable Rates. Anaheim Bakery Peter Syre. Prop. Fresh Bread Cakes and Pies Confectionery, Etc. Wedding Cakes a Specialty Los Angeles and Cypress Sts. The Best Cuts of MEAT Can be had here any time. We don't reserve them for a favored few and compel the others to take what is left. First come is first served in this market. We believe in giving everybody a square deal. Also in selling the very best meat we can get hold of at the prices possible. Try us with an order. CITY MARKET F. W. FLEISCHMANN, Prop. Odd Fellow's Bldg., Center street. Phone: Pacific 201 MONEY can be borrowed on more favorable terms from the SAVINGS, LOAN and BUILDING ASSOCIATION OF ANAHEIM than from any similar institution in the State A Home Institution... conducted by home men If you want to borrow money at a low rate to pay off your present mortgage, or to build a home or to improve your present one address or call on Fred A. Backs, Jr. Secretary Anaheim Commercial Hotel FIRST-CLASS DINING ROOM AND BAR Handsomely Furnished Rooms Everything neat and clean A home for the Traveling Public A trial will convince. JOHN ZIEGLER, Manager City Livery Stables Fashionable Outfits at Reasonable Rates. A home for the Traveling Public A trial will convince. JOHN ZIEGLER, Manager "WALK IN" THE GAZETTE OFFICE FOR QUALITY PRINTING