private boolean readEqualsSign(){
  skipWhitespace();
  if (pos < input.length() && input.charAt(pos) == '=') {
    pos++;
    return true;
  }
  return false;
}

private boolean readEqualsSign ( ) { skipWhitespace ( ) ; if ( pos < input . length ( ) && input . charAt ( pos ) == '=' ) { pos ++ ; return true ; } return false ; }
returns true if an equals sign was read and consumed .
