Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-09-10

of fair-minded person would be hard.
Why he should have done 30 one can
but conf ecture.
This year our over-burdened tax-pay-
ers find themselves confronted with the
very same conditions as prevailed a
year ago; and in an exaggerated form.
Mr.. Mason ignoring the relief granted us
by the State Board in spite of his efforts
partial and incomplete as that act of
Justice was-this year out-Herods his own
despotic Herodism and raises us 'out of
our boots," to borrow a phrase from the
sporting fraternity. The assessment roll
of Los Angeles in the present year of
grace foots up nearly sos, 700 900.
1t is we'll known fact that,
as rule, real property in this county
was not worth more-as general rule
on March l, 1888, than it was on the
same date in 1887. There may be ex-
ceptions, but such would only prove the
rule. If we are to believe the press
abroad, particularly that OF Northern
California, our property is not worth as
much this year as it was last by many
millions of dollars. 1t is alleged that
our 'boom" is dead and that there is no
sale for our realty. The press of San
Francisco only the other day gave cur
rency to story Of some one who had
bought lands here at 81, 800 per parcel,
or $4, 500 for three lots, and could not
get $500 for the three. These state
ments are, of course, false, although
they have been given out as a sample of
what is the rule here. We are better in
formed on the spot than are these wise
people who live five hundred miles away.
We say that our property has not depre-
ciated in value and that it cannot be
bought at lower figures. But it cannot
be said to have risen in value-tak-
| ing the county as whole. 1t is
not so rapid of sale as il was a year
ago, but it is held quite frmly.
In this view of the case then the as
sessment OF 1887 would have been quite
sufficient for the present year. Passing
over the valuation of railroad property
that would be about $S2,f 100000. There
was no reason for Mr.. Mason's lifting it
to nearly $l00,000000, some $4,000, 900
more than his own estimate in 1887, and
nearly SIS, 100000 more than the esti-
mate of the State Board. The raise is
a material one being over twenty per
cent
1t is known that the Board
of Supervisors propose to visit Sacra-
mento at an early day to lay the matter
before the State Board OF Equalization
and beg to have the assessment cut down
twenty per cent. This is only asking to
have the valuation set at the same figure
as last.ye There are no good reasons to
be given for not allowing us this relief
1t ought to pass the Board without word
of question. Last year Mr.. 7. E. Rowan
and Mr.. J. w. Venable were alone in the
fight, and wise and vigorous one they
made in our behalf. The people of this
country owe these gentlemen much on this
score. They laid aside their own busi-
ness, took long trip, spent many days
away from home and devoted much ener-
gy to the matter. The taxpayers of the
county should not forget it.
Should our representatives succeed in
getting the relief they ask for, it will
mean great and necessary tightening Of
the burdens OF taxation. The reduction
would be about 500, 900, 900, and the saw
ing to property holders would come to
between $125, 900 or $l50,0O0.