Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-09-20

almost abandoned the idea, but the mas.
| terly manner in which Rowan presented
| the case of the county convinced a ma
jority of the Board that the reduction
was necessary, and we got it.
WHAT MR.. ROWAN SAYS.
Following him up, the reporter found
Mr.. Rowan in his office, and explaining
what he was doing, asked the President
of the Board OF Supervisors what he
knew about getting assessments re-
duced.
The interview opened thus "Mr
Rowan" said the HERALD reporter, "the
dispatches have announced that the
State Board OF Equalization has
reduced Los Angeles county ten
per cent. AS you represented
| the county at Sacramento, and as our
citizens all take a great interest in the
matter, will you kindly explain what
effect the reduction will have on the
county,"
81 had hoped" said Mr.. Rowan, "that
for this year at least l had got through
with any further discussion OF assess
ments, but any information l can
convey to you on the subject l will be
pleased to give. The immediate effect
on the county will be reduction of ten
per cent on everything except money
and solvent credits. That is to say the
owners of all other classes of property
excepting money and solvent credits will
now pay ninety cents in State taxes
where they would have to pay a
dollar without the reduction.
"The assessment of 1888 placed the
taxable property of Los Angeles County
subject to reduction, at $110,00S, 900.
The reduction will leave it at $99, ,007, ,l2O
to which must be added money and SOL
vent credits and railroad assess
ments or in all about $103, 200, 900,
and result in saving to the
county the net sum OF $4,000. When
the assessment roll was turned over to
the Board of Supervisors we found, after
a close examination, that the solid busi-
ness and agricultural property of the
county had been assessed on the basis of
the boom prices to which spectators had
brought imaginary town sites etc. The rev.
enue law of California does not allow the
County Supervisors, sitting as a
Board of Equalization, to lower the
county as whole, and we could
consequently Only deal with individual
cases of inequality. The time of the
Board was limited and the evil general
and widespread, so that, after consulta-
ton, we decided that We would rectify
as TAR as lay in our power the ineuual-
tiles between individual taxpayers and
make fight before the State Board of
Equalization for general reduction of
twenty per cent.
The fight for reduction was long and
bitter one. Contra Costa county was the
only county that had ever been re-
duced and the policy and traditions
OF the Sacramento equalizers seemed to
be all opposed to reduction of any kind,
no matter how glaring the injustice.
Their idea OF equalization seems to be to
raise all the time, without any idea of
equalizing the inequalities existing be-
tween the different counties of the State.
Their mode OF collecting data is simply
ridiculous, as it seems to be left to the |
whim or prejudice of each member as to
bow, where and when he shall
collect it. And it really seems to me
that the first thing the Legislature { f
California ought to turn it's attention to
is to equalize the State Board of Eoualiz-
alton by either wiping it out OF existence
Or prescribing some positive rules for col
Letting the data by which a county shall
be judged. AS it is now constituted it is
like bull in china shop.
Information seems to be sought after
the manner of detectives and ex-
which should be characterized
by the formality and dignity of high
court OF justice are carried on more like
the proceeding OF a second.class police
court.
Il speak plainly and l will admit with
feeling on this subject" said Mr.. Rowan,
"as was compelled to tell MIR. Moore
house this year in open Board that the
people of Southern California expected
nothing from him as his bias and preju-
dice against us was too apparent.
But you got what YOU went after?
Yes in 1887 Mr.. Venable and myself
appeared before the State Board and we
got reduction of ten per cent. by which
the county was benefited about sos COO
in State taxes.
In 1883 Mr.. Mason made more equal
assessment, but still too high, and we
were again forced to throw ourselves on
the mercy of the Northern Citrus Belt, -
as Southern California has only one
member on the Board of Equalization
and thank God we got relief.
The Assessor, Mr.. Mason, encountered
great difficulty in 1887 because of the
sudden increase in values and also be.
cause of the many resubdivisions OF
land, which caused the unknown owner
list to increase to an enormous extent,
viz many thousands; aud our Difficult.
ties in equalizing were increased &C.
cor'lingly.