Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-06-14
DOUBLY TAXED.
How q Poor woman Had TO Pay
Her Taxes Twice.

Her Taxes Twice.
EDITORS HERALD - Instances which
prove the unfitness OF the present County
Assessor for the position he holds are
plentiful enough, but now and then a
case occurs which is especially aggravat-
ing. The long-suffering public will have
GOOD reason to hold a thanksgiving when
the disorder which reigns in that depart
ment of the County Government presided
over by Mr.. Mason comes to an end. In
March, 1887, a lady resident of this city
was the owner of lot 6, block F, OF the
BOYLE Heights tract, Los Angeles City.
Her statement was handed in to County
Assessor Mason in the regular manner,
and the lot was assessed to her in Vol.
Ii, page 256, of the assessment records
One day soon afterwards, when Mr..
Mason's conscience" was especially
active, he proceeded to assess the same
piece of property over again, this time
TO unknown owners" In August, 1887,
the owner sold the property to another
lady, who Immediately took possession
of it. On December 16, 1887, the frst
owner paid the tax in full, and received
the County Tax Collectors receipt.
Matters went on until the coun-
ty tax sale of 1888, and the
property was sold, according to lis
second assessment to unknown own
ers," March Is, 1888, to Tax Certifi-
cate buyer from Santa Ana. Nine
months passed and the first owner OF
the property, who had paid the tax, had
left the city. The Santa Ana tax buyer
now sent a note to the lady owning the
property and informed her that he had
bought in the lot at the tax sale of 1888,
aud in short time, unless the claim
was settled, amounting to double the
original tax, he would be entitled to a
tax deed. The unfortunate vic
tim of Assessor Mason's mistake
was naturally greatly agitated by
the unwelcome discovery that
there was a new lien on her little home.
Not having learned of the methods in
vogue in the County Assessors office,
sac did not suspect double assessment.
The situation was a cruel one, for the
family had little or no money, and had,
for months, denied themselves many
comforts in order to meet their honest
debts. However, by hard efforts and
considerable privation, the money was
raised and paid.
Accidentally, a week or two ago, it
was discovered that there had been a
double assessment and, as the county
had received the tax in full, it
would naturally be supposed
that the money would be re-
funded by the Supervisors. But it ap-
pears that the State law prohibits the re-
funding of any money paid on the re-
demption fund. Had the mistake been
discovered before the second money had
actually been paid, it might have been
rectifed. The facts in the case are re-
spectfully submitted to County Assessor
Mason, and if he is moved thereby to re-
fund the money to the family, which is
even now suffering from the effects of the
gross carelessness Of his office, the exist
ance of the alleged powerful conscience
will be admitted. In the meantime it
will be we'll for property owners to keep
q weather eye open for the assessor
work. No matter how careful they may
be. their property is liable to be sold for
taxes, their titles clouded, and unlimited
confusion is sure to follow as the result
of the work of an incompetent official,
CITIZEN.