Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-08-09
TAX PAYERS.
They Object to Assessment
by the Council.
A QUESTION OF JURISDICTION.
The Names of Those Interested-An
Increase of Twenty Per Cent.
Great Indignation.

A large number of taxpayers and
property-holders assembled at the Tur-
ner Hall on Spring street, night before
last, in response to call made through
the columns of the local press to consider
the advisability of testing the legality oi
the action of the Board of Equalization
in assessing property on Main, Spring
and Los Angeles streets twenty per cent
over and above their usual assessments.
The meeting was called to order al
8 o'clock by Mr.. ]. Mesmer who ex'
planned the object for which it was held
and stated that in his opinion the people
should show that they were paramount
to those whom they had elected to govern
the municipality. He then nominated
Ex-Governor J. G. Downsy as Chairman
of the meeting, who was elected by
acclamation.
On taking the chair, Ex-Governor Dow.
ney made brief but pithy address Of
thanks for the honor conferred upon
him. He stated that owing to an absence
of three years from the city, he knew
little of its local affairs, but he did know
enough to say that the City Council and
Board OF Equalization ought to have the
interest of the public at heart. The
County of Los Angeles was already
assessed as high as any other in the
State, and he thought that this extra
III -. of ~ tn a lo
this generation pay for all the improve
ments which would only benefit its sue.
cessors. He said that all that was neces-
sary to fight these things successfully
was q united effort on the part of the
people. The railroad companies had
successfully done 80 for years, and there
was no reason why the people should
not unite and be victorious also.
Mark G. Jones having been unsni-
mously elected az Secretary of the meet
ing, Jno. Mesner handed up a communi.
cation from B. Cohn, regretting his ab-
sence on account of ill health, and sug-
gesting concerted action.
J. Mesmer suggested that committee
of five be appointed as an Executive
Committee to act upon the question for
which the meeting was called.
John Robarts said that he believed the
meeting was called for one purpose only
that of asserting the alleged illegality of
the acts of the Board of Equalization in
assessing the property owners twenty
per cent. upon their property on Spring,
Main and Los Angeles streets over and
above their just dues. He moved there
fore, that a committee of ten be ap'
pointed by the chair to take such meas.
ures and confer with the attorneys Of
this city with view of finding what re-
medy there is against this alleged illegal
action of the Board of EQUALIZATION.
The Chairman not being sufficiently
we'll acquainted with those present, at
his suggestion the following were nomIn.
ated and appointed by the meeting: j.
Roberts, j. Mesner, L. Rimpau, w. S.
Moore, W. Ferguson, l.. Mesner, j. r,
Bryson, r. McGarvin, B. Cohn, j. H..
Woollacott; and as it was finally deter
mined upon to add two more, Messrs.
Salisbury and J. N. Van Nuys were in
cluded. At the suggestion OF MI. Roberts
the committee was instructed to consult
with one of the leading attorneys of the
city, and to report back to the meeting
on Tuesday night the result of its labors.
ing at some length on the question which
they were there to discuss, and stated his
personal experiences before the board.
which created good deal of amusement.
John Robarts, while sympathizing
with the gentleman, said that it was
merely question Of law and not ques-
ton of fact. The only question was as
to whether the board exceeded it's juris-
diction. 1t resolved itself into ques-
ton of law only as to whether they could
restrain the board from acting as it had
done or not.
Colonel w. S. Moore said that he was
considerably interested in the matter
and for the benefit of those who were not
aware of the motives that actusted the
board he would explain the twenty per
cent raise. The intelligent Councilmen,
finding it necessary to raise a certain
amount of money with which to carry
out certain Improvements while in office,
consult with the learned District Attor
ney. AS the result OF such consultation
they put in their time, for which of
course they are paid, in doing the work
of q so-called Board of Equalization.
They carefully Pqualize all the property
in which they are interested, but when
they come to the Spring, Main and Los
Angeles streets property, in which not
one of them has dollar, they 60 to work
and assess the property at twenty per
cent. extra. They made up their minds
to get that extra assessment, and they
then made a pretense of giving the prop
erty-holders show by notifying them to
appear before the board to show cause
why they should not be 30 assessed.
]. Marion Brooks followed with few
remarks, but drifted into an anti-sewer
speech. This caused good deal of dis
cussion as to the project of the meeting,
and it was finally resolved to call spe-
cial meeting for the discussion Of the
sewer question.
On motion, the names OF the property
owners present were handed in to the
Secretary, who was instructed to put
them on record. Amongst them we're
the following: D. Amestoy, F. Adam,
Il. J. Baldwin Represented by w. A
Unruh), ]. Bernard, 7. Bradshaw, s. G.
Brown, Drs. Bush and Burbank, o. T.
Barker, D. Botiller, L. N. Breed @. Brode,
A. G. Chauvin, Cassayne estate, D. Cum
ningham, D. Desmond, F. Edwards, J..
Foster, s. G. Foy, J. NJ. Quinn, Griffin &
Green, Mrs. G. N. Gray, H. Heinech, L,
Harris, l.. II. Hickson, G. B. Hickry,
Mrs. Hollenbeck (by Simons), Miss
Hammond, j. II. Jones, M. G.. Jones, J.
Kuhrts, J. Kiefer, L. Lichtenberger, I.
Lowthian, Lanfranco estate, 6. +. Mohn,
s. Meyer, T. D. Mott, Bishop Mora, Jose
Mascarel, Nordholdt estate, Laura M.
Nadeau, L. Phillips, F. N. Pauly, John