Los Angeles herald., 1890-07-18
WHOM THE GODS WOULD DESTROY!

the sententious remark, that whom the
gods would destroy they first make
mad" If he were in this good City OF
the Angels in this year OF grace, he
would make practical and pertinent
application OF this philosophic reflection
to our friends in the Republican ranks
who are now in Office.
One of the most clearly defined issues
ever made in politics is that between the
tax-eaters and the taxpayers. The
usual rule in all well-regulated political
circles is that in "off years." that is,
when no important election is to take
place, the backs of the property
holders may be mercilessly broken
by the burdens of taxation, but
that in election years some regard is to
be had for catching votes by letting up
on the valuations and rates. This is the
one consolation the average citizen gets
in all his life out of politics. Election
wears will come round, and then his
bank account will not be 80 distressingly
overdrawn to keep his home out OF the
hands of the sheriff.
For some time past this city has been
in the hands of the most rapacious lot OF
tax-eaters that ever made a community
groan, unless perhaps it be their COM
panions in arms that run the court
house, who perhaps reallyge away with
those who haunt the city hall. The
community has been long suffering,
not so much in the sense of quietly
bearing wrong as In that of having to
bear it for protracted period. This is
to be an election year, and the poor
devils that own a home, or those who
have house or two that bring in a
rental of perhaps 5 to per cent. on
their cost, or as in many cases no rental
at all, have thought they were to have
little surcease from sorrow in view OF
the pending elections. But alas they
are doomed to the bitterest disappoint-
ment.
The city valuation is in, and foots up
$47, 100000, or considerably more this
year than it did last after the tender
mercies of the wicked council sitting
as a board of equalization had got
through with the lists. What that dis
tinguished body of philanthropists will
do with the rolls this year is not yet ap-
parent. 1t is heads to apples that they
will not lower the assessment or lessen
the burden of taxation.
Then there is the rate to fix. The new
charter, that much-belauded panacea
for all municipal ills, sought in good
faith to set the limits at ST. but amend
ments for parks and this, that and the
other were made until you can
no more tell where the ultimate
limit is than one can prophesy when
the millennium is to set in. 1t
will be at least $1.25 this year, and we
may we'll sing solemn 1'e Deum if it is
not any more. The aim seems to be to
get about 100000 to run this little city
on. The municipal patriots kindly
passed law allowing us to pay our
taxes in half-yearly installments, so as
to ease up on the taxpayer. But there
was method in that madness. The re-
suit now will be that each installment
will be as large as was the total tax
under the old regime-and of such is
Republican easements on taxpayers
Then there is the county assessment.
Orange county is cut off this year and
carries with her $13,0OO,OOO worth OF
property according to her assessment.
1t has been bruited about that our
county assessor was making a very con-
servative reduction this year, and the
uncharitable thought the coming cleo
tions had to do with this programme. If
he ever had any such intention it has
gone to pave certain well-known road.
It is perhaps just as well, for surely the
taxpayers in certain quarters are of the
opinion that these rapacious tax-eaters
may need good road in that direction
some day. Be that as it may, the
county valuation is up to the modest
sum of $S7, 100000. Add to this $l3,OOO.-
900 for Orange county, and there you are
at the even, round and full figure Of
500, 1000, 900, just where we were last year.
Year by year the state board of equal
ixation not too friendly to Los Angeles
has cut this swelling figure of Mr.. Ma