Los Angeles herald., 1890-04-01

EDITORS HERALD-It is astonishing
how unwilling some people are to ac-
knowledge an error when their unten-
able statements are assailed. As the
Express of the 9th inst. has editoriallv
requested the Doctor to come down and
explain, please allow me the opportu-
nifty.
| do not agree with the Express that it
is unw;se and injudcious to make pub
lie statement OF facts and figures when
bearing directly upon public interests,
even should it be unfavorable to
us. For instance: 4 capitalist
comes here from abroad. He is
a wideawake business man, has an
abundant capital for safe investment.
After carefully looking over the city his
first questions would be: What is your
bonded Indebtedness What rate of in
terest does your certificate of indebted
ness bear? What rate per cash value is
your assessment made?
Now, in all candor, Mr.. Erpress. is it
not better to lay before him the true
facts III the case than try to mystify and
bewilder him in giving one-sided re-
port?
In your article OF the 25th you made a
comparison with other cities, and par
ticularized St. Paul, MINI. In my re-
joinder | compared that city with Los
Angeles, and clearly showed wherein
you were wrong. In your issue of the
9th you emphasized the fact that your
quotations were for city taxes alone.
which is not true, but included State as
well as city. When you say that the
taxes OF Los Angeles city are less than
the taxes of st, Paul, you do not know
what you are talking about.
The Express further states that 81 have
these rates mixed" | think the writer
had something mixed when he wrote
the article.
Now for the gist Of the matter. St.
Paul pays Is mills on the dollar for CITY.
county, school and State purposes, at an
assessed cost valuation of so cents on
the dollar
Los Angeles paid last year 25 mills.
and according to the Express will pay
this year somewhere near IS mills on
the dollar for city, county, State and
school purposes at a very high cash val
uation, bearing well upon 100 cents on
the dollar.
II the Express compares other cities,
it must adopI the same course OF reason
ing. and not compare n pat OF our tax
against the whole Of their tax.
St. Paul has bonded debt Of 81 ,0l6,-
900 upon an assessed valuation of
$l20,000, 900. OF this indebtedness,
81, 1850, 900 was incurred for the magnifi-
cent water supply, which is owned by
the CITY, not only paying its interest on
its bonds, but annually putting by sink
ing fund, and this water franchise is
estimated as an asset and is worth
$4,000, 900, which is more than the en-
tire city's debt.
This leaves the individual city debt
only $4, ,656, 900, or less than per cent.
of assessed valuation, and mills on the
81 pay it's interest on its bonds; whereas
the Express candidly acknowledges that
our bonds alone require 81 mills on the
81 for us to pay.
1t must be gratifying for the Express,
and shows its weakness to refer to state
ments made by myself while a member
of the council of this city. Surely a
citizen ought to be justified in discuss
ing public interests without being un-
Justly criticised as to personal affairs.
But to satisfy our friend allow me to in
form him that paid over 81 400 as taxes
the first year of residence in Los An
geles, and was not upon the assessors s
roll for this year. l depreciate this
personal accusation and explanation.
and have only this end in view, to
frankly and openly discuss the financial
situation in its true light Cover up
nothing. Become informed ourselves,
and let the outside world know upon
what basis we do our business, and if
our administration of public affairs is
piling up our city debt without giving us
adequate returns, then let us cry halt
and tack our sails accordingly.
Mr.. Editor, there is no man in our
midstwho seeks the good reputation of