Los Angeles herald., 1890-05-07
CITY TAXES.
WHY MAYOR HAZARD RETURNED
THE ORDINANCE.
The Changes Which He Thinks Would Be
an Improvement and Proposes for
Adoption by the Council.

Monday afternoon Mayor Hazard re-
turned to the council, without his ap-
proval, the ordinance providing for the
payment of the city taxes in two Install
ments, stating that while he withheld
his signature he favored the plan, but
desired to suggest what he thought
would be an improvement. His plan
and reasons for the same were as fol-
lows:
Let the taxes become due and paya-
BILE as now. Let them become delinquent
on the 1st of November of each year,
and likewise on the first of each and
every month thereafter, until the 1st
day of May. On the first dav of MAY
the taxes not having been paid, penalty
of per cent is added and also on the
first of each and every month thereafter,
until the first day OF November, when
the property may be sold for delinquent
taxes and penalties as now provided by
law; providing that any part or all of
the tax may be paid, credit being given
for the amount paid, leaving only the
amount unpaid to become delinquent,
on which default must be paid.
l believe this plan superior to the
scheme outlined in the ordinance here
with returned, for the reason that it
will accommodate itself to the wants OF
each taxpayer. A property-owner who
is unable to pay taxes before the first
day of November will not forfeit 10 per
cent on half the amount as under the
proposed ordinance, but has one whole
year to pay it in by paying the city l
per cent per month, then after six
months 2 per cent per month.
The advantages of which the semi
annual system of payment has over the
system which now obtains, is that large
sums of money-over $4,000, 900 in this
state are locked up in the city, county
and state treasurers' offices during the
months of December, January and Feb
ruary, which is taken directly from the
money in circulation, and the effect is
disastrous in the extreme. The bank
ing interests are required to take extra
precautions because of it, and at the
period of the year when there is the
greatest demand for money the bankers
are required to call in their loans to meet
the unprecedented demand, often pro-
ducing distress. The semi-annual pay
ment of taxes will have tendency to
do away with this to certain extent, in
that it will divide it up, and for that
reason is an improvement on the system
now in force; but the plan that / sug-
gest will go farther-the taxes can be
paid at any period of the year, and in
quantities most convenient to the tax
payer, and will result in money going
into the treasury all the year round
from sources where it can be spared
with least inconvenience to the public
The accommodation thus afforded to
the taxpayer who is short of money will
be the source of profit to the city and
convenience to the public, in that the
city will receive large rate of interest
on the money not paid-while it will re-
main in actual circulation, accommodate
ing the public. In the meantime, until
it can be conveniently withdrawn, being
no longer needed, it will go into the
treasury; the money previously paid
into the treasury will have been paid out
again and resumed it's usefulness by
going into circulation.
Taxpayers who have the money on
hand will promptly pay the same before
November lst to save interest thereon,
and the money that will thus find its
way into the treasury will be principally
money that is idle and can be spared for
that purpose-which money being paid
out by the city will relieve the money
market in that it will put new money
into circulation that was idle, and money
that is absolutely needed for business
purposes will remain in circulation until
it can be withdrawn without distressing
any one, and these periods, instead of
being dreaded by the banking interests,
as now, will be hailed as periods when
money is abundant. That policy will
best subserve the interests of the public
which will accommodate itself to the
wants and conditions of our people most,
and keep on deposit in the city treasury
the least amount of money consistent
with our demands, leaving the residue
in circulation; and this, believe, can
be done by the plan 1 have outlined;
amending the same from time to time,
as experience may demonstrate the ne
cessity therefor.
l am inclined to think that, while the
system OF paying taxes twice year may
be an accommodation to some, it will
prove very Objectionable to others who
are accustomed to paying their taxes
once year and getting done with it.
The tax collector is not such welcome
visitor that we hail his advent with de-
light, and desire his visits duplicated
with their accompanying defaults and
penalties and hard times. One will be
continually reminded that nothing is
more certain than the payment of taxes,
and that one must always be making
provision therefor. If this plan does not
meet the approval of your honorable
body, would suggest that the ordi-
nance returned, which has been admira-
bly, drawn, be amended by requiring a
duplicate of the receipt which is given
by the tax collector on receipt Of the
assessment roll to be filed with the aud
itor.
Grateful Man.