Los Angeles herald., 1890-03-27
Comparison Between Los An
geles and st. Paul.
The Matter Learnedly Discussed
in a Letter.
The Fire Board Transacts COnsid.
cradle Business.
Proposals for Sewer Pipe-The Union Chau-
tauqua Meeting and Other Items
About the City.

EDITORS HERALD notice in the
Express of last evening labored article
trying to convince its readers and the
public that the Times of 23d inst. had
enormously stated the question of Los
Angeles tax, more especially had the
bond question carried and this city been
saddled with that increase of debt. 1t
gives this city population of $4,000
with an assessed valuation of $46, 900, 900,
and its Indebtedness 22,556.75, and
states the rate to be $1.45 on each 500
or 14h mills on the dollar. This is
misleading, as he now pays twenty-five
mills ON the dollar, and by our in-
crease of bonds are added Az mills, CT
in other words $2.95 on the-$lOO, and
mind at very high valuation.
This financial exponent cites num-
Der of cities whose Indebtedness W. s
higher in proportion to their populati( u
than Los Angeles and among these calls
attention to St. Paul, Minnesota.
l am far heavier taxpayer in st.
Paul than here and know something of
its workings and results.
st. Paul claims population of 200, 900
people, has bonded debt of $7,016,00
based upon an assessed valuation of so
cents upon the dollar cash value, and
her taxes are Is mills ON the dollar, in
cluding State, county, city and schools,
and the tax no burden upon the peop e,
while Los Angeles assesses 25 mills and
will soon assess 29ls mills on the dollar
at cash valuation of 100 cents on Il e
dollar; quite difference-more ths II
double, and no wonder it is hard tin es
and the people distressed to pay their
taxes. Surely there is something radi-
cally wrong, and the sooner we awake to
that fact the better for our interests.
Before l close permit me to state
fact worthy our consideration. st. Paul
has had an unbroken Democratic rule
for forty years, both city and county 1t
has never had an officer misappropriate
a single cent or commit malfeasance
in office. Its financial standing has no
peer. Its bonds sell at 4 per cent, are
eagerly sought after, and bring at home,
without commission, a premium OF 3.6
per cent. Capitalists and investment
companies are eager for its bonds
Its government is economically ad-
ministered
No nonresident mortgage tar One
'eeiuetiOli iOl ctdtC, tOullty, CiLy anu
school assessment
No county and city tax collectors with
two or three dozen assistants, but the
very simple method of having the CITY
Treasurer at a salary Of $4,000 per year
as Treasurer, and . per cent on assess
ments collected, per cent on cash de-
linquent sales, and 2 per cent on re-
demption.
Citizens of Los Angeles, there is no
reason why our tax should be more than
fifteen or sixteen mills on the dollar at
one-half the present high valuation
which would make saving OF over so
per cent, and then let us retrench by
looping off all unnecessary attaches
see that we get value received for our
money by having the work well done,
and then we can build sewers (Which are
needed), purchase lands and make hand
some parks, improve our streets (not
with sand), and make city which will
attract the stranger and please ourselves.
J. II. BRYANT.
Los Angeles, March 25.