The herald., 1893-10-05
THE CITIZENS LEAGUE.
ANOTHER STATEMENT ABOUT EX-
TENDING THE TAXES.
The Claims of the League as to the Cost
OF the work-Expert Bisckmsn's
statt tment-Mr- Griffith's
Reply to Lopez.

The following statement was furnished
to the HERALD yesterday:
The Citizens League has maintained
that the sum of $500 paid for extend
ing the taxes last year was such an ex-
orbitant figure for this work, and that it
could only be accounted for on the cup
position that political debts were being
| paid at the expense OF the already tax
ridden community, and that the same
! should be done this year for 500. and
that the league has shown bv the state
ments of the auditors OF Alameda and
San Joaquin counties, particularly Ala
media county. where there are more than
500 pages more to compute than in this
county, that it cost Alameda's people
only $719.30, or an average OF less than
cents per page. In addition to the
statements of the above named gentle-
men, the league wishes to give the fol-
lowing statements also. The one state
ment, made by gentleman who is well
and favorable known as one OF the best
accountants on the coast, and who is a
fellow of the American Accountants
association of New York, an organiza-
tion to which only the best and most
competent men are admitted. He has
been employed for o number OF years
past as the expert OF the
grand jury in this county, and also on
many occasions by the board OF super
visors. The maker of the other state
ment has been q book-keeper and ac-
countant for many years. ITO the ex-
ecutive committee of the Citizens
League of Los Angeles Gentlemen: /,
w. r. Blackman. of the city of Los An
geles, state of California, state that l
am thoroughly familiar with the work
of extending the taxes on the assess
ment roll OF Los Angeles county, as pro-
vded by law, and make the following
statement: That competent man can
complete 35 pages per day of this work.
averaging both city and country books;
that good accountant or expert, as
such are Familiarity called, ought to do
an average of 65 to 20 pages per day. In
my opinion, at 10 cents per page good
wages could be made by an average
man, An expert could make 81 per
day and upwards. Taking the city
books, mortgage books and many pages
of the country books. which are mostly
filed with $5 and $40 lots, this could be
uuadrupled in day, and am satisfied
bAdu L OO0Ao SOlb PlCbO q CApJ hSON AAA -
day.
The statement made by Auditor Lopez
that the coet is 81 $50 is probably cor
rect. In my opinion one-half of this
sum would be very liberal amount for
this work and think that this could be
materially reduced and good pay made
by competent men. Respectfully yours,
W. R. BLACKMAN, F. A. A.
October 4th, lS93."
"Los ANGELES, CAL, Oct. 4th, 1898.
I'm answer to your inquiry OF this
date would say that from long expert
ence ae a bookkeeper and accountant,
and after having examined some OF the
assessment rolls of the county of Los
Angeles for the year 1892, l am satisfied
that at compensation OF 10 cents per
page a fairly competent accountant
could make very good wages and l would
be willing to undertake the work myself
at that figure. Il. A, BIRD"
In connection with the above Mr..
Griffith OF the league said: ''In yester-
day mornings papers appeared an
efusion from County Auditor Lopez in
defense OF the extravaganza in
computing the taxes. l desire
to answer the came in as few
words as possible The executive
committee OF the Citizens league have
not apparently put themselves to con-
siderable trouble in endeavoring to fer
ret out feuree," but it does seem that
the only parties who are troubled about
these figures are Auditor Lopez and his
army of cormorants who eat up the tax
PAYERS money and empty the Golfers Of
the county treasury. The law in refer
ence to computing taxes is a general law
and must be complied with in the same
manner in Alameda and every other
county of this state, as it is in Los An
geles county. If, as Mr.. Lopez states,
ne does other work than the statute re-
quires, why does he do it if not for the
purpose of feeding an army OF political
friends and hangers-on, among whom
may be found many incompetent men
There is no doubt that the auditor en-
ployed come good and able men, but
these did the most of the work, while
the s'incompetents" drew the same pay.
cannot see what my assessment has
to do with this controversy and would
not touch on this matter, but for the
fact that County Auditor Lopez makes
statements in his communication which
he as auditor knows (or at least by vir-
tue of his position) ought to know, are
false and without foundation. MIR.
Lopez states that made a sworn state
ment that my property valuation was
only $35, GOO. He knows from his own
experience as taxpayer that the only
statement made to the assessor ia the
fact that he owns such property as
named in the statement and does not
place any valuation thereon, but the
law particularly prohibits him from do
ing 80, requiring the assessor to fix the
value, which the assessor does in all
eases. In regard to the Briswalter land,
the auditor should better inform him
self as to it's ownership, and then prob
ably he would not make such misstate-
ments. As pay all the taxes and ex-
penses OF running the place, the prob
ability is that more than $50 worth of
this property is vestedfn me.
In reference to Alameda county and
the auditors employees OF the same not
doing rs pages per day, have Auditor
Whidden's statement to this fact, and it