The record-union., 1895-12-04
CONCERNING THE ASSESSORS MAPS.
Surveyor Boyd Would Like to Pre-
pare Them,
But Assessor Berkey Declares It to be
His PriyiIege-The Law on
the Subject.

County Assessor Berkey appeared
before the Board of Supervisors yester-
day IN support of his claim that the
making Of assessment maps belongs TO
his office. Some time ago the board di-
rected County Surveyor Boyd to pre-
pare the maps, but on Mr.. Berkey's OBJ
lection thereto the order was rescinded
pending further investigation as to the
law on the subject.
District Attorney Ryan was present
yesterday at the request of the board,
and said he found a provision in the
County Government Act and also in the
Code, which affect the question. The
County Government Act f1S93requires
that the Surveyor shall make all maps,
but there appears to have been no uni
form action among counties in this re-
spect, and a case involving this ques-
ton is now before the Supreme Court.
The Legislature of 1S95 amended the
Political Code, said Mr.. Ryan, requlr-
ing the Supervisors to have maps pre-
pared for the Assessor, and that the
State Board of Equalization shall pre-
scribe the form of such maps. 1t is
also provided that if the Supervisors
fail to provide the Assessor with
such maps the State Board shall pro-
vide them at the county's expense. The
law provides that the cost of the maps
furnished by the county must be paid
for by the county.
Mr. Ryan said it seemed to him as if,
under the laws of 1893 and 1898, the
former makes it the duty Of the Sur
veyor to prepare the maps, while the
latter requires the Supervisors to FUR
nish maps to the Assessor 1t was,
T.
veyor must make the maps.
J. w. Armstrong, who was present
to give the Supervisors the benefit of
his opinion on the subject, argued that
it was the Surveyors right and duty
to make the maps. The assessment, to
be valid. he said, must be made in ac-
cordance with the provisions OF the
law, and the law OF 1898 is conclusive
that the Surveyor must make the maps
II other maps are used, the assessment
would not be valid. This is point, he
said, of vastly more Importance than
the mere question of who is paid for
making the maps.
Chairman Morrison said the board
was willing to provide the maps, but
had no desire to take from the Assessor
that perquiSite which had always been
attached to his office.
apparently" remarked Mr.. Ryan,
"the County Surveyors got in their
work on the County Government Act. >"
Supervisor Todd-You need maps, do
you not, Mr.. Berkey?
Assessor Berkey-Who informed this
board that any maps were necessary?
Continuing, Mr. Berkey said the max
ing of maps and indexes were per
Quisites of the Assessors office. AS the
salary of the Office is small, some years
ago some Assessor got provision into
the law requiring the Supervisors to
ia
could be paid extra for the work. Maps
made by Surveyors would be of no
value TO the Assessor.
Mr. Berkey went on to argue that the
Surveyors maps would not be made
from actual surveys, and would be no
more perfect than those made by the
Assessor. The descriptions Of land given
in a property statement are bet
ter evidence of the boundaries Of a tract
of land than the map-lines drawn by the
Surveyor. The only value of map is
to show whether or not the property has
been assessed or whether it was over
looked. The Assessor has not asked for
the kind of map spoken of, and has no
use for a Surveyors map. He does need
d map to enable him to determine
whether or not any particular piece Of
land has been assessed, and this map
can be made for S400 in the Assessors s
office.
II the Supervisors should say that the
Assessor shall not be paid for this work
all we'll and good, the map will be made
Just the same. Why, then, put the
county to the expense of several thou
sand dollars for a Surveyors map that
would be utterly useless?
In conclusion, Mr.. Berkey asked the
board to defer action in the matter until
the case now before the Supreme Court
shall be determined. In the meantime
q IrN H.. II
will be completed within the proper
time and that it will be correct
Chairman Morrison said the law re-
CURED the board to furnish the As