The record-union., 1896-08-25

which corresponded exactly with the
Bank Commissioners report, but a lit
tie item of $4,000 in solvent credits
had escaped him.
The Farmers Exchange Bank swore
they had S5,342 cash, but gave in only
81, $40.
The Bank of San Bernardino the AS
SCISSOR got for all it was worth, but the
Citizens Bank of Ontario was not as
swore they had $4,000. The building
and lot was assessed for S4, 800 and
they swore to the Bank Commissioners
it cost So, 3,275.
A communication was received from
the bankers of Yolo County asking that
they be given a hearing in their own
defense, to show that they were bear
ing their just proportion of the taxes.
A reply was Immediately forwarded an
nouncing that the board would hear
them at any time.
To-day is the date set for hearing
what Sacramento County has to say
against being crucified on the State
Equalizers' cross.
SAN DIEGO'S PLEA.
In the afternoon Arthur G. Mason,
Supervisor of San Diego County, ad-
dressed the board, asking for a reduc-
ton. He claimed that the assessments
of the city property exceeded those of
last year.
Chairman Morehouse thought not, as
in 1895 the assessment was SO, ,524, ,116,
while in 1896 it was $40, ,321 ,243.
Mr.. Mason explained that he was al
luding to San Diego City alone. The city
property outside was another matter.
Much had been assessed as town lots,
which was laid out during boom times,
while the adjoining land was assessed
at 81 an acre. The Assessor could not
very well appear before the board to
ask reduction from his own figures,
but he had expressed himself before the
Board Of Supervisors to the effect that
the property at Ocean View and vicin-
ity was assessed too high.
There were many reductions made by
the Supervisors, to which he consent
ed, but the District Attorney held that
the board had no right to make a gen.
eral reduction and they stopped.
At Sorrento there are 200 acres cut up
into town lots all of which are used for
pasturage. He had several tracts near
there that were assessed at $13 or S14,
which he was offering for So an acre.
The Sorrento lots are covered with
water when there is any rain.
There was time down there, was
there not" asked Equalizer Beamer,
when, if you could not raise anything
else on the land, you could raise the
price7"
THAT is true" answered Mr.. Mason,
but it is not so any more. Now we do
business on the 16 to l plan. We sell
sixteen lots for what we used to sell
one for"
D. c. Reed, whose business is that of
a searcher of records, said he appeared
in new role. He had been asked by
the taxpayers to come here with Mr..
Mason and join him in asking for re-
ductfon in the assessment. He asked it
simply as a matter of right and justice.
The Board of Supervisors, composed
of all political parties, had unanimous
ly passed a resolution asking for re-
duction. He fully appreciated the po-
sition of the State Board, who must
listen to the pleas of representatives of
all the counties, and at the same time
look after the interests of whole State,
and provide for the revenue necessary
to run it with. 1t was a difficult one,
and one which he should not like to fill.
Mr.. Burt, the Assessor, had been in
structed by the State Board to keep his
assessments this year as near what it
was last year as possible. He had en-
deavored to do so, and had reduced the
assessment on unremunerative prop
erty and raised it on that which was
bringing a fair income. Mr.. Burt had
told him that he thought the assessment
should be somewhat reduced, as he had
felt compelled to assess as he did in or
der to not be cited to appear before the
State Board and show cause why his
assessment should not be raised.
The speaker said last year he bought
4, 500 acres at 81 % an acre and paid
the delinquent taxes for which it had
been sold, bringing it up to about So an
acre. Mr.. Burt had assessed it at $4 an
acre. The decision on the Wright law
has made thousands of acres in the
county valueless, as there is no water
on them.
In fact, with the exception of a few
favored localities that have water, the
land of the county is worth very little
outside of the bottom lands. This
leaves the city to bear the burden of
taxation for the whole county. He had
lots in the city that were assessed at
81 800, which he could not sell for more
than $1,000. Mr.. Cutchings, the editor
of the Tribune" has had a published
offer for a long time to take 60 per cent.
of the assessed value of his property in
the city, and has not been able to sell
1t at that price.
He himself had piece of property
that is assessed at $4,000. and he
thought himself lucky to get enough
rent out of 1t to pay his taxes and in
surance, and there were many others
like him. None Of the hotels are pay
ing expenses. Things are not now as
they were in boom times. He had not
lost faith in the country yet, however,
but believed that it would come out all
right in time.
YES" said Controller Colgan, "it is
as the Chinaman said: 1T Is a nice coun-
try, but too muchee by-and-by'"
Well" said Mr.. Reed, "if Assessor
Burt had been left to his own Judgment,
instead Of being told to keep his assess