The herald., 1896-02-29

should be considered in matters of this
kind, and not private gain"
Mr., Brotherton went into detail in ex-
PLANTATION of the system OF assessment ana
system of real estate assessment had been
in vogue, and for nearly hundred years
it had given satisfact ction. The present sys-
TEN Of appraisement in this state, he ex-
planned, was very bunglesome and 1t should
be improved on.
In Ohio the county treasurer collected
all the taxes, with the aid of one or two
more deputies, and thereby a great deal OF
trouble and expense was saved. BY the
decennial assessment system the auditor
did all the work of the county assessor.
and he did it in much more satisfactory
manner than any county assessor IN Call
fornia performed his duties.
"The time to call a halt in matters OF
this kind is now," said Mr.. Brotherton,
land know of no association or organiZa-
ton that is better fitted to take up the
work than the Merchants association of
the imperial city of Los Angeles"
As Mr.. Brotherton retired to his seat ne
was greeted with loud applause.
"How would you bring about these re-
forms?" asked Chairman Frank of the re-
tiring speaker.
There are various ways by which they
could be brought" said Mr.. Brotherton in
response. "The best way, in my judg-
| gard to the assessment and collection or
| taxes is by changing the state law.
"Elect members of the assembly and the
| senate the next time who will pledge them
selves to 80 reform the state law as to ad-
| nit of the collection of all taxes through
the county treasurer of each county, and
| also elect only those legislators pledged to
vote and work for the decennial assess
| ment plan."
At tho conclusion of Mr.. Brotherton's
remarks there were requests for few re-
marks from Abbot Kinney.
REMARKS BY ABBOT KINNEY
| Mr.. Kinney was presented and made a
brief response to the demand upon him.
He said that he noticed one difficulty tax
payers in this stale experienced. They
were not secure after they had paid their
taxes. Mr.. Kinney cited piece of his
own property which he found had been
for taxes of 1879. That was be.
! fore the land was patented and before
he Kinney had come to the state. When
| he heard that the piece had been sold he
said that he was completely paralyzed. He
hired man to pay his taxes, now, he said
1.-THE fault" said Mr.. Kinney, lilies
| with the system. 1t is difficult for us to try
to make all reforms reform at once. We
cannot do it. l am sorry but it Is a fact
| The truth of the matter is that we have not
one we'll governed city in the United States.
1t is not only the expense of the mis-gov.
erned cities we suffer from but their moral
| effect as we'll.
"The great difficulty now is the distribu-
ton of patronage and contracts: Remove
these two features of our political life in
municipalities and we will have the same
system we have in our library which is to-
day one of the best conducted institutions
| of its kind in the country.
"You may not be able to give us civil
service reform police force because that
would be difficult matter. Look a police.
man in the face and you almost see q
criminal. However, the police force could
be improved"
Mr.. Kinney's remarks were vigorously
applauded.
| Postmaster John II. Mathews was pres
brief general remarks by him upon the
subject of municipal reform, the meeting
! adjourned.