The San Francisco call., 1903-01-21
ASSESSORS OF CALIFORNIA DESIRE
A REVISION OF The REVENUE LAWS
Believe Would Prove Advantageous to Have New System
of IaXation-Dr Dodge Points Out Defects in Methods
in Vogue-Next Meeting to Be Held at Los Angeles

it has been proved successful and beneficial
BY united action with the cooperation OF the
State Board of Equalization II might easily
and successfully be instituted In order tnat
justice might be done as between citizens OF
the railroads-it would be necessary for the
State Board of Equalization to assess our
great railroads on the same basis or full Vai-
uation. Their property constitutes large
part of the entire property of the state At
present the greatest inequality exists in the
assessment OF this property, as compared Win
that of individuals, or with that OF similar
corporations. whose property is assessed by
roads Of one citv in this State-San Francisco
assessed by the County Assessor at over
S25 COO eco while the State Board % EQuali-
zation possesses the entire steam railroads Of
this State only S64. 600. 600. The street rail-
roads are assessed at over 60 per cent % OF te tne
railroads. assessed by the state Board OF
Equalization are assessed at less than 20 per
cent of the market value OF their securities
would be done the taxpayers of this state were
land to be assessed at fuli market value ana ana
railroad property 10 remain assessed at less
than one-hfth of its market value. as 1t Is to-
1t would appear. therefore, that it is only by
a concert of action honestly directed toward
the same end, that we could achieve this OBJ
ject and not intensity of the evils from.
But by conference and agreement among
ourselves as assessors, many Of the inequalities
in taxation now existing may be done away
with. May it not be hoped that plan
may be devised by which we may achieve this
object?
Ben Ward, Assessor of Los Angeles
County, followed DR.. Dodge and made
an impromptu talk dealing in a way with
the ideas set forth in DR.. Dodge'S paper
He indorsed Dr. Dodge's principles and
stated that he had through practical ex-
perience come to the conclusion that
many of his ideas were correct and prac-
tical He related what he had done to
get at the personal property that was
escaping taxation. Ward stated that
during his first year in office he increased
the personal property tax fully $6,O00,00O
Assessor Ira Park of Marin County
created quite little amusement among
the members of the convention by relat-
ing a story of how he raised the assess
ment Of a property holder of this city,
who was a resident of Marin County,
| from $500 to $4,000. DR.. Dodge finished
Assessor, Parks story by stating that
| when the matter was called to his at
/ tention he raised the assessment on the
/ property from $4,000 to $4,000 and said that
the property holder swore that he would
| see to it that DR.. Dodge would never be
! elected again.
! During the afternoon the committee
on permanent organization brought in
| the following report:
Your committee permanent organization
| recommends that the name of this associa-
i tion be 1.-The Assessors Association of Calf
fornia'; that the officers of this association
treasurer and such committees this body
may select annually. and that the present Off
I GERS and committees be continued until the
next meeting: that the association meet an
/ nuaIly at such time and place may be agreed
upon at the previous meeting.
During the recess of this body the various
! officers and committees of this organization
| shall continue the consideration of such mo-
tons, rules and communications may be re-
| ferred 10 it. and every member of this asso-
ciatIon shall be invited TO communicate with
| the committee subject TO such matters he
may wish investigated and the committee
shall make full report to this organization.
]. b. BENNETT. JEFF McELVAINE. NJ.
A. THOMAS. F. r. DOWD. HENRY P.
DALTON, ]. MARCHANT. G. +.
| PRATT.
| The convention then adjourned. The
next meeting will be held on the second
Monday of next December at Los Ange-
les Assessor Ward promised his col
leagues a good time when they met in
the City of Angels.
Assessor Dodge banqueted the visiting
assessors last night at a downtown res
| taurant
A resolution thanking Judge Murasky
for the use of his courtroom was unani-
mously adopted by the convention just
before it was declared adjourned by
Chairman Berkey.