Los Angeles herald., 1905-02-28
SAYS ASSESSMENT
IS LARGELY FARCE
TAX ON PERSONAL PROPERTY
UNEQUAL, SAYS WARD
County Officer Addresses the Credit
Mems Association on "Tax=
alton and How to
Evade 1t"

TAXA tion and How to Evade 1t" was
the topic for discussion at the regular
monthly meeting and banquet of the
Los Angeles Credit Mems association
held last night at Levys, when about
fifty members of the organizatio gath
cred at the table.
Ben f.. Ward county assessor for
seven years. was presented by Presi-
dent Simpson to give an address upon
the subject and Mr.. Ward proceeded to
discuss the topic at considera BILE length,
giving his hearers the benefit of his
personal observation and experience.
Assessor Ward said in part. "a
qualified adoption of the Henry George
theory of taxation might best cure
some of the inequalities that now exist
in our system of taxation. We all know
that the average man does not mean to
dodge taxation. The common excuse
is that he is paying more than his
neighbor, but the law does not provide
for the reception of any such excuse
Corporations dodge taxation. If every
man paid taxes on fair valuation the
rate would be very much lower for
everybody.
"The assessment of personal prop
erty is largely farce when it comes
to a question of equal taxation. What
we need is a state board of equaliza-
ton that will do its duty. Such body
does not exist now, and every county
in Southern California is getting the
worst of it.
Legislation will not make people
tenn of taxation the people would not
be required to pay one-fourth what
they do now.
Americans today are making the
almighty dollar the chief thing in life.
1t is money poorly invested. They
should realize that there is more in life
than money"
Mr.. Ward alluded to bills that had
been introduced in the Legislature for
relief, but at some length he showed
that they do not offer needful change,
and said that all were practically dead
for the session.
Secretary w. c. Mushet read num-
ber of letters bearing on the work of
the association, and H. F. Plateau re-
ported that $1,000 had been subscribed
for the fund for the prosecution of
fraudulent debtors.
Those seated at the banquet tables
were: H. C. Chase of r. w. Braun &
Co., John II. II. Lewis of keystone
Produce company, l.. Kimbal of w.
w. Montague & Co., w. L. Craig of
Dunning & Craig, r. w. Burnham of
r. c.. Dun & Co., w. II. Preston of
American Credit Indemnity company
J.. ID. Simpson of Simpson & Hack
Fruit company, Fay Butler of Ameri-
can Credit Indemnity company, j. l..
Boyle of Thompson & Boyle company
w. C. Lyon of Armour Packing COM
pany Fred C. Metcalf, w. p. Lohman
w. II. Siberton. of Metcalf & Wilson;
l.. ID. Sale of Western Wholesale Drug
company. b. Haymans. A. w. McCord
of r.. G. Dun & Co., N. A. DIckey, Ed
Lind. of Swift & Co.; C. r. Longley Of
Bishop & Co., Newell Mathews, Don
Harrison of w. p. Fuller & Co., w. NJ
Hamaker of First National bank, H.
d. Scoheld of Crombie & Co., II. Plateau
of Nj. A. Newmark q Co, E. j. Levy
OF STANDARD Woodenware company. II.
A. Bingham of II. A. Bingham & Co..
Hubert A. Bingham of III. A. Bingham
& CO., C. C. Ashley of California Com
rnercial company. G. b.. Brown OF
Bradstreet's, II. w. Coe of Los An
geles National bank, w. C. Kennedy of
Baker Iron works. 4. l.. Dudley of Los
Angeles Leather and Findings COM
pany George Arnott of George Arnott
& Co, p. r. Johnson of Equitable Saw
ings bank, George II. Stewart of Pa