Los Angeles herald., 1906-07-10
FEW TAXPAYERS
MAKE PROTESTS
BANKS ARE MOST STRENUOUS
KICKERS
City Council Organizes as Board Of
Equa lizatIon - Southern Pacific
viii Have lts Assessment
Materially Lowered

From the few protests that have so
far been received It appears that the
board of equalization will not have
many cases to act on at the session
which begins this morning at 10
o'clock.
The council organized as a board yes
terday afternoon with Councilman
Smith chairman, and will meet this
morning to begin the work of equaliz-
ing assessments. So far but three pro-
tests against the figures submitted by
City Assessor Lewis have been made in
writing, and these three do not amount
to q great deal.
One property owner complains that
he is assessed $3.50, while his property
Is worth but $3.50. Another that his
property, which Is claimed by the as
SCISSOR to be worth $500, is not worth
S25O0.
The fact that this time last year
there were more than fifty protests on
file, while yesterday there were but
three, is taken as an indication that
the task of equalization will not be
arduous.
While there will not be SO many
cases for action by the board, 1t is
almost certain that there will be some
lively sessions.
Banks Are Dissatisfied
The banks are by no means satisfied
with their assessments. Gen. Robert
Wankowski, cashier of the Los Angeles
Trust company, and City Assessor
Lewis had lively verbal tilt over the
assessment of that bank yesterday
afternoon. Several other banks also
have complaints to make and will do
so verbally before the board of equali-
zation.
City Assessor Lewis yesterday offered
to compromise with the banks by sug-
gesting that he name the amount Of
the assessment, which is $2,500,O 900,
and that the banks get together and
distribute the payment of the taxes
as they pleased. He has made an as
sessment on each bank and has been
accused of having exercised bad judg-
ment by some of the bankers.
In a heated argument yesterday af-
ternoon Mr.. Lewis stated that the ma
tional banks had escaped payment Of
taxes by hiding behind Uncle Sans
coat tails, but that If he was city as
SCISSOR another term he would make
them pay their just proportion of the
taxes or force them out of business.
II was cheated last year." said Mr..
Lewis, land those who succeeded In
pulling the wool over my eyes then
did not do it again this year. Those
who cheated me this year will not do 1t
again next year If 1 am assessor at
that time"
Railroad viii Protest
The Southern Pacific will also pro-
test. Walter Parker had q little argu-
ment with Mr.. Lewis yesterday after
noon, but as Parker assiduously avoids
everything that smacks of the strenu-
f~ 1,a Il ID nty,f rx,tAI
the assessor. He will wait until he
appears before the city council, most
Of whom he and the machine have
elected, and ask for "a reduction in tine
assessment. What Walter Parker asks
Of the city council, that shall be grant
ed him, 1t is said
Parker was familiar with the as
sessment against some of the property
of the Southern Pacific, but there is
considerable property the figures of
which he did not know. The tax books
are open to any property owner who
believes he has just cause for COM
plaint, and Parker had the privilege Of
looking up the Southern Pacific prop
erty.
He handed a long list of Southern
Pacific property to an employe Of the
city clerks department with instruc-
tions to look up the assessment figures
and report to him in a few days. That
employe, who draws his salary from
the city treasury and not from Walter
Parker, will probably be engaged for
full half day in finding out how
much City Assessor Lewis wants the
Southern Pacific to pay into the city
treasury.
When this employe has concluded his
duty for Mr.. Parker, the Republican
boss will take the figures before the
council, pronounce them outrageous
and name the figure he is willing to
pay.