Los Angeles herald., 1906-07-18
ASSESSOR SCORES
THE ATTORNEYS
BADGERlNG PROGRESSES IN
EQUALIZATION BOARD
Trust, Electric and Telephone Law
yers Appeal for Reductions With
Indifferent suecess-Land
Agent Uses Tafy

''I'm-m-m getting dsgusted with
your r-r-r-ot I'd I'll take off my coat
to you in minute" was City Assessor
Lewis broad Welsh threat to Attorney
Stevens, who appeared before the board
of equalization in an effort to have the
franchise ass ssment of the Los An
geles Trust company reduced from
1921, ,730 to a nominal sum.
Take off your coat" answered At
torney Stevens hotly "mine will come
off, too"
Lewis had his Welsh away up yester-
day afternoon and not only refused to
be badgered by a corporation attorney,
as he expressed it, hut did considerable
baGgering himself. He was especially
rude to Attorney Stevens and Gen.
Wankowski, cashier of the Trust COM
pany, and became so obstreperous that
Chairman Smith was compelled to call
him down."
Tit for Tat
IT was franchise day before the city
board of equalization, and the protest
of the Los Angeles Trust company was
the first to come up during the after
noon session.
Attorney stevens led off with a ques-
ton to the city assessor, but Mr.. Lewis
sidestepped it and asked Gen. Wan
kowski some questions.
"What was the value of the stock of
your company on March II" queried
Mr.. Lewis.
The book value was H." answered
Gen. Wankowski.
We'll, WELL well. I lost money on
that. then" said Mr.. Lewis. Il only
assessed it at 10.
Attorney Stevens then insisted that
Mr.. Lewis answer some questions.
Did you asses the franchise of every
other corporation doing business in the
city?" he asked.
Lewis glared at him for minute.
HostiIities Averted
"What business is that of yours?" he
finally Numbered. 1T is none of your
business who | assessed and how much
I assessed them Pay your taxes like
honest men and attend to your own
business and I'll attend to mine"
Did You tax the franchise of the
drug stores or the grocery stores for the
privilege of doing business continued
Mr.. Stevens, calmly.
"Er-r-r-r r. growle,. the assessor be-
tween his teeth, and then, mockingly
Did you assess a franchise against the
peanut stands on the corner. I'm get
ting llfed OF your r-f-rOt. III minute
I'll take off my coat"
Here Chairman Smith interfered.
I'm the chairman of this board and
as long as I'm in the chair there shall
be no more of his Kind of language.
You will have to be more moderate in
your talk. Thoce people have right
to be here. .If you don't want to answer
questions You don't have to, but you
must be ordinarily polite"
After that evils uDSiQed l.. tile.
Electric and Gas
The Edison Electric company asked
that its franchise reduced from the
assessors figures of $250.000 to 100000,
and the Los Angeles Cas- company
asked for the following reductions.
claiming they had been Disseminated
against: Franchise. $500 900 to $3.50. 900;
boilers, $47,245 to SAL, ,245; electric over
head distributing system, $233,630 to
S142, 500: electric underground distribut-
ing system, $S1,125 to $65.200.
All these cases were taken under ad-
visement and will be acted on when all
the hearings have been held.
The Boards Work
The following We're presented to the
board of equalization:
II. w. Hellman asks for reduction on
Tenth street lot, real estate from
$13,65O to $65OO. Taken under advise
ment. Also for IS feet on Main street
lot real estate from $25,OOO to $12, 900.
Taken under advisement.
H. w. Hellman lot corner Fourth
and Spring, real estate from 100000 to
$250OO; improvements from $4,000 to
$375000. Under advisement
Los Angeles Pacific Railway COM
pany, franchise from $500. 900 to 500, 900.
Set for 10 o'clock Wednesday.
c. A. Lloyd asked for reduction from
$4,000 personal property to nothing.
Granted.
William ]. Edwards asked for reduc-
tion of improvements from 5000 to $3.50.
Granted.
j. Davis asked for reduction of i'm