Los Angeles herald., 1907-07-17
ASSESSMENT
WILL STAND
SUPERVISORS ACCEDE TO
WARDS FIGURES
LOCAL CORPORATIONS WILL
HAVE TO PAY
Twenty-Five Per Cent Cut Made in
. Favor of State Corporations.
Assessor Pleased at
Outcome

Compromise was the watchword of
the last session of the board of equal
ization yesterday. Supervisor Eldrldge
insisting that compromising was the
only method by which the great volume
of business could be finished
So well did the compromise work
that the board allowed a horizontal re-
duction of 25 per cent on all state fran
chfses, which were defined as franchises
to be, meaning the right to exist con-
ferred by the state when articles of in
corporation were filed.
Only in rare instances were the as
sessments on city or county franchises
Interpreted by the wise ones to be
franchise to do, reduced. One notable
exception to the rule was on the appli-
cation of the Edison Electric company,
assessed at $1,006,000, which figure the
company modestly asked be reduced to
100000. 1t happened TO be the last of
the applications to be considered, and
Supervisor Wilson moved that the ex-
ira $4,000 be dropped, making it an even
million.
After the motion to adjourn had been
made Assessor Ward asked for an op-
portunity to make one more remark,
saying:
Ward Extends Thanks
Gentlemen, want to thank you for
the couretous treatment you have ac-
corded me all through this equalization
business.
TT has been hard work for all of us,
and before 1 go home tonight 1 want to
Say how we'll pleased I am with the re-
suit of this business. We have done as
well as anyone could do under the cir
cumstances, and 1 think the people of
L. IL
"And I want to say to the assessor"
Chairman Patterson replied, for my
self, and 1 think 1 can speak for the
rest of the board, that we, too, are
gratifed with the results.
Not for ten times his salary would
I have Mr.. Wards position; it is one of
the hardest to fill in the whole county,
and no one could do it SO we'll as our
present assessor"
All day the supervisors had worked
over the final adjustment of the many
reductions asked, Eldridge taking the
lead and suggesting most of the few
reductions that were allowed. In this
matter 1t is necessary to compromise
was the gist of the opinion of the
supervisor from the third district.
Here is deputy assessor on one
side claiming something directly op-
posite to what the property owners say
sSN~
is right?
"The only possible method is to meet
both of them half way and get the mat
ter closed"
4 Wilson agreed with Eldridge and sec
n ided his motions with clock-like
&llarity, Chairman Patterson usually
s'yPting with them. Manning and Alex
ahder voted against most of the re-
Guctions as a matter of principle.
Railway Agent on Hand
Tax Agent DeCamp of the Los An
geles- Pacific was on hand early and
succeeded after long argument in hav-
ing the assessment reduced from
sS22,6s6 to $654,955, Eldridge claiming
that the deputy had been unreasonable
in a matter of machinery, which the
supervisor thought was mostly junk.
Eyes but that is the only kind they
claim to have at any time" interjected
Ward. "I wonder how they carry so
many passengers with such scrap iron" ="
Then followed the attempts of Ed
ridge and Wilson to allow a reduction.
Alexander and Manning voted mo"
Eldridge and Wilson yes" After con-
sidering the matter few minutes
Chairman Patterson voted with the
ayes, and the reduction of $167,731, the
largest during the day, was carried.
The Solid Three
"The solid three wins again." re-
marked Eldridge, to the amusement of
the spectators.
The Southern Pacific Arcade station
property was cut to 100000 from
$24O, 900 because of double taxation OF
trackage.
Among the other reductions were the
following:
Pacific Electric company Alameda
street property from s150,OO0 to $1SS,-
600, to correct a clerical error.
The Amalgamated Oil company, as
sessed $1000,000 on franchise alone,
made no contest.
Union Hardware and Metal company
from $3S8,000 to $2SS,000.
Hamburger company property from
S67O,O0O to $544,000, another correc-
tion. Franchise from $4SS5 to $1OO
with Ward sSconsent
Whenever the subject of franchise
assessment came up it was moved to
cut it 25 per cent as agreed, no discus
sion being made.
The board will meet to draw UP reso-
lutions and sign the rolls this morning
at Q.30