Los Angeles herald., 1909-08-25
SUBURB READY
TO MAKE FIGHT
ON STATE BOARD
HOLLYWOOD MEN OBJECT TO
ALLEGED METHODS
BOGUS BUYER SAID TO HAVE AP-
PREACHED DE LoNePRE
Now Other Property Owners Claim
That Their Assessment Is to
Tally with His Pura
chase Price
Especial to The Herald

HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 24.-Emissarles
of the state board of equalization nave
been at work in Hollywood, and as
result the value Of the taxable prop
erty in the city is said to have been
placed at almost double the amount
set by Deputy Assessor n. b NaIAeI'
A strenuous effort is being made 10
have the local assessors figures stand,
which will be the cause OF some m
teresting scenes at the meeting Of the
state board next Friday
The agent of the board is said to
have taken figures given by Paul DE
Longpre for his property at the corner
of Cahuenga and Prospect avenue as
a basis for the rise in valuation, all
other property being raised in propor-
tion.
The value of Mr.. De Longpre's prop
erty is said to have been procured IN
this way:
A smooth agent came to Mr. De
T,ongpre's place a few days ago ana
asked to be shown tie place. Mr' l)e
Longpre is a very accommodating per
son and readily consented to take the
gentleman through the place
Asked Innocent Question
After being shown the beautiful art
galleries and gardens, the agent asked
"What do you place the value OF your
property at, Mr.. De LIngpre|
"Two hundred thousand Mr.. De
Longpre is said to have replied. >, 49,.
"AIl right, Mr.. De Longpre," the
stranger said, Il will send my man
around to see the property in a few
days." and departed.
After waiting two days Mr. De
Iongpre went to Los Angeles to try to
locate his purchaser, but instead OF
finding a buyer he learned that the
casual valuation he had given on his
property was being used as basis of
valuation for his property and of all
of Hollywood
AS a result, Philo ]. Beveridge's
property is said to have been placed
at $4,000 above the assessed valuation
and that of J. F. Grass, j. =. BIokaW,
A. u. Taft George II. Stoll, e. c.
Hampton and others in proportion.
Beverldge Is Angry
Philo J. Beveridge lives at Prospect
and Wilcox avenues. When asked
about the state assessment last night
he said:
"I know what the state figures on
my place are and l believe that, II
these figures do not tell al untruth,
the north is trying to put an unequal
burden of taxation On the southern
part of the state.
~ paid $4,000 for my house seven
years ago. 1t is a nine-room house
with plaster walls. The state assessor
has assessed my house at 100000. lie
has assessed my real estate holdings
at my home at $4,000 more, making
a total assessment of $4,000. I call it
an outrage and 1 intend to fight"
A. u. Taft, whose beautiful home IS
ON West Prospect street, said last
night that he understood that the state
assessment had been unusually high,
but declared that he had not been hurt
as seriously as many of The smaller
property holders.
Says Hollywood Is Abused
at appears" he said. THAT Holly
wood is coming in for an uucalled for
hardship. I am not speaking for my
self, but l understand THAI many Of
the state ratings on holders of small
pieces of property have been assessed
far above the market value Of their
holdings"
]. r. Grass. who lives at Prospect
avenue and Pine street, said last night
that he would gladly take $4,000 for
his home place and the state assessors
had placed a value of $4,000 on it.
"I know real estate values here and
what real estate will bring. My house
is assessed at $4,000 and my real es-
tate at $4,000 Ny home place has
been for sale at $4,000 for consider
able length of time, and I would be
glad to accept an offer of $4,000 for
it tomorrow
The people of this city claim that it
is unjust to assess their property on a
basis set by a man whose chief prop
erty value lies i'm fine paintings and
feel that the figures given by this
agent of the state board of equaliza-
tion should not be allowed to stand.
The property Of Hollywood is, as a
rule, assessed according to what prop
erty is selling, and they claim that it
is unjust to be taxed by the state on
fictitious values.