Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-01
STATE BOARDS
METHODS SHOWN
AFFIDAVIT CHARGES ATTEMPT
TO RAISE FIGURES
County Assessor Hopkins Addresses
Board and Gives Figures to Show
What Taxes Southland
Pays
tcontinusd from Page Ono,

Forthcoming.
Mr.. Garland of the realty board went
to the home of Mr.. Hart and obtained
an affidavit which caused the real sem
sation of the meeting.
The letter of Mr.. Hart which caused
the great surprise was as follows:
To the State Board of Equalization:
1 hereby, of my own free will and
choice, do confirm and maintain that the
first figures In my appraisal of the pres
emit market value Of tho several proper
ties submitted to me by the state board
of equalization, all such property being
situated in the city and county of Los
Angeles, are near true and correct,
In my own opinion, as is possible for mo
to render, and are made and based up
on a thorough knowledge as a bank ap-
prRiser In Los Angeles for twenty years.
And furthermore, by an earnest re-
quest from the state board of equallza-
tion In the parlor Of the Hollenbeck
hotel Friday, Aug. ~, at p. m. to the
effect that l compromise and get to-
gether with and stand with the dis
tOrted and extremely high appraisements
on the Same property by the other two
appraisers, Mr.. Harpham and Mr.. Var
CpCe &hu my juubhShh
and protest. 1 submitted to such q
compromise, which now regret.
HENRY HART.
Brown cried out that such letter was
lie and false in every particular and
that the board did not use any infiu-
ence to have Mr.. Hart change from
his original figures.
Controller A. B. Nye stated that he
was sorry that Mr.. Hart had written
such a letter, but that 1t was appre-
ciated by the Los Angeles county dele
CATION was evidenced by the applause
that ensued when Mr.. Garland had fin
ished reading.
Chairman Brown then demanded the
affidavit, but Mr.. Garland replied that
he did not know whether he would give
1t to the board.
County Assessor Hopkins arose to
the occasion at this point and stated
that he would have copies of the affi-
davtt made and give the original to
the state board for future reference.
The reading of the letter and the ar
gument took all the spice out Of the
meeting, and half an hour later the
board OF equalization adjourned, to
take UP further consideration at the
meetings to be held in Sacramento,
when the real work of the state tax
apportionment will be decided
County Assessor q. w. Hopkins was
the real cross examiner during the
morning session, and by his questions
sought to show that the appraisers Sc
lected by the state board were not
competent to judge Of property valua-
tions. He was ably seconded by the
Los Angeles realty board and a num-
ber of persons were called to testify
under oath that the land valuations
were excessive.
Real estate men and property own
ers from Pasadena, Long Beach and
Hollywood were called and, in every
case, the witnesses agreed that the
valuation was excessive.
Mr.. Harpham and Mr.. Varcoe, two
of the men selected by the state board
of equalization to assess values, testified
that the figures they had submitted
were fair and equitable, but the wit
nesses called disproved the statements
and Mr.. Garland of the realty board
went on record as saying that he chal-
lenged the opinion of the two members
and expressed surprise that Mr.. Hart
after submitting minority report, was
Influenced to change his figures from
a low point, to what he termed an
"exorbitant valuation"
County Assessor Hopkins, In his
questioning, sought to show that the
work of appraisal had not been done
properly and was successful in elicit
ing the information that most OF tho
appraising was done by means of tele-
phone instead of a personal inspection.
Mr.. Hopkins also contended that the
appointees of the state board were not
qualified to furnish proper land figures,
and that the report should be dis
credited.
Chairman Brown then gave an idea
of the method of the state board by
saying that entire dependence was not
placed on the appointed appraisers and
that others were appointed, to CLEAN
information, who kept their work
secret.
Mr. Harpham admitted that he placed
values on property that he had not
seen and Assessor Hopkins made the
remark that he believed most Of the
work was done by hearsay, in spite
of the large salary that was supposed
to have been paid for conscientious
work.
Assessor Hopkins argued that a SER
ious mistake had been made in ap-
pointing appraisers who were not quail
fled to perform the work and ridiculed
the plan of having the three members
effect a compromise in order to as
certain a figure of valuation for Los
Angeles property.
That the result of yesterdays meet
ing will mean a bitter fight before the
final announcement of the state tax
levy is made is certain, but George M.
Black of the realty board grasped the
opportunity offered by State Controller
A. B. Nye and stated that he would
forward a minority report in order to
have the state board made aware of
the real financial conditions.
Mr.. Black argued that at present
real estate business was at low ebb
and had been for more than three
years, and that sales made during the
present time for cash resulted in a
real financial loss.
The members of the board, evidently
perturbed, concluded their work in Los
Angeles at p. M, and left last night
for Sacramento where consideration Of
the valuation of northern counties
will be taken up.
In an interview before leaving Los
Angeles, Chairman Brown said: 1--WE
always have this same trouble. Per-
sons do not realize that our only OBJ
ject is to attain an equitable division
of the tax rate.
1--WE have to employ secret methods,
else We could not reach real facts. 1t
has been strenuous work in Los An
geles, and we expected to meet with
much opposition. We will digest the
facts at Sacramento and, although the
taxpayers of Los Angeles county OBJ
ject to such high valuation, we will
endeavor to give each county square
deal.
att was amusing to listen to the