Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-07-26
MEANS MONEY
TO SAN PEDRO
CONSOLIDATION WILL REDUCE
TAXES IN SEAPORT
FREE HARBoR WILL BRING MORE
REVENUE TO CITY
Secretary of Consolidation Committee
, Points Out Advantages to Resi-.
dents by Union with
Los Angeles
Especial to The Herald. ]

SAN PEDRO, July 25.-The telling
speech made last night at the CONSOLE
dalton rally at Wilmington by Secre-
tary A. P. Fleming of the Los Angeles
consolidation committee, in which he
showed by figures the disposition of the
revenue derived from the wharves and
commerce of San Pedro, made interest
ing reading for the citizens and voters
here today. Many comments have been
heard on the street from those who
realize the enormity of the fact that
with $4,500,000 expended here by the
people through United States govern
ment work, the corporations have, ac-
cording to the value set by the city
of San Pedro, Wharves costing but
$1S7 1850 and the revenue to the public
is only $4120 annually, while the cor
porations have collected from the pub
lie $483,89 net.
at has long been admitted here that
the revenue which should have come
from grants, leases and licenses along
the harbor would have maintained the
city government here, even with the
expensive administration Of present
years and excessive printing charges"
p. d. Seward, secretary of the CONSOLE
dalton committee, said today. "A
few years ago a low assessment value
was placed on the property of this city
and low tax rate was made. The
revenue derived was deemed sufficient
for the needs of the city government.
Taxes Are Raised
Another administration came in, ex-
travagant IDEAS and wasteful methods
were employed and the assessor made
wholesale raise in values not justified
by the market values of the property,
which in many cases nearly equaled the
value put on by the assessor.
with the unanimous protests Of
property owners still ringing in their
ears, it was thought that a reduction
in the assessment roll should be made
this year by the trustees. In other
cities of the fifth class the assessor
receives no instructions but is by law
his own dictator of the values of prop
erty for the assessment roll.
AT a recent board meeting Trustee
Foot brought up the question Of reduce
ing the assessment roll, but was has
tily informed by Mayor Walton that
the trustees had nothing to do with
this.
1.-THE juggling of affairs connected
with this city has been commented on
by taxpayers not only here, but else
where, and the only relief the citizens
now see ahead of them is by making
one fell swoop and on August IL voting
to let the failures and shortcomings
og bygone years be forgotten in the
dazzling prospects of a brilliant future
for this city and habor which will
come when the union with Los An
geles is effected.
Union Means Prosperity
"Trivial though the local affairs be-
come when the great future of this
harbor is pictured and fully realized,
the pocketbook of the average citizen
is closest to him oftentime, but the
history of the past few years of this
city and the probable history of the
next few, should consolidation fail and
the Same rule remain, is such that from
even the most petty, narrow minded
selfishness the taxpayer must realize
that consolidation means cheaper liv-
ing more work and more money, better
wages and better living, and an in
crease in the value of the little home
place which has been purchased by
years of skimping.
ut Is these voters as well as the
more far sighted ones who will August
~ make a great step forward here, and
all the conniving, threats end undue
influence of the liquor or corporation
interests will avail naught against the
conscience of the voter and best well
fare on that day"