The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-08-27
STATE fQUALlzERS
AFTER TAxDODGERS
Board Intends to Raise Assess
ments in Several South
ern Counties
Los Angeles Heads Hosts That
Will Resist Expected
Big Raise


that they would accept the ratings of
the local assessor.
The Independent inquiries have brought
4 forth surprising results in this section.
Orange and walnut land has been car
ried on the roll for far less than the net
profits Of single season. The tussle
with Los Angeles Will come next Tues
day, when County Assessor E. w. Hop
kins will appear before. the board rein
forced by representatives of the cham
Der OF commerce and the realty board
and supported by agents of the SO mu-
inequalities in the county.
4 will resist any attempt to advance
my figures said County Assessor Hop
kins this afternoon. Il have based all
my valuations on a SO per cent basis.
They are just and equitable and need
no revision"
The chamber of commerce has also
taken up the matter. President Willis
II. Booth has been in consultation with
Assessor Hopkins and a general plan
of defense viii be formulated.
Must Order Increase
The state board, on Hopkins own
statement, must, to adhere to its own
rule, order an increase. There is full
and sufficient reason for the belief,
however, that data will be obtained to
show that Hopkins assessment is
nearer a 40 or IS per cent basis than
so per cent.
We can not say what we will do in
the case of Los Angeles" said Chair
man Brown of the state board. We
have estimates that have been made
for US by experts and we will compare
these with the figures of Mr. Hopkins.
We will not get around TO Los Angeles
county until Tuesday Tomorrow will
be taken up with Santa Barbara and
Ventura. We have figures from the
commercial organizations OF Ventura to
show that the assessments there are
woefully insufficient
Where we were unable to get the
realty boards or the chambers of COM
merce to cooperate, with us we have
sent agents OF our own to gather data.
We have much Of this on hand which
viii assist US in arriving at the truth.
Our aim is merely 10 place all the coun-
ties on an even so per cent basis"
Put Up Vigorous Fight
The efforts of Los Angeles to prevent
an increase have been of the most Wig
orous. The state board had three men
in the field gathering independent fig
ures. Two of these were in harmony
and showed valuations far above the
county assessor. The third by re-
markable series of condolences, has
gone up ana OONn Win the county as
SCISSOR. The figures have not been di-
gested and their exact import has not
been determined.
From the data gathered in the other
counties by the people themselves it
would appear that Orange county, San
Bernardino and Riverside are far be-
low standard in the official valua lions.
A striking case of undervaluation in
Ventura county is that of the vast
Schiappa Pietra estate. The $1,5oo,000
IN real estate has, been carried on the
books by the county assessor at only
81 per cent Of the valuation of the
superior court. Although this is a dis
crepancy Of glazing proportions. there
are many of similar size to be revealed.
The state roll. as il now stands,
shows a total of 1895, 747.41s in as
sessed valuation. To raise the revenue
required would mean a tax rate of Ala
cents. However, by the time the board
completes its labors, II the advances
said to be impending are made, this
rate may be cut down materially.