The San Francisco call., 1909-11-20

<kTHE assessments of some is
counties was increased, among
y which was the county of Los
ys1Eeles and a great
noise was raised. It reminded one Of
the old story Of the farmer when he
learned that the French restaurant
keeper desired a daily supply of frogs
for his table. The farmer agreed to
supply the want and saw great visions
Of wealth. for he knew of a pond lit
orally filled with frogs judging from
Che noise they made.
The farmer set to work on the pond
and after he hsd captured one big fell
low the noise ceased. All the noise
had been made by one big bullfrog.
The great hue and cry in Los Angeles
was made by a few tenderfeet and a
dozen or so real estate boomers. The
state division convention died a-bornin'.
The state is still intact.
we desire 10 say that the majority
of this board are satisfied with the re-
liability Of the equalization data Sc
cured: that the raises given the differ
ent counties were homeopathic; and
we give notice right now that equali-
cation will take place in 1910, and that
any county not up TO the so per cent
standard viii be put there by the state
board OF equalization"
Spanking for Los Angeles
Such is the positive tone of a frank
and decided letter issued to the public
by the state board Of equalization yes
terdsy. Los Angeles county, whose
assessment was increased 80 per cent
by the board. is 5oIlied- frowned upon
aud finally spanked by the equalizers.
Isan Francisco county, which took
ANAL increase in assessment value
without a whimper, is pstted on the
back and given a heart to heart talk.
in conclusion the whole state is as
sured OF square deal for each county.
our action regarding Los Angeles
county" the report humorously recites,
called down upon the heads Of the
members Of this board dire vengeance.
A great huTabaloo was raised. 1t was
2 tempest in teapot
A list OF IS probate sales in Los
Angeles county that the board found
had netted s240,s26 were assessed for
ss3.2s0, 81 per cent Of the actual value
az the property, the report declares.
Thirty-one sales of the Lucky Bald
win estate property netted s142.ssO,
while the assessment was $5s.345, or SO
per cent OF this
The Southern Assessments
From Los Angeles title and abstract
bureaus the board got list OF sales
ssgregating Ss4s,224, upon which the
1909 assessment was for s3It,140, or 81
per cent. In the list of small sales the
sale value aggregated ssO,527. and the
assessed value was 2S16 per cent of
this In Pasadena property sold for
s8ss.sO0 was assessed for t14s,2O5, or
36 per cent And for streetcar lines
Los Angeles was assessed at the rate
Of only s25s2o per mile at an average.
while san Francisco traction COM
panies pay sss.2Os per mile.
The assessed value Of Los Angeles
eight best hotels. $4,000, was
compared with the assessment of
81 coo 900 the st. Francis hotel
oheerfully admits. These hotels
Save 1900 rooms, while the St
francis has but 500 Los Angeles as
sessment Of s2.s77 per front foot of
her best business property the board
compares with San Francisco's 1854
per front foot and Sscramento's 81 900
Of the southern city "an insult to the
Intelligence Of this board"
Percentages of Increase
The percentages of increase cast
this year may appear large in the
minds Of those not used to percent
age table" the equalizers explain. "and
perhaps should be given a short ex-
planation. The thought is common that
when q county is said to be assessed at
20 per cent II requires only 20 per
cent 10 bring it up to so per cent. But
that is in error. In percentage 100 is
the basis. and county assessed at
full cash value" is assessed at 100 per
cent Hence, a lot assessed at 30 per
cent Of its cash value is assessed for
$40; thus. to raise that lot to so per
cent or $50 requires a 50 per cent in
crease.
Los Angeles county was raised 20
per cent Without equalization this
year the state rate would have been II
cents and 4 mills; after equalization
The rate was lowered to Ss cents and 4
mills. After equalization Los Angeles
county VIII pay as state taxes $2,1e5,
os5; without equalization she would
have paid sl776,342. Therefore the
cfunty is called upon to contribute
anly s3sS,7as additional. or about 81
eents for each inhabitant of the
eounty."