Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-10
All Southern California Is
Thoroughly Aroused
INTENTIONAL DISCRIMINATION
is CHARGE MADE
THIS COUNTY RAISED $4,000, 600
MORE THAN REST OF STATE
Prosecution of Man Who Made Affl-
davlt Against State Board Here
Would Be Welcomed
by Many
TN HE arbitrary manner in

Il state board of equalization,
ruthlessly and without regard to
sworn affidavits and statements
of persons in a position to know
whereof they spoke, increased the
assessed valuation of Los Angeles
city and county property, as well
as property in other sections of
Southern California at its meet
ing in Sacramento Wednesday
has aroused a feeling of disgust
throughout the southern part of
the state.
What steps will be taken in the
matter have not been determined,
but that something must be done
to prevent discrimination against
the southern portion of the state
for the benefit of the north by a
coterie of machine-tied individ-
uals is the general consensus OF
opinion as expressed by large and
small property holders.
Yesterday was a holiday, and plenty
of time was given for study of the
figures which show that the board
raised the assessments of this county
nearly 0,000, 900 more than all the rest
of the state combined.
Pertinent Question Asked
Gwen the most cursory glance at the
figures shows that the board intention
aIlv Disseminated" said one large
property holder yesterday, adding SEN
tentiously, "What are we going to do
about it?'
The holiday also prevented any con-
certed action looking to solutloh OIL
the question and caused postpone.
ment of the initial coherent moveneiniL |
that is expected to follow the board
action. 80,
1t was suggested by several persons
who will take a prominent part in TINS
movement that the carrying out OF the
majority of the boards plan might be
prevented by recourse to lnJunctloll
PROCEEDINGS, but offhand opinions OF
we'll known attorneys are TO the eIlect
that the board is a discretionary pody
end that nothing remained but to COM
ply with the findings.
Future Must Solve Problem
Granting this to be fact, and that Los
Angeles city and county must become Dur-
dened with 1 per cent less than one-quar-
ter of the taxes of the entire state of Call
fornia, steps to prevent future increase
and to secure a decrease, 1t is confidently
believed will be taken.
To bring about this absolutely necessary
and just condition, efforts will be made to
have the county and city represented In the
membership of the board. AT present Los
Angeles county and the city are not repre-
sentcd by a single citizen, although the
boards figures themselves prove the section
to be the richest In the state.
In fact, the entire fourth equaliza-
ton district, comprising twenty-four
counties in the southern portion of the
state, is represented by only one man,
Jeff McElvaine, a citizen of san Ber-
nardino
Would Welcome Prosecution
While many persons express the be-
lief that the attorney general win take
no steps with reference to the board S
affidavit in which Henry Hart, the Los
Angeles appraiser, is accused of per-
jury, others declared they would well
come a prosecution, believing, they say,
that evidence could be produced to
prove Mr.. Hart spoke the truth when
he told the board, while holding ses-
sions in Los Angeles, that he had been
asked to join with other appraisers in
returning distorted and extremely high
appraisements.
Mr.. Hart's statement at that time,
which Is contained in an affidavit, and
which will bear repetition at this time,
is as follows:
81 hereby, of my own free will and
choice do confirm and maintain that
the first figures in my appraisement of
the present market value of the sew
eral properties submitted to me by the
state board of equalization, all such
property being situated in the city and
county of Los Angeles, are as near true
and correct, in my own opinion, as is
possible for me to render and are made
and based upon thorough knowledge
as a bank appraiser in Los Angeles for
twenty years.
Time and Place Given
"And. furthermore, by an earnest re-
ouest from the state board of equaliza-
tion in the parlor of the Hollenbeck ho-
tel Friday, August 27, at 8 o'clock p.
M to the effect that compromise and
get together with and stand with the
distorted and extremely high appraise-
ments on the same property by The
other two appraisers, Mr.. Harpham
and Mr.. Varcoe, and against my better
Judgment and protest. / submitted to
such a compromise, which 1 now re-
gret"
hoard, Messrs. Joseph II. Scott, r, ID.
Collins and Alexander Brown, repre-
(COntlBued on Page Threc)