Hamilton

This is an original proceeding instituted by petitioner as the owner of property in the city of Los Angeles for a writ of mandate to be directed to Walter Mallard, as city assessor of the city of Los Angeles, and to other respondents as members of the council of said city, requiring the latter to furnish Mallard, as such assessor, certain stationery and supplies mentioned in the petition, alleged to be necessary for his use in the performance of his duties as such assessor and for which he had made requisition, and commanding respondent Walter Mallard as such assessor to perform the duties of assessor of said city.

The proceeding grows out of the fact that, under and by virtue of an amendment to the charter of the city of Los Angeles purporting to authorize such action, the city council adopted an ordinance whereby it was provided that, beginning on the fifth day of March, 1917, the functions of the city of Los Angeles relating to the assessment of property for tax ation should he transferred to, assumed, and discharged by the officer of Los Angeles County performing similar functions in such county, except as therein provided, and that the office of city assessor be vacated and…