Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1852-08-19

UEvcry Tnx-paying, bona-Gdc resi-
dent of Newport, who is at all familiar
with the subject, must be aware that il
is quite tin,e there was an important
aud radical revolution in our mode OF
assessing Taxes. Very great improve
ment has been made tins year, in this re-
spect,-as much, probably, as could be
expected, where so much was necessary
to be done. But very much yet remains
to be performed and we trust that,
another year, three judlcious, fearless
men will be selected for this important
trust, who will legally assess all the cit
iz-ns oi Newport and the Taxable prop
es,y therein, justly, fairly and fully ac-
r0rding 10 their wealth and its value. =
Thu. has not been done ia years past,
and II is no, by any means fully done
now A. b. and g., men who are
worth from two thousand 10 4, n thousand
dollars are in most instances taxed for
the iull amount Of their property
while those who are worth more than
the maximum amount named, are not
Taxed Tor anything near what they are
worth, or what they should pay for, es-
pecinlIy il We regard the matter in an
equabIe and comparative view; we
speak now mainly in reference to those
who reside here temporarily. We know
uen,iemcn here who are worth four
hundred and five hundred thousand dol
l,r., who are Taxed Tor only about two
hundred thousand dollars; then again
we know Of other instances where gen-
t'emcn are oniy taxed for about one.
sixth Of what they are worth. There
Is not single instance where genth
men Who have purchased land here,
within a few years past. and have ercc-
ted or are erecting residences upon il,
are Taxed toe anything like what they
ought to he. They clam their residen-
ces here, and are Taxed here, and they
do not pay Taxes anywhere else, that
H. on personal propcr'y,-although they
only actually reside here for a portion Of
the year still they prefer to be Taxed
here Tor all their property, because their
Taxes arc very much lower, even if
they pay on the whole amount they are
worth, than what they have heretofore
paid IN the cities. But, as they have
thus lar been taxed here, il is a very
i,npo tant consideration for them, as
hey save yearly some thousands Of dol
lars. l, Is urged by some that il we
Tax these gentlemen up to the full
amount, or in that proportion which our
own ci,izens are generally taxed, they
will leave the place and 20 elsewhere
suppose they do we say let them 20
where they can be better suited. We
do not court adventure or speculation /;
ii these gentlemen locate here, It is be.
cause II suits their own convenience,
and not because they are 70 phianthro-
pic that they have a desire to bene6,
the people OF Newport. But this is all
idle talk. II these gentlemen are taxed
as they eugli, To hc, they will not leave
Newport on account OF n,-ior if they
60 elsewhere, they will only fare worse
and he taxed more heavily. We Sim
ply ask for equality in this natter
Tn s- gentlemen are buying lois new
roads are constantly heing opened for
their accommodation and these have to
b. laid out, improved aud repaired, -
and all this greatly increases our Taxcs.
The Town voted five thousand dollars,
Ia the Spring, for the repairs Of streets /;
and nn equal amount Will probably have
to be appropriated yearly, Tor some time
to come, Tor the same purposcs. These
gentlemen are more Immediately bene-
fitted by these outlays than any one
e therefore, we say let them pay
their full proportion Of the cxpcncc, ac-
cording to wi a, they are worth, we
ash Tor nothing more. Tax them up
tulIy Ior what they are reputed 10 be
worth; II they are over taxed, let them
go beiore the Assessors according TO
law, and swear to what hey are worth,
-and then they can only be assessed
for tina, amount, whatever it may be-
Our Tax ,his year 10 nearly twenty five
thousand dollars, the largest Tax by ten
thousand dollars. which has ever been
ordered, "a and yet il will tall 81 ort
about two thousand dollars Of meeting
the cur o. expenses OF the fiscal
year; thss We are yenrly incrcas-
ing our Town debt, notwithstanding the
annual appropriation Of one thousand
dollars which is made toward the liquid
alton Of that debt. Our simple desire
is that the Town debt may be gradual
ly paid IT. aud that the annual Tax
shall b- such as " i'll meet all the neces-
sary expenses Of the government,-and
that thus Tax shnII be justly apportioncd
among all, regardless Of fear or iavori-
tism. OF any kind whatever. In order
that our readers, and especially our
Taxpayers, may see how rapidly our
Taxes are increasing, mainly in consc-
quence the increasing popularity ol
Newport as a fashionable watering
place, we subjoin table showing what
Z ,e Taxes have been for the last twelve
years, this will give clearer and more
"A lrauatc idea of what we wish ~ nc