Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1860-05-03


which l have carefully examined and compared
with the tax list and believe the SAME to be cor,
rect.
From the foregoing, it appears that the amount
Of delinquent taxes i1cluding polls Is SS0.sSs ~
which amount should be charged to the present
Marshal. This embraces all the uncollected tax
es excep those embraced in Mr.. Beehtels list of
unavailable taxes !" Every item which thought
there any chance Of collecting have left in the
Delinquent tar, leaving the present Marshal
to claim credit for VIII tevsr cannot be collected.
respectfully suggest for the consideration Of
the City Council, whether the State Law in rsla-
tion to County collectors requiring duplicate re-
ceipts, er something similar, should net be adopt
cd by the City in the coll sction Of the city taxes
Time employed ~ days ~ per day-$l5.00.
Respectfully Submitted,
WV. BuRRls, Com
May lst, 1860.
Aid Morley moved that the Clerk be order
ed to issue city order to VIM. n Burris, -
compensation for his services in making the
above report Adopted
Board Of Equalization. Referred to Finance
Committee and ordered to be published:
REPORT OF THE EQUALIZATION BOARD"
To the Honorable the Mayor and Alderres Of the
City Of Davenport:
Your Committee, appointed at = regular meet
ing Of the Council held April 4th, 1860, to act as
an "Equalization Board" "to examine all assess
ments, receive complaints correct errors and equal
10 the whole assessment for 1860" have attended
to their prescribed duties and beg leave to submit
the following report
The Board after due notice in the city papers
commenced their sessions on Friday, the 18th day
Of April last, and continued them during fourteen
days. From the assessment roll it appeared that
there had been q reduction upon the valuation OF
1859, made by the assessor, averaging about TWEEN :
ty-fve per centum. Notwithstanding large num-
Der of tax payers examined their lists of property
upon the assessment books, comparatively few
complained of over-valuation. There were alter
atisns made, some of addition an d some Of reduce
tion, still the grand total remains very nearly rs
the assessor made it.
mttee, furnish abundant evidence Of accurate
knowledge of the value Of real property, Of
iDPartiality and untiring industry; and the
Board take pleasure in saying, that they reflect
great credit on Mr. Strong Burnell The assessor
| attended the meetings of your Committee from
day to day, and from his intimate knowledge Of
the value Of city property in the various local-
ties, rendered great aid to them in arriving at
equal valuations.
Your Committee are of the opinion that there
are moneys and credits and other personal proper.
ty in the city not returned by the owners and not
made out under oath. This will always be the
case, unless parties listing property are required
to swear that their lists trLe and wholly true.
Your Committee "having posted and extended
each page and footed up the entire list by letter
separately, find the total valuation Of all the real
and personal property in the city, April ! 1850, to
be three millions five hundred and forty -one
thousand and seventy tn rec dollars (3,54l ,013.
Your Committee beg leave most respectfully to
suggest that the assessment roll before it placed
in the MarshaPs hands, be copied in a clear. leg
ible hand, under the immediate supervision Of
the assessor that duplicate tax receipts be issued
to parties paying taxes, both signed by the Mar
shal and City Clerk, and one of which be retained
by the Clerk for the Of the city. This course
will greatly facilitate the settlement of the ac-
counts Of tax collector or Marshal with the city,
and furnish the city under all circumstances suf-
Committee further beg leave to suggest, the Office
Of Assessor be made permanent and continued.
the city claiming dairy services, - ,-a,s
of property and its owners is almost indispensable
to the city, ia assessing every piece Of property at
its proper valuation, and to the tax collector in
the per. ormance of his duties that he be sup
piled with accurate copies of all recorded pats Of
additions made to the city of Davenport; that ne
should be required hereafter to make list Of Lots
aud Blocks by number beginning with Block No.
l, Davenport; also list OF additions to the city
in alphabetical order. Such list, in addition to
an alphabetical list of tax payers, would afford
great aid to the tax collector, and facilitate the
business of collecting city revenue in all its de-
partments.
The valuation CT property assessed as un-
known for 1866, is three hundred and two thou
SAND. two hundred and ninety five dollars (302,-
1885, The fact itself is sufficient to satisfy
your Committee that the Assessor should be a.
perman nent officer, on duty every day in the year
finding out the real owners Of this large amount
of property, and thus reducing the delinquent list
to small sum. Under the present system, the
Assessor is net allowed sufficient time for the
work deman:ed OF him, and the consequence is,
an immense unknown list Of real property, and
the non assessment Of large amounts Of moneys
and credits.
Your Committee are aware that the above sug.
gestions were not called for by their Commission
er still they presented themselves forcibly to the
consideration of the Board during its sessions and
arising out Of the examination Of the Assessors
books, they feel confident that the Council will
receive them as they are made in good faith, and
take such action as they may think the subjects
demand. All Of which is respectfully submitted.
WILLIAM ALLEN,l
W. BuRRIs. Committee.
H. RAAAlNG.)
Aid. Ramming offered the following:
Resolved. That so much of the report Of the
Board of Equalization as relates to the dupli-
cate tax receipts. be referred to the Committee
on Ordinances, and the same is hereby instruc-
ted to report at the next meeting Of the City
Council an ordinance in compliance with the
suggestions Of sald Board Of Equa lization.
Adopted.
The committee to whom was referred the
matter Of ascertaining the whereabouts Of the
stock Of the city in the O. 4 R. l. railroad and
NJ 4 N. railroad, asked further time. Granted.
Aid. Morley offered the following:
WHEREAS. On examination we find that the
delinquent tax iist Of 1859, amounts to over
$4,000. Now 10 the present financial condi-
tion Of this city, it is very Important that this
tax be collected. Now be it
Resolved, That the City Marshal be and be
il hereby instructed to proceed forth with TO
collect the delinquent tax as the Law directs.
Adol ted.
Aid. Morley offered the following:
Resolv.d That the City Marshal be and is
hereby instructed to employ Ar. G. w Vsrdsr
as Deputy Marshal and Collector, and for such
services rendered, said Verder shall receive
one dollar and fifty cents per day, commencing
from April l1th, 1860.
Aid. Ellis moved to amend 90 90 to make the
compensation Of Deputy Marshal one dollar
per day. Lost.
Resolution adopted.
Aid. Morley offered the following:
Rssolsed, That the City Clerk be and he 10
hereby instructed to make . full and perfect
copy of the Assessors tax book for the year
1860. the said copy to be approved and ac-
cepted BY the City Assessor and City Marshal.
And be il further