Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1868-04-14
The New Assessment Law.
CONCLUp En

oi' my concluding article, and fortu-
nately, perhaps, for am thus per.
mitted to notice the reply of Hon.
George Gary, of Oshkosh, TO ny first
paper, which reply was published in
the State Journal of the LIST instant
Mr. Gary seems to take my STRIFE
lures uyon the new assessment law
much to heart, and to think them
altogether untimely. | am indeed
sorrow to have given him the slight
est otfense in this particular, for
acknowledge i'll him not only an able
leg slator, but true and jealous
friend of assessment reform, q class
of persons who just now deserve to
be encouraged rather than repressed.
Bat, unfortunately, We think, he has
committed him self 10 plan which
have called-the soul Of the body of
the e-rtSting lotc, that seems not alto
gether sound in theory, and of but
little utility in practice, as have en-
deavored TO show.
can see no harm in attacking d
defective law at any time, ~ no re
form is effected without much and
constant agitation OF the subject both
In season andout Of season, if there can
be such thing as being out of seas
on in efforts to work good results in
the public mind. But Mr.. Gary in>
qnres if | will second his efforts to Sc
| cure faithful execution of this law.
and to remedy its acknowledged de,
tects. Certainly, certainly, my dear
slr the latter am now trying to
bring about, am can do but little
beyond my own ia ividual action to
wards the former out to advise.
Conscious that my advice in the
premises will have not the slightest
weight, yet cheerfnlly respond to
bis call. | would urge all, both as
SCISSORS AMI assessed, not only to com
ply with the strict letter OF the law,
but TO 90 hey ond it and endeavor to
carry 1t out in its spirit. I would
urge all, for their own honor and the
honor Of their State, to sink all con-
slderatlons of personal advantage,
and all LEGAL interests, and not only
make tull and fair return of their
property for assessment, but to ac>
qmesce IN It's being appraised accord
ing to It's true value If this were
done the present law, notwithstand-
ing It's defects, would be found to
serve the purpose as we'll as any, and
there would be no occasion to cry
tor reform but query of all queries:
will it be done? And query again,
are we not raising question upon a
matter already settled and against
us, past all hope of change?
This side wind raised by Mr.. Gary
has driven us little out of our lati-
tude; but, having beatings, we will
now trim sails and go on in our
course. Let us inquire, lst, What
are the most important things to be
met and overcome? Cd, How shall
the law be framed 10 best accomplish
this end First, then, it is essential
that all property in every locality in
the State, except such as shall be
! specifically exempt, be assessed at
one CON mon race OF valuation. This
may be at its full value, or it may
not it matters little so long as the
rate is uniform and the work thor
ough. This being done, as a matter
of course there would remain no me-
cessity for the intervention Of boards
of equalization. Under the old, and
IN all probability under the new law
such very desirable state Of case
We're manifestly impossible. Various
causes nave been at work and will
continue to work to baik the just in,
tentions of the law, until some radical
change is effected in our name Of
assessment. Here is the root OF all
the evils attending the execution of
our assessment laws, and right here
we must apply the remedy. The
township and ward assessor system
puts into the field Of operations some
1900 falIibie persons, q large per
centage Of them not capable for want
of proper legal Attachments, of un>
derstanding, or properly constituting
the very complicated and abstruse
law which they profess to adminis>
ter; and manifest majority other
wise disqualified by reason Of pre-
judice, or of want Of a requisite
amount Of fearlessness in the dis
charge If their duties under the law.
The new law proposes to multiply
this unskillfull and homogeneous mass
by three; we venture TO suggest a
better alternative, viz: 81 material
elevation Of the standard of ability
and material reductlon of the force.
Added to the many and serious
evils attending the execution of the
official trusts Of the law, there has
grown up among the mass Of the PEG
pie a very bad conscience connected
witt the return of their property for
taxation and, among the most scru>
pulous, constant balancing of the
demands of justice on the one hand
with the clamors Of self-interest on
the other, is not only permitted, but
openly defended on the ground OF
self preservation This state of de>
moralizationis rapidly growing worse
and seeking to entrench itself and it
can successfully be met in no other
way then by framing a law which
shall commend itself to the best iudg-
ment Of the better class of the PEG !
pie, and fully assure them that by d
cheerful compliance with its pro-
visions they will work no injustice to
themselves. Not only this, but it
should be made eelfsOperatinG and
exacting toward the unscrupulous
and the fraudelently disposed. The
penalties which it may denounce to
! offenders should not as now take the
shape of idle threats. but should fol-
low hard and fast upon the heels of
every offence. One conspicuous ex-
ample Of this kind in every communi.
ty would speedily change the present
aspect Of things in this particular,
| AID thereafter the work Of the asses
sors would grow more and more