Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1868-03-05
Gronor B. GooDIAsDrn, Editor.
CLEARFiElD, PA.
Thursday Morning, March 5, 1868.
.fssessmrnfs and TaraIton.

Tho table published by tne Oouhty
Commissioners, giving detailed state
ment of the TRIBUNAL Assessment,
should be investigated by all, and the
wrongs (if any, brought to tho notice
of the Commissioners. Our remarks
at this time will be of general char
aotor, dealing in aggregates but at
some future period we will point out
in detail such features in the assess
ments of the several boroughs and
townships as we believe to be wrong.
From some cause or other, whethe.
from design or ignorance, or both,
neither citizens nor officers have here
tofore properly discharged their du-
ties in this particular This we ex-
pect to fully establish before we close
the subject under consideration.
The tricnnial assessment in 1862,
amounted in the aggregate to 81 ,62s,-
600; that of 1865, to sl,s49, 600
being an increase of 1921 900, or about
l3i per cent; while that of 1868,
amounts to So, 2,0O0-the increase
being q little over one million Of dol
lars, or about fifty-fve per cent The
County Commissioners, in adjusting
the valuation of 1865, increased it
26,OOO-making the aggregate 81,
$4,000, or about 2S per cent. How
the assessment of 1862 was adjusted,
and the rate per cent. ut which the
several boroughs and townships were
adjusted in 1865, the records do not
show; but the rate in the aggregate
shows at it was raised over one
fourth. If we add the percentage
(28) that the Commissioners put on
in 1866, and the increase CSC per cent }
that the Assessors have put on real
estate this year, it will be noticed
that the property Of this county has
increased eighty-four per cent. in the
past three years. This fact reveals
one of two things: Either the ASSESS
ments in the past have been too low,
fhe nresent one is too high and
this is the question ior tho proper
officers TO decide.
The assessment Of taxes is but lily
understood. Heretofore, there seems
TO have been desire TO conceal the
real value of property, from the fear
of taxes. The value of the property
makes no difference where the County
Commissioners discharge their duties
properly. We are satisfied that the
real value of the property in this
county is nearer six million, than
two million eight hundred thousand
dollars. To illustrate this statement
practically, we produce the following
figures: BY referring to the last Au-
ditors' settlement, il viii be noticed
that the ordinary expenses of the
county fol- the next year are estima-
ted at s2l, ,605.0O, although the def
cheney is but s6,0s6.l6. This is the
sum that the Commissioners raise for
county purposes from the present
assessment of 1852, 900. Eight mills
on this amount will produce s22 $1,000
more than the amount, and q little
over two mills will make up the def
cheney, s6,0S616. Now, suppose the
property Of the county was assessed
at its real value, (say 5000, O,OO0,) we
need no more tax than above stated ;
yet four mills on this amount raises
1000, while one mill yields Sc, 1000,
nearly the amount of the deficiency.
What is here stated with reference
to the county, will apply to bounty,
school and road purposes The coun-
ty must annually raise 50 many dol
lars Of tax TO pay the necessary
expenses Hence, if the assessment
is low, it will take eight or ten mills
TO raise the amount; but If the prop
erty is assessed at its proper value, il
will only take from one to four mills.
School Directors and Supervisors act
upon the same rule. They want so
many dollars to keep up their schools
and roads, and IL the assessments are
50 low that FIVE or six mills will not
yield tax enough, they put on ten or
twenty mills. We want our people
TO quit making low assessments. We
don't like to hear an Assessor swear
that be will rate property at its bona
fde value, and then return his dupli-
cate TO the Commissioners Office with
il valued at less than one-third. He
makes nothing for himself or his
neighbors. The assessment is made
for this year, but let them do it right
the next time. Heretofore, there
seems to have been prcconcerted &C
tion on the part of the citizens and
assessors TO conceal and reduce the
value Of property; yet, strange as It
may seem, nothing has been gained
by either, besides law and conscience
have both been damaged to a very
great extent. Why assess a farm at
$500, when the owner will not take