Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1875-04-07

Woodward =, %; 1905 81 s. " 20 :"
Total ...... o054Si2l,osO s6S
A glance at the above table reveals
the singular fact that not one of those
thirty-three Assessors adopted the
standard of value 1863, fixed by them
selves. Those in Burnside and New
Washington boroughs came within
"onc of it, the former being one dol
lar below and the latter ono dollar
above il, The Assessors in Graham
aud Gulich also came very near the
mark, while those in the townships
marked with ., approximatcd so
close to their standard that tho County
Commissioners did not deem il neces-
sary to change their work.
The extremes in tho boroughs, it
will be noticed, occur in Clcarfield
where the average is s113, and in
Houtzdale at s54, making difference
Of over one hundred per cent. The
board reduced the former thirty three
per cent, making the average s76,and
added thirty per cent in the latter,
making the average $40, A glance
at Burnside and Jordan townships re-
veals n similar inequality While the
one is fixed at only s43, the other is
ss2. making nearly one hundred per
forty per cent. to the former fixed the
value at $50, and by reducing the lat
ter twenty per cent. fixed the average
at $685. and thereby approximate
equality. A great many wise men,
and those too, who DEMAND
EQUALITY in taxation, often insist
that the County Commissioners have
no right TO meddle with the Asses
sors' work. The fallacy of this theory
is fully demonstrated by our table.
Suppose the board had adopted this
view of the case, what would have
been the result ? The county rate is
fixed at five mills. The aggregate
value Of the one hundred and twenty
six taxables in Jordan township is
s10,350, which would make s51.75
county tax, or forty-onc cents for each
taxable, while one hundred and TWEEN
ty-six taxabcs in Burnside would only
pay S27.09, or about twenty-five cents
each. Would that be right As ad.
justed by the board the citizens in
each pay about thirty cents.
We call the attention of the reader
to another freak in the above state
ment Burnside and Chest townships
occur in the table Just as they do up
on the ground-sidc by side-and
have exactly two hundred and fifty
five taxablcs each. Yet, the Assessor
in the former fixes his aggregate valu-
alton at sl0,S70, while in the latter ii
reaches sl5,O55, and if allowed to pass
would entail fifty per cent. more tar on
the citizens of Chest than those in
Burnside.
Again; an investigation shows
that while one Assessor rates and
classifies his occupations in four class
cs 800, $50, $50, and 500, another
equally as intelligent nuts them all
down at $50. II would be lust as
good sense to rate all farms and horses
alike. 1t notorious that the pursnits
and oorningc of mon .aro 40 variod in
value as the property indicated, ard
to assess either at one rate is certainly
compounding nonsense.
More while our people will persist
lin having their occupations assessed NJ
a low rate, they will be compelled to
pay more on their farms and houses
and lots. 1t will be observed that
the aggregate value of occupations is
1921, ,OsO, and al five mills will Weld
little over $4,000. Now, II occupa.
Itions are made to average slO0 or
$3.50, double that sum would bc raised
land our real estate ,cleosed inc, ~ ,ho,
amount ~ Is 'ol'y 10 suppose that Il
u man pays on'y twenty cents on his
occupation, that his taxes are re-