Morning journal and courier., 1882-01-19
JournaI auO Uourier.
ThursIa4 Noriiing. Jan. 19. 1882.
The General Assembly.

A Matter of Interest so New Haven Tax
 payers - Sundry Bills Presented and
 Referred-The Senate Adjourns Until
 Next Week.
 HARTFORD, Jan. IS, 1882. Especial cores ondence of JOURNAL CoURIER.]
 The early train from New Haven and the south this morning brought large number of legislators, and when the Senate and House called to order most of the members were in their seats. The third house has been very smly attended thus far, owing doubt to the fact that the committees are not yet in working order and but very few bills have been considered
 This afternoon the Judiciary committee had hear. ing in the waiting room adjoining the Senate cham Der on the bill increasing the powers duties Of the New Haven Tax Collector and giving him power city tax collector to collect all town and school taxes, thereby doing away with the necessity of election on three separate and distinct tickets Judge H. B. Stoddard as Corporation Counsel appeared be- fore the committee and explained the proposed bill il detail He said there urgent necessity that the bill should pass promptly. There was good deal of talk about taxes being uEcolected and uncol lectabe. It is now proposed, continued MT. stod- dard to make the city, town and school district col l'ctor one and the There about $29oOOO of collected taxes in New Haven, and it is estimated that $240 900 of this amount is collectable liens under the law of 1879 cannot be continued be- yond six years, and it would that there urgent need of prompt action to save these taxes to the city, town snd school district. While the present tax col lector collects all the taxes yet there an attempt to hold the collector personally respons- ble for the collection of these taxes The taxes ca- not be collected in New Haven or Hartford as easily in smaller towns. The bill also provides for the election Of collector for two years, the Hartford. There may be constitutional objection to this but know Of It is also proposed to make the allowance for clerk hire S2O00 instead Of S2OO as at present. two clerks being required to do the work. The law also gives the collector power to discharge liens. Another section provides that the collector may proceed through the Corporation Coun- sel to collect the taxes provided in the act and such action may be brought in the of the col lector. Another provision is that when taxes easements remain unpaid for year the collector shall turn the taxes to the Corporation Counsel for collection Another section provides for the pay ment of reasonable compensation to the Corporation Counsel for clerk hire, provided that the compensa- tton of the Corporation Counsel shall not exceed $1, ,000 per for services and expenses; and, provided further that the term of the Corporation Counsel shall not extend beyond January, 1885. He thought by that time all these old snags could be got out of the It was, however, almost impossible to tell what the Corporation Counsel would have to do to tell exactly what his compensation ought to
  bills to taxpayers shall be borne by town and city instead of by the collector of taxes, at present it also provides that percentage shall be paid to the collector amounts collected by the Corporation Counsel in due proce>s of law Another section provides for the publication of all persons who fail pay their taxes the space year. with the amount due from each. Again it is pro- vided that the collector may strike from his books all taxes that absolutely uncoectable, such tn of rho 7 State
 MT. Fox, member of the House from New Haven appeared before the committee and saii 1T have not had much time to examine this bill, I have not it until o-day. The bill provides, as read it. for wholesale foreclosure of all tax liens the property of the citizens of the city and town of New Haven without any discrimination. It seems to me that this would be unwise at this time, as it might work great hardship in many We all know that during the last few years the great depreciation in the values of real estate owing to the stagnaion of business has caused many mechanics and laboring who had little holnes some with mortgages on them, to fail to meet their taxes. But now busi has revived and there is prospect of increase in the value of real estate it will be for the interest of these parties pay of the taxes their property and the tax collector in the ordinary way collect them. In any event the city cannot lose anything because where there are liens property the city is privileged party has the right of way all other claimants. Those who acquainted with real estate know that banks make 1t custom when they hold mortgages, to require statement from parties to how much taxes are due upon the property when the interest ia paid that the banks will not let their equity be used in accumulated taxes. The claim is that some men who can well af- ford to pay their taxes let their liens stand because the interest is not much they get for their money. The banks have plenty of money to loan good security for less than is charged en tax liens It would be great hardship in New Haven to bring foreclosures on $3O0,0OO worth of property when there pressing necessity for it, and when know that during the past ten years the rnents and pavements have been arge which many were not prepared to meet It is said that of these tax liens will expire by limitation. If this is it would be much better to pass act val ida' ing them extending the time for their coea tion
 The further hearing was adjourned until at week.
 Following is summary of the business in both Houses to day.