Morning journal and courier., 1883-11-13
SouruaI sIS Gourisr.
SINGLE COPIES THREE GENTS.
Tuesday November Is. 1888.
A TAxPAYERs' ASSOCIATION.

"A 4AAEA ElE&S' ASSOC1AE1ONs
 During the last three or four months the JOURNAL AND COURIER has repeatedly called attention to the fact that taxes in New Haven are too high and advocated a change. We believe that the best way to bring about 8 change is to elect the best men to city and town offices regardless of their politics. We have been glad to see that this idea has met with the approval of many of the citizens and also of some of tour esteemed contem- poraries. But if we are to have reform it must be brought about by the united action of the heavy taxpayers in New Haven who are most interested in having change. If these gentlemen will move in the matter we assure them of our hearty support. We hope they will do something though, we must con- fess, the signs that they intend to are not yet very numerous or promising.
 The question of taxation is important everywhere and many places suffer on ac- count of excessive taxation. It is interesting to see how the matter has been dealt with by others. A gentleman of this city interest ed in the subject has taken pains to procure the t'articles of association" of the Taxpayers' association of Rensselaer, county, New York, in which county the city of Troy is. This association was formed in 1877. It is joint stock company, and it's object is to prevent fraudulent and excessive taxation to discov- er and rectify fraud or official misconduct, affecting taxation, and to secure the punish ment of those guilty thereof; to prevent by judioious safeguards all fraudulent or exces- sive claims against the county or any muni- cipal division thereof, and the audit and pay ment of such claims; to insure just account ability from all official and private debtors to the county and to it's several municipalities, but not to interfere with any election or it's result, or with any arrangement or faithful conduct of county, city, village or town af- fairs, or any department thereof.
 Any person or corporation liable to taxa ton within Rensselaer, county can become g member of this association by sign ing it's articles. The business of the association is conducted by gene ral committee of- fifteen, who select from their number officers and appoint an execu- tive committee of three. Each member is required to pay on demand to the treasurer of the association for it's use, aRd subject to the control of the general committee, such per cent. of the aggregate amount of the as- sessed property of such member as the gen. eral committee shall require; provided, how ever, that such requirements shall not, in any fiscal year, together exceed one-fourth of one per cent. of such aggregate amount.
 These are the main features of the plan. Concerning what the association has accom- plished Troy banker writes: ''The associa- tien was formed in conssqu ence ot a large increase in the illegal bills annually paid by our board of supervisors. The taxpayers to a large extent signed an agreement to pay pro-rata on the amount of taxes paid by them and thus raised quite 8 large fund. Counsel was employed and experts engaged. All bills were thoroughly examined and per- sons who had collected money on fraudulent ones were punished. The leader, who con. trolled the board of supervisors, was oon- v1cted and sent to State prison. The thieves were aEed and for time our taxes were largely reduced in the county"
 We do not wish to be understood as inti- mating that matters are in ss bad a condition in New Haven as they were in Rensselaer, county when this association was formed. We simply call attention to the association as one of the ways of dealing with the matter of excessive taxation