The examiner., 1885-12-19

their predecessors, uOlnS Just dS they Olu and making few changes in the assessment lists, not withstanding that the original draft of the book was made quarter of a century back; and of course never 'goiDg behind the returns'' as appear on the sworn lists handed in.
 "We can't interfere with a sworn to list even if millionaire puts ill his prop erty for ore doIlar," said an assessor the other day; ''besides we wouldn't if We could go beyond his cath. That would be communistic and we are conservative men and this is a conservative community and with a sniff of contempt he was gone.
 But, oh what eagerness and with what a feeling of duty well performed do they bounce down on the poor workingman who neglected to come f. 'rward with his Sorn list at the time appointed because he could not leave his work even for tue time re- quired to do so. How ser enely the ten per cent. is added to last years as essment and the poor man levied on for an assess ment frequently more than the par value of his little home and homestead. This ten per cent. has been added by every Board for the past ten years as the law directs until now he is assessed. $1, ,45O for an ate that would not bring S1 ,000 tomorrow under the hammer. And this thing exis's to-day here in Ansonia, and an inspection would show the same injus- tice existing in SCOT. of other towns.
 So far has this thing gone, that the only rule governing the assessors seems to be expediency. One of these func ionaries here was asked why he didn't assess the property of the poor man who failed to bring in his list for double it's value as well as at par value, and his reply was, h, he wouldn't sand that; he'd kick" Oh, DO, Ie wouldn't, MT. Assessor, never fear. The wo rkingman of this country hasn' t starved enough yet 10 teach him his rights, much less dare maintain them. But the time is coming, never fear.
 The law directs the assessors to assess all taxable property at a certain percentage of fair market price. By an almost general rule based on the cons..rt of the several towns uniform rate of 66s per cent. has been established. The adoption of this rule arose from the desire of the several towns that each should pay it's just propor- tion of the State tax, which would not be the case if variable standard of assessing were allowed in the different towns.
 The law seems plain and straight for ward, but under it's operation wrongs un- heard of and things abomInable are being instantly done, all on account of the un- certainty surrounding and the latitude allowed in defining "a fair market price,"
 See it's opera ion in the town of Deroy. A rich liquor dealer of the town has a private sidenee for which he has repeat edly refused S10,0O0 and which is only assessed fir S3,OOO, and the owner giumbles a.d gives notice that he V ill ask for reduction of $500 on the assessed value. And he will get it too. By these figures it will be seen it is assessed for 30 per cent. of it's value.
 We l, tn Prosr ect street lives man who owns a little hone on which the bank refused to take a first mortgage for $500, yet it is assessel for S1 200. A fair market price for the place is $1, 300. In this in- stance the assessed value is 75 per cent. of it's real value, or for every dollar of taxes the rich liquo--dealer pays the town of Derby, the mechanic from Prospect street the latter can afford it. But it is not ''equal and exact justice to all men" as the law intends. But you want to build up and make your town beautiful by fine residences, fine lawns, and fine surround ings," say the ass ssor. "and if we assess $1O,OO0 house at the same rate we do a $1 ,500 one, we'll discourage our well-to-do people from building fine houses and they'll go elsewhere to build." This is a free republic; there a'e no classes nor dis functions here; the law is no respector of persons, but this man is, it seems. He forgets his republican training, forgets that law is imparlia ial, fo1gets his oath, and de- liberately overrides the commonwealth, and finds justification for it in a sickly sentimentality. Out on the man
 And the poor mechanic from Prospect street who is thus wronged and cheated will come up on town election day next year, as in the past, and sincerely deposit his b 'llot to perpetuate tue power of this same man and incidentally his own slavery, because, forsooth, his name appears on his regular party ticket. And on that day he is happy, and the liquor-dealer is happy also |!
 As there is Murray Hill in New York, a Beacon H gh's in Boston and a Snob Hill in San Francisco, so in every little village there is an inclination to ape city airs, and all have Hill where the aristoc- racy resides. Here it has been not inap- propriatsly called Quality Hill." The term is of fo: eign origin or extraction and hence the reason for the fitness of appel ation is obvious. This is Ieculiarly blessed section of our borough. It has wonderful sewer which carries off all the refuse of the Hill aud derosits it on ihe common below, where the common folks live. What matter if scarlet fever and other malignant diseases arise from the presidential gases and disease germs thus set loose? What matter if dozen of the children of the common folks die in con- sequence so that Quality Hill and Quality Hill folks do not suffer? None at all. The sewer was great necessity and why shouldn't the public pay for it? Partic- ularly the mechanic from Prospect street.
 Quality Hill has complied with the ideas of the assessor regarding the esthet- ics Of house building, and the latter has faithfully adhered to his platform of village improvement at all hazards, as the assess ment lists show.
 The lord of the Hill gets D per cent. off, the squire 60 per cent. and the ''Squirten 50 per cent. from what the law requires and what wonder they all cry out in unison Hts a jnst and WI olesome law" Then there's the Caste on the Hill How the old hereditary fondness for lord and vassal, and feudal power show forth in the work An, but the moat and bridge, the tower and battlements, avail nothing in America. It would fall, as a master would under 8 shower of paper bullets, and as the Ear Derg" did few years ag'. There are no vassa,s here, only slaves, and slaves make FOOT soldiers and worse friends. But the work is fair to the eye, and smells sweet in the nostrils of the assessors and it is assessed for trife over one-third of it's value. The mechanic from Prospect street will rejoice with exceeding great joy to know this ! our best families must be encouraged to build fine houses on the Hill SO that the beauty of the lawns and the foliage and Ihe picturesqueness of architec- tural style may compensate the poor me chanic for the hard-earned dollars of which he is robbed by this iniquitous system of taxation. ''EXAMINER.'