The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-29
A VERY DANGEROUS SCHEME
Serious Complications the Overthrow of
the New Appraisement Will Cause.
Endless Trouble Likely to Result from the
Endeavors of the Democratic Commission
ers to Keep Up a High Assessment.

The Board of Equalization will meet to day,
possibly for its last sitting. Assessor Quill will
be ready for it, with returns of real estate values
in Center township showing the 9,0O0, 600 re-
duction. Taxpayers who have complained of
past appraisements as being unreasonably high
are congratulatinR themselves that at last real
values have chance of reaching u reasonable
basis 1t is the general expression that any in
reference with the work Of reduction, on the
alleged ground that the Board of Equalization
had no right to take such action, will lead to
very serious complications. property owner,
whose opinion can be taken as that of all, said,
yesterday: IF any successful effort is made to
have the board overthrow this second and re-
duced aDpraisement on the strength of the
acting county attorneys opinion, there will be
trouble. The question will be taken immedi-
ately to the courts"
"And if it goes there" listener remarked,
mo one can tell the end. People will refuse to
pay taxes pending decision, and Marion
county will be worse off than with any possible
deficit following reduced duplicate with
limited levy"
"The County Commissioners waived the
limited levy on low duplicate. and conse-
quenty large deficit as campaign cry in the
last township election" said another of the
party. They were badly worsted. for the
people were determined to get low real
estate appraisement Did you ever" he con-
tinued, turning to the reporter, take time to
discover what the largest possible deficit be
with 33-cent levy, under the reductions of
values that are being made2 II not, take the
time, and You can quickly expose the falacy of
n 10 hot lo~ "a
result from the course that is now being pur
sued"
Quill has had only week in which to make
the reductions" another gentleman remarked.
Everything that the opponents of his policy
could do to thwart it has been done. Fortunate
~. majority of the Board of Equalization
sustains him. There must of necessity be some
errors, but none that cannot be speedily cor
rected. If, on the Van Vorhis opinion, the board
listens to the supporters of high apprasemept
and reconsiders its action, there will be such
trouble as one cannot exactly measure just now
AS the appraisement will be satisfactory 10 the
people and one they have desired the board has
no right to interfere with it's completion. Quill
can make his return sufficient for Marion county
to meet the State boards demand, and sufficient
for all legal purposes. After that whatever
errors there may be can be rectifed by the as
SCISSOR. He can make his official and complete
return to the county auditor by Sept /.
That will be delay of only a week or two and
will not embarrass the auditors preparation of
the duplicate. The opinion Of those with whom
l have talked is to let the assessor alone and his
work will pass criticism particularly as it is alto
gether in the interest of low real estate assess
ment"
The assessor himself came into the party at
this juncture and said 'lt is absurd to keep
up fancy real estate prices when every thing else
is lower than it was ten even five years ago.
A man who then got a dollar and half for a
days work finds it hard to get dollar now. He
may own his little house and spot of ground
1t is only short of oppression to require
him to pay taxes on values that ruled six years
ago. The same injustice applies to the well.to-
do and large real estate owners They End
everything else cheap but taxes have got the
appraisment down to the limit of my instrue
TORS and have not had complaint from any
one, rich or poor. Everybody is gratihed at the
result, but if the board follows The VanVorhis
opinion want the people TO relieve me of any
responsibility. It must then go In another direc-
ton"
The auditor has com pleted his footings of the
out-township assessments exclusive of railroad
property. The total taxable value for these
townships, as 1t appears without railroad ap-
praisement. is $l2, 800. TAO. Last year, includ-
ing railroads, for the same townships the total
was $15, 048, 205 Ia round numbers the person
atty OF Center township on the present assess
ment is $15. 600 000 and with the real estate re-
duced to 10000 600 this will present total of
Sol, O0O Assuming that with railroad valua-
tons the out-township aggregate reaches that of
last year-$15, O48, 2Oo-the duplicate of the
county will be, in round numbers, S66, 900, 000
But to give margin. and place it at $67 048, 200
net reduction of IS, ITS, 700 appears from last
years grand total for the county, which WAS $751;
223. 99O With the $4,000, 900 duplicate ane
SO cents levy, $22l, 259 will result for
the county's use. The county expenditures
last year averaged, monthly 500. coo, or 1864. 900
for the twelve months 1t is expected-and
there is no reason why it should not be-the ex-
psnse account will not go beyond 500, 600 per
month or $240, 600 for the year. A deficit in this
of only $40, 600 would occur. which can be early
met by legislation this winter in removing the
levy limit. TheiDterest account is only $44. coo,
which is little more than the assumed deficit
After all, said one conversant with county
finances, when these figures were put to him,
1.-THE county can be in no bad condition with
low appraisement and the limited levy. Let the
reduced appraisement stand"