The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-12-20
ASSESSORS HARD AT WORK.
The New Assessment ID be Completed
in About six Weeks.

/
| in About six Weeks.
The city assessors are busy at WORK assess
ing real estate. and it is expected now that
the assessment will be finished by the last OF
January OF first Of February. As the taxes
are TO be laid on the marketable value OF
property, the assessment will be closely
scrutinized by the council, and especially so
as former assessments have been made at
the rate of two-thirds Of the marketable
value. 1t is claimed by many that if all
taxable property is reached, the rate OF
taxation will not necessarily exceed per
cent.
A member Of the city council claimed
last night that, Of the eleven members Of
the board, majority will favor complying
with the supreme court decision, and the
legal advice OF the corpora don attorney on
the passage Of the new tax ordinance.
Another member, without attempting to
say how the council will stand on the ques
ton, favors dividing the several species of
Ins;Pnt5 into into classes as &c. Tor
SO on, and putting a different
rate on classes, holding that this would not
conflict with the decision OF the su-
preme court, and would enable the council
to avoid fixing as heavy a rate of taxation
on capital and stock in trade, and then, If
any should resist the collection OF the tax.
an appeal could be made TO the courts. and
1t would be ew case, and not parallel
one with the Verdery case
The suggestion of Mr.. R. d. Gusrard, at
the coAfsi ence the meeting Wednesday
night, that assesso s should be appointed to
assess personal property, much of which
escapes its share Of taxation. seems to meet
with approval.
A Congress street business man estimated
affxnf Nha&f Gail -.
sopal property listed for city taxation is
returned too low. and that if properly re-
turned 1t would not only make a much
better showing for the city, but the rate Of
taxation would be much less, aud the
specific tar, which is an embasgo,
could be materially reduced or
altogether abandoned. He argued
that 1t should not be the policy of city to
charge its merchants specific tax to do
business. but that the mercantile trade
should be encouraged. He admitted that
the city is growi Ig beyond the ability of
the council to keep pace by provi ling the
necessary public improvements for which
taxes are laid, police projection, sewerage,
paved streets. an effective fire DEPARTING It,
and water system. aud street illumination,
and as taxes are already high anything that
tends 20 increase them is looked upon with
disfavor. But the council, he said,
must have money, and If it will be as
searching in its effort to reach personal
property as it is 70 reach real estate, it can
get the money, aud at the Same time dimin-
ISL the rate OF taxation. Real estate cannot
hide away, but shows for itself, whereas
personal property can and does conceal
itself from the tax assessor.
There has nothing yet come of the tax
payers conference. Alderman Myers,
chairman Of the finance committee of
council, said last mig 1T that he has had no
official notice yet that a citizens COM
mittee has been appointed to confer with
the finance committee.