The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1889-10-12
The High Assessment Humbug.

The High Assessment Humbug.
The ADVOCATE characterized the Carroll
County Republican platform as "a compound
of deception, malignity and envy" These
words were used deliberately, and before this
campaign closes we will establish to the salts
faction of the voters that that characterization
was correct.
The deception" consists in the declaration
that ''the assessment of real and personal
property in this county is greatly in excess of
its saleable value, and that Carroll is the
highest taxed county in the state.
Everybody knows that this section is now
suffering from business depression, and values
are low. This is particularly true of farming
lands and other real estate. On the one
hand, crops are uncertain and prices OF farm
products are low, and farming is not an
enticing pursuit or farming lands an inviting
investment. On the other, people with sur
plus cash prefer to invest in untaxed mort
cages or to speculate in stocks, where dlvi-
dends and gains are more alluring.
Notwithstanding this, however, we assert
that property in Carroll is not assessed IN
excess of its value, real or saleable, and
recent sales bear out the assertion.
The sales reported below were taken from
the files of the ADVOCATE just as they were
printed. and were not selected specially TO
eontrovert the declaration of the Republican
platform. When they were cut from the files
the assessed value of the property was
unknown, and after the assessment was
ascertained none were cast aside, but are
given below:
On January l4th, last, the Emanuel Fisher
farm, containing 1O3 acres, near Linwood,
was sold TO George Erb for $3.50. The
assessment ucas $500.
On January 29th, the VIM. H. Nusbaum
property, in Uniontown district, was sold for
Sl8, 69S. The assessment Iras SO, eos.
On February 9th, the land Of Theodore c.
Shriner, about 154 acres, near Oterdale Mil,
was sold for $3.50. The assessment 'ras 500,
On February 9th, the 48.aere farm Of
Corinda and George Snyder, Westminster
district. was sold for 1855. The assessment
,pas S5O00 This property has been resold
for s, ZOO. and the assessment is S24O0.
On February 9th, the George Mihm farm,
50 acres, near Mt. Pleasant, was sold foi
S997.5O. The assessment 'rGs $3.50.
On March 30th, the Samuel R. Duval land
about 90l acres, near Sykesville, was sold
for $, 627.25. The assessment lras $500.
On March s0th, the Thomas B. BartholoW
farm, near Bird Hill, 49l acres, was sold for
$3.50. The assessment 'ras SIsEs.
On May 18th, the H. Haines property in
Westminster was sold for sl5,slo. Tn
assessment iras s., 500.
On March lth, the David r. Condor farm,
1s5 acres. near Finksbgrg, was sold for
s.. 1895. The assessment Iras S57s5.
On March 23d, the Isaac Palmer farm,
1876 acres. in Taneytowu district, was sold for
So, 300. The assessment ras SSSSo, which
has since been reduced to correspond with
the price.
On March 4ih, house and lot belonging to
the Mi.teu estate, near Westminster, vas
sold for S4s0. The assessment ,eas Saf}.
On March 5tk. the John T. Phillips farm,
SO acres. near Bird Hill, was sold for s2o75.
TAe assessment lras SSSe.
On March eth, the David Humbert farm,
Is9 acres, near Pleasant Valley, was sold foF
S4622 The assessment scas $3.50
On June 29th, farm Of Jesse L. Lester, IS
acres, near Hampstead, was sold for Slsl0.
The aSsscsReH, cas Si0Ss.
On July 9th, farm Of the late Wn. r Cor.
such. Sr.. near Sykesville. was Withdrawn Al
bona fde bid Of ss00Q The assessment is
$3.50.
On August 10Th, the Jacob Nusbaam farm,
ISL acres, near Aayberry, was sold for
Sl7l. TAe aSsesssseat iras S5fG4.
Here are sixteen properties sold within
ten months, thirteen Of which were sold for
prices Adore The assessments, and bat three
brought less With two exceptions the sales
were forced sales The aggregate Of the
sales was S7l ,O9s7i. The aggregate assess
ments was Ssl, $500. These properties,
then, brought ss.57s.5l aboes hs assessed
value at forced sales, and when real estate
values are lower than for some years.
The present assessment was made thirteen
years ago. The assessors were as careful
and discreet men as could be found in the
county, and their returns we're reviewed by
Col John X Longwell, Thomas +. Cover and
Hanson T. Bartholow, the Board Of Review
and Control. Changes in assessment have
been made since, whenever property has
been sold and the attention Of the County
Commissioners called to ii. II property has
sold below the assessment, the assessment
has been lowered; whenever the price has
been considerably shove the assessment the
assessment has been put ap,
That there are inequalities in the asses
meui, no one denies, but that the assessment
of property is above It's saleshle value, Is a
misrepresentation. The Democratic party is
pledged to new assessment Of property
throughout the state. While new assess.
ment would not appreciably affect real estate,
there are thousands upon thousands Of dollars
worth Of personal property that is now an.
taxed, and new assessment is 10 be made
in order to reach it. If the personal property
can be listed and made TO bear its jus, pro
portion of the public burden, the basis viii
be so increased that reduction in taxation
will be made possible