Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-19
MAKING A BIG FIGHT.
Great Opposition to an Act That Is
Before the Legislature.
BILL FOR A BOARD OF REVISION
Combatted Because 1t Is Claimed to Be
Special Legislation.
OTHER CHARGES BROUGHT AGAINST 1T

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Legislature at this session for the creation
of a board of revision to equalize assess
ment of taxes in this county, and on JAN
uary % Mr.. Nesbit introduced the bill. 1t
emerged from the Ways and Means Com
mittee on February %, and was somewhat
amended on second reading on March II.
The bill comes up this week for final action,
and Representative John Kearus, o. the
Fourth district. is making fight against
it The grounds of objection are thus
stated by Attorney W. j. Bren-
men: The opponents of the bill
claim that while they admit the necessity of
some such revision. yet the three officers
proposed will be county officers and must,
as such, be elected by the people, whereas
the bill provides that they are to be ap-
pointed by the Court of Common Pleas,
thus dragging the Judiciary into politics.
Too Much to Put on the Judges.
They argue that the people are more COM
petent to pass on the qualifications of the
members of the board of revision than the
Judges are, and that the latter should not
be unnecessarily charged with duties not
judicial. They further hold that the scope
of the bill is such that it leaves the Office of
County Commissioner sinecure, notwith-
standing that the salary therefor has been
largely increased. Tine opposers of the bill
contend that the County Commissioners
have power to depute a competent man to do
ali proposed by the bill in the way of get
ting data for equalizing purposes, and at a
much less cost than SIS, 200 year, which
they estimate as the cost of maintaining the
board with its salary of 1000
for each member, clerks, Office appoint
ments, etc. They say the Supreme Court
has decided that county officers must be
elected by the people, and that the proposed
revisionists will be county officers. They
cite the case of the Common
wealth versus Taggart, where the Su-
preme Court so decided, and that in
which Judge Collier decided that the Cor
oner had no power to appoint deputy, the
case of Robert Berry, late Deputy Coroner.
Claims of Special Legislation.
It is also contended that, as the act only
affects counties containing over 500, 900 inhab-
1tants, and as there is bnt one such county
legheny-Philadeiphi county being
already similarly provided before the adop.
ton of the Constitution of 1874-the pro-
posed act is substantially special legislation
brought about in a roundabout way. Rep
resentative Kearns will again attack the bill
on final passage and there is a prospect of
some fun.
Most lawyers found were disposed to
fight shy of expressing an opinion. w. S.
Nesbit stated that on its face the bili seemed
to be open to the objections above preferred,
and so did Joseph HAYS.
W. W. Thomson refused to express an
opinion, as he said he had not examined the
act and had not time to do SO then. He
could not be induced to put his thinkin.
cap on, but whether he was too much inter
ested in the movements of the Y. NJ. r. I.
c., which was just then forming in the rear
of brass band preliminary to a trip to Gin
cinnatI, was not developed. He was travel
ing at the time in the direction of the club
rooms.
Judge Fetterman refused to 90 on record.
but seemed to think that the bill would hold
water, while S. B. Donaldson thought it
c. w. Scovei refused to pronounce an
opinion in the absence of the bill for exami-
nation. He said he would want to examine
its repeating clause and its scope generally.
The Act ConsiderabIy Amended.
As the act is one of importance to tax
payers short synopsis of it may be inter-
esting. 1t has been considerably |
pruned since it came from Mr..
covered counties of $50, 900 inhabitants.
which was amended to read 500. 900. The |
words land less than 800, 000' were stricken |
out. The members of the board must not |
all come from the same political party The |
members OF the board are to be appointed |
for thre' and not SIX years, as provided |
originally. AT the time of making the first |
appointments the Court is to designate |
which members of the board shall serve two.
four and six years, and thereafter appoint a |
member every two years who shall serve six |
years, with power to remove for ca1se. A |
majority constitutes quorum to do business
and can raise or lower valuations to eaualize
assessments whether as to individuals.
wards. boroughs or townships; rectify errors,
make valuations where they have been
omitted, "and to do all apd singular every.
thing deemed necessary to promote a |
more certain and equal valuation of the tax
able property in all counties to which this
act applies" The board is 70 have power
to compel the attendance of assessors and
forfeit their pay double the amount of each
days pay for every days absence after be-
ing duly summoned. If a citizen refuse to
attend, the board may apply to the Court of
Common Pleas for an attachment or process
to be served by the Sheriff, as other pro-
cesses are served, and the citizen must nav
costs and forfeit his fees, which are same as
other wltnesses' when attending court. The
board is to hear all appeals
Provision for Appeals,
The taxpayer may appeal to the Court of
Common Pleas, but must pay the costs of
appeal in case he doesn't make
he rifle. The County Commission
,rs are stripped of their present
power in such cases and must
provide quarters for the board in which to
10 the business and such supplies as NAV be
needed in the way of furniture and fixtures,
The board is to be empowered to hire clerks
Is deemed necessary, they to be paid as
'lerks in the county Offices are paid. The
members of the board each are to get So, 600
! year and travelling expenses out of the
common funds OF The county. The bill en-
powers the board to have prepared maps of
he cities, boroughs and townships, and to
lave access for themselves and assistants to
III city, borough and township records to
ret light on the duty to be performed,
sellers of real estate are required 10 notify
he board OF revision in writing of the
ocation OF the property transferred, and it's
lie, and the purchaser must make the same
eport and present his deed to the board before
ecording and the board will then affix its
cal and keep a record of the transaction.
nd the Recorder must not receive any deed
r instrument of writing for the transfer of
cal estate until that seal is affixed If
either the parties nor their representatives
omply with the reauisition both are made
able for taxes thereafter assessed without
lght of reclamation or contribution there
Or either against the other" and if the
roperty afterward oe sold for taxes the pur-
haser acquires title.
The Sheriff to Make Reports.
FNv