Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-11-30

~ axemptien really hare sleong iufnauca
. control. tbs 1ocsf3oa?
Csdsf the lsw ~ hare poTs1 to summon
before a. the local assessors aad 10 examine
them % osth- We can know little or 10th
ing Of the condition Of any particular town
q towns, whether their vaIuation Il htsh
~ low, hence 70 cannot n into any yefy
exteudsd bearing Of towns, and What Va d
besr sndsf tbs present plGn, IL Of ccm.
plants from those Who think their vaus6or
txesssive- Villa those to whom thsii
valustion 10 satisfse4osy, are seldom ripe.
serted, and the inference nssy perhaps bs
fsi1ly drawn that IL might In justice BE-
increased. bus TO What amount " cannes
determine. Il requires more than human
power With the inform atiou " are able %
get now to come TO . sssisfsetofy coaclu.
sion in the matter. We knov Inst ali The
property Ia the State Ia not taxed that
should be. There will be tax dodgers ~
icHg - there s4e taxss TO pay srd
wien thsy can safely say "nnd
my properly il you can" the eat
boasting AID amount % little toward the
naintenancs Of our government II the
property Of . town il any where nearly fairly
| valued. to add an amount that We might be
morally sufe would be fair. could only add
70 the burdens already carried by exposed
property. The great thing TO be desired IL
the equal valuation Of the property the
assessor 10 able to fsd xnd We feel con-
strained 10 say here, that he 10 far more
diiigsnt 10 bis search than he has the credit
Of being, too diIigent ia very many instances
for his own popularity.
Considering what We have hsfeinbefore
suggested We think BY the holding Of the
conventions named, that q standard Of vsl
uss fsir and sqaai for ali would be adopted.
the question Of what il 4 fair cssh value
be determined quite correctly. the practice
Of undsrvaluation be done away With, the
exsn piion from taxation Of large amounts
Of property stopped, Q more effective sys-
tenn against tax lodging be devised and the
whole system Of taxation brought into clio.
ser touch With The people where IL belongs.
More. instead Of each board trying to
see how much Of the burden can be avoid
ed, the discussions and understanding
had In such conventions would lead TO
. more equal distribution thereof.
Another lack Of uniformity is found in
the method Of valuing property, in the
forms snd classiHcstions and in the book
keeping systems adopted. We think that
1t mi ght be we'll for the State to furnish all
the blanks and books required in the as
sessment Of taxes. The system would be
uniform and better understood, reports
IN ore easily and thoroughly made and the
cost to the State would be much less than
II 10 In the aggregate to towns.
Next year will come the equAliz alton.
when we shall need the most exhaustive
information possible. We have no powers
Of sight and understand, 3 beyond those of
the average Of humanity, except - We gain
IL In this particular line, by reason Of our
oppor ,unities TO learn from those who are
able 10 teach us, and we must rely for in
formation upon those who have the best
advantages for knowing the value Of differ
ent kinds Of property IN the different sec.
lions Of the State. We are glad to listen
to all who have suag ss;ions to make,
IDEAS and information TO offer. We
are more than anxious II arrive
at conclusions that she'll be salts.
factory because based on full information.
The task We have before US is 10 easy one
and We must have the cooperation Of the
fair minded, conservative. thinking. under
standing and patriotic men OF the State.
As the board becomes better acquainted
with the people and property, and
their conditions. il Will be Of greater
value to the State because able to
make additions to. and other adjust
ments of. the State valuation such ss shall
be fair and bear equally. Ours is large
Sta 9 progressing slowly but surely in the
development Of its natural resources. The
duty Of this board is to increase the vslua-
lion only - il may be fairly warranted, sill
things considered. The value Of the board
depends upon the equality Of the tax IL
imposes, more than upon the amount it may
increase the State valuation. 1t makes lit
tie difference whether the valuation is high
or low IL il 10 equally distributed.
We expect and invite criticism, we be
lievs il will be fair. The town assessor is |
often criticised unfairly though perhaps
without that intention. Few give them
any information whatever As to the amount
upon which they ought to be taxed, but
many are they who complain bitterly Of
being oversvaiued. Considering how much
Of the value of all property comes from the
recognition and protection it has in our
laws and institutions why in strict Justice
.hould not every dollar be reported co the
assessors by the owner, who knows best
where and what it is. Has the one who re-
turns no list Of his property any good right
to complain Of the value 8 conscientious
assessor puts upon it?
The town assessors have done more than
we'll all things considered, in sending in
their returns. Mex year. however, we
shall expect them to be more complete and
We shall do all We can to that end.
In closing the assessors give expression
Of appreciation for fsvors done them in
their work by town eff GERS and others.