Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-17
THE NEW STREET LAW
Should Allow More Time for the Pay
ment of Assessments.
MANY LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
Some Suggestions in Regard 10 the Bering
Sea Controversy.
INFORMATION FOR EAGER INQUIRERS
To Protect the Property Owners.

To Protect the Property Owners.
To the Editor of The Dispatch:
Now, in view of the decision of the Su-
preme Court on the subject of municipal
improvements, that attention is directed to
the matter, there is one item which should
be taken into consideration in the prepara-
ton OF the new bill.
Theis is the time in which payment for
such improvements must be made. Hereto
fore the Board of Viewers have made the
fual assessment, which was then submitted
to Councils, generally approved by them,
then placed sometimes in the hands of the
City Attorney, sometimes in that OF the City
Treasurer, for collection.
The party assessed is then notified that
the assessment must be paid within 80 days,
''to avoid trouble and expense"
will not say this is an injustice, but fire.
quently it is a very great hardship to par
ties assessed. OF course, where one has the
means it is a matter of indifference as to
whether such time is long or short. But
take another case.
A man working for small salary, or on
small wages, has by dint OF great economy
obtained for himself home: he may or may
not have it entirely paid for; it is probable
there may be Building and Loan Associa-
tion mortgage on the property. The owner
is using every effort to make the place his
own. An improvement is made, and he is
required to pay for the same within 80 days.
OF course he is unable to do this, and at the
end Of the time lien for the amount is filed
against the property.
am aware that the writ OF seire facias
has not always been issued promptly, but
usually the matter is pushed within the
time in which the owner can pay, with the
result that his property and all ne has spent
for betterments is lost.
Cases of this kind have occurred here at
no very remote period.
In other States, notably Ohio, the property
holder is allowed term of years in which to
pay for the Improvements. A definite pro-
portion is included each wear in the general
tax, and be is charged interest on the de-
ferred payments, so that the municipality
loses nothing by carrying the few who need
assistance in this respect as, of course, all
who can, pay at once TO avoid the interest.
In this way the financially weak property
holders are protected from loss, and i'm
provements are made without burdening
anyone.
1t certainly would do no harm to consider
this question if new bill must be prepared.
In a general way, it is suggested that a
term OF, say three years be allowed in which
to pay the assessment this 10 be settled
either at the end of that time or in INSTALL
ments, as may, be deemed advisable, in
terest being charged on deferred payments,
the city to be protected bv the usual lien
but execution not to be issued until after
the expiration of the agreed time. In this
waV the ouly additional expense to the
party will be the filing of the lien, which is
but nominal.
There is the possible objection that this
might increase the apparent Indebtedness of
the municipality, but as the proportion
needing assistance in this way will not be
great, do not believe this would cut any
very considerable figure.
Moreover the municipality will be pro-
tected by the lien and will also be receiving
interest for the loan, if the extension may be
SO designated. CITIZEN,