Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-25
LEAVE IT TO OTHERS.
The Advocates of a Public Protest
Against Assessments
WILL NOT CALL A MASS MEETING,
But They Urge That Men of More Leisure
Take 1t in Hand.
SMALL OWNERS ARE MORE INTERESTED

A meeting of the gentlemen interested in
the citizens meeting talked of the other
day, to discuss the next fiscal years tax
rate, in connection with the big jump in
valuation being made by the City Assessors,
was held on Saturday night, at the residence
of one of the parties in the East End. After
talking the matter over the gentlemen
fixed on a plan of securing fair valuation
on their own properties, but decided to
leave the matter of calling a public meet
ing to others. In explaining why this de-
cision was made, one of the gentlemen in
terested said:
I'm the first place, we decided that as we
were all business and professional men we
could not devote the time necessary to
properly carrying out the idea of good
public meeting without serious lossto our
selves. In the second place, we felt as
sured that as this is matter interesting a
large class who cannot stand heavy tax as
well as we can, they will take it in
hands themselves and probably do more
good than we could.
Time for . General Demand.
'T have no doubt there will be public
meetings held, and there should be. The
time was never ripper than rfow for general
demand by the people for fair treatment
from City Councils. 1t has been ably argued
that with the terrific increase in valuations
being made this year a heavy cut should be
made in the millage.
1.-THE working people are the ones who
feel heavy taxes the most. In this city
they have always been taxed to the full
value Of their little homes. Small proper
ties were always taxed heavier than large
holdings, and If poor man did not own his
home he was made pay it in rent. In this
way the poor have paid the rich mans
taxes. 1t is so now, but I think
the present general increase in valua-
tions is at least step in the direction of
rectifying this injustice. There are many
rich men in this city appealing for reduc-
tion in their assessments, who, if they
could realize the injustice of it in COM
parison with the assessnents of poor men,
would be willing to stand double tine
amount of their assessments. They don't
mean to be unjust, but, naturally, don't
want to pay more than they think is their
share.
Should Be Done Quietly.
"My idea of public meeting is not one
TO aDuse CITY OmclalS ana Darangue against
their extravaganza. That only creates
sentiment i'll opposition to what is required.
The meeting should be addressed by clear
headed, capable men, who understand the
situation, and a demand should be made of
councilmanic candidates that they will vote
against more than IL or a 13 mill
tax rate. 1t should really be lower
than that, but even that will be an
improvement over. Is mills. feel certain
that if this matter is taken in hand by the
right people, Mayor Gourley would be will
ing to act as chairman of the meeting and
give it the advantage of his knowledge in
city affairs.
GAS L remarked before, neither nor my
friends who considered it can give the subject
the proper amount of attention, and are not
affected as seriously as thousands of others
in the city. If they will take it up, there
is nothing to prevent their success"