The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1892-09-12

ASJES4 N 1 lWtQ concerned are at end.
AS[ kR The closing Genes
1NS took place in b e
-iss'7f---,> Council chamber Sat-
1zyZfsa tp560 urday afternoon, when
l[ff3sf9R ~ four-hour session was
" ESe@A=f held. 1t was joint
meeting of the County Commissioners,
their solicitor and clerks, and the com.
mittees appointed by the citizens at the
public meeting held on Thursday night.
The committee men and the districts they
represented were as follows First ward
Michael Graham, T. @. Waters and j. }
Monaghan. Second ward-F. Brennan,
q. W. Titman and M. Melet Third
wards. A. Baddall, William Kimmel
and B. G. Hess. Fourth ward-James
Grant John F. Higgins and P j.
Gaughan. Fifth ward-Christ. Schmidt,
James Bell and John L. Hasser.
Solicitor Wilhelm conducted the meet
ing and examined all parties who wished
to appeal from the assessments agreed upon
| by the committees and Commissioners.
All examinations were made under oath.
County Commissioners Bowes, DeTurk
and Reed we're present and listened atten-
lively, b 1t took no part in the questioning,
leaving the matter entirely in the hands of
their solicitor. All the ward assessors were
also present, but were only allowed to have
q voice in the proceedings when informa-
ton was required of them. The Fourth
ward assessor tried several times to take
part in the arguments and narrowly
escaped ejectment. He tried to impress
upon the minds of the Commissioners that
some of the Polish cit zens Of the Fourth
ward were being imposed upon. The as.
sessor is Polish.
| Solicitor Wilhelm waited until 4:15 p. m.
to hear appeals and IS there we're no ap-
pellants in waiting when that hour arrived
he ordered the room cleared for executive
session of tue Commissioners and COM
mittees. The only persons allowed in the
meeting besides the Commissioners and
committee men were the assessors, the
clerks, court stenographer Patterson and a
HERALD reporter.
When the executive session was called to
order Stenographer Patterson read the
statements of the appellants, case by case.
John Conry objected to the value put on
his South Main street property on the
ground that the property was old and 81, ,OOC
was too high. The appeal was not sus.
tanned.
William Chalmers, of the Fifth ward,
was next. The Commissioners had fixed
the value of his property al Sl,6C0 and the
citizens committee cut it down to 5000
Mr.. Chalmers thought the latter figure toe
high. He said it is leasehold property and
he couldn't sell it for $500. He gets $40
per month rent from it after paying the
water rent. The assessment was sustained
James Champion wanted the $4,000
assessment on the Harrington property
sustained on Main and Centre streets. He
said the frame building at the rear end Of
the lot was assessed too high. 1t was in
| tended for warehouse and was only a
| frame. Several places on the property are
empty. The rents now being collected
amount to about S2l8 monthly. The
assessment was sustained
Charles Becker made an appeal in behalf
of his mother, widow residing in the
Fourth ward. She had no one TO support
her he said and only received 81 per month
rent from the part she did not occupy.
The property had been assessed at 81, 300
The valuation was reduced to $500,
James o. Hesrn, of the Fifth ward, made
an appeal through his son, John j., for a
reduction on the property at the west end
OF Coal street and forming part Of what
are known as 'the flats" The Commis.
sioners had assessed the property at 81 800,
but the citizens committee increased the
| figure TO 81 700. There are nine houses on
leased ground and the rents from them,
less the water rent, amounts to S57 month
ly, Only one of the buildings idle now.
This case was taken up in connection
with the appeal of NJ. p. Fowler. That
gentlemsn's fiat" houses had also been
assessed at 81, 800 by the Commissioners and
the committee raised the valuation to 81, 100
There was a lengthy discussion on these
two cases. Some Of the committee wanted
the 81, 700 figure sustained, some thought
they should 90 down to $1,000 and others
thought 81, 800 enough. 1t was finally de.
cided that all leasehold properties of the
o. Hearn and-Fowler character in the Fifth
ward be fixed at 500 and properties of that
character in that ward which had been
assessed at $500 be cut down to $780, This
LET. the o Hearn and Fowler properties at
81 800 each,
Appeal was made 10 reduce the assess
ment Of 81, 200 on the Matt Perkins prop
erty in the Second ward. The rents from
it amount to S25 monthly. The assessment
was sustained
William A, Gather asked that the assess