The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1892-03-05
ers Age


For time it looked as if the citizens
meeting called would be failure The
people were slow in getting to the place and
struggled in by ones and twos for about an
hour But by eight o'clock the patience of
the early arrivals was rewarded by quite a
large gathering
NJ. E. Doyle was made chairman and w.
j. Watkins secretary.
The chairman stated that the object of
the meeting was to consider the report of
the assessors on their visit to the County
Commissioners and determine upon some
method for settlement of the matter.
Assessor Cullen made statement in
which he said that Assessor Brennan, of
the First ward, handed his book to Com
missioner B yves, who asked the rate at
which properties had been assessed. Mr..
Brennan told him the rate was "one-half
or little more, perhaps" whereupon Mr.
Bowes told him to take the book away and
make proper assessment. Mr.. Bowes also
asked the rate at which coal lands had been
assessed and, when told that the rate was
the same as heretofore, with the exception
of additions for improvements, the Com
missioners ordered that all coal lands be
assessed at 81, co per acre.
Addresses were made by Messrs. B. G..
Hess, James Bell, B. j. Yost, William
Kimmel, S. A. Beddall, George Krick, NJ
II. Kehler, M. P. Fowler, Michael Ora
ham, James Champion, Evan j. Davis and
j. b. Pomeroy, Esq.
1t was stated that although all the County
Commissioners were in the court house
when the assessors and their assistant COM
mittee were in waiting for an hour or more,
twas impossible to get them, as board.
to afford hearing After the long wait
the assessors were referrsd to County Com
missioner Bowes. It seems that the Com
missioners divided the assessment business
into three divisions and Shenandoah is in
the division assigned Mr.. Bowes. The
other Commissioners have settled the ss-
sessments in their districts satisfactory to all
parties.
Borough Solicitor Pomeroy responded to
a request for an opinion. He said he did
not think the County Commissioners have
power to instruct the assessors to assess
coal lands at 81, 900, or any other particular
figure This would take the work out of
the assessors hands, He thought the
proper method would be for the assessors to
join in an affidavit setting forth the facts
and asking the court for rule to show
cause why their books should not be ac-
cepted by the County Commissioners
Then the court will be in a position to con-
slider the whole subject, II am very sure
the court will not say it is the duty of the
assessors to follow the express instructions
of the Commissioners so far as the levying
of the assessments is concerned" said Mr.,
Poneroy in conclusion.
Mr. Kimmel asked what guarantee the
borough had that the Commissioners would
not reduce the assessments, whereupon Mr..
Beddall stated that u years ago the late
Jere. Mears put up the coal lands to
81, 200 and subsequently the court reduced
the land of the west tract to $3.50 and that
of the east tract to $3.50. Mr. Beddall
could not see the use of putting the coal
lands up to $1,000 under that decision,
The court would not reverse its own
decision. Much of the coal land is not as
valuable now as it was - years ago. II
the coal land so be raised to 1000 and the
valuation of individual properties in town
should be increased to their full value as
laid down by the Commissioners the burden