The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1893-02-10
correspondence.
February sth, 1892.


| Editor Cambria Freeman:
| SIR:-The auditors settlement publish
ed in your valuable paper is so suggestive
that taxpayer l may be allowed to
| specially call the attention of the taN-pay-
erS of Cambria county TO some of its fea-
| lures.
| AT first when the FREEMAN published
| the statement thought that possibly there
might have been an error in setting up the
| type, but when the Hastings Tribune cor
roborated the same figures, it may safely
be put down as correct. Let every tax
payer compare the figures and judge for
| himself.
The first item reads ITO balance in hands
| of treasurer at last settlement, S45, ,5S4. 50.
! Now run down the column TO where the
balance is struck. we find in hands of
treasurer SIS. .g27. %. Now examine the en-
| tire statement and then ask yourselves if
| there is any evidence To show illiberality
on the part of the officials who were placed
in the several Offices they now hold by the
votes of the taxpayers of the county. and
who are responsible TO the people for their
official actions.
The statement throughout looks as If
an heroic effort had been made 10 spend
the taxes collected from the people aud
that the effort failed by S5S,G27.95. don't
see how any other construction can be put
upon it.
1t is a welI-knOwn fact that the town
ships elect assessors for the express pur-
pose of making just valuation of proper
ty made taxable by law. They are first
bound I'm an iron-cIad oath TO perform their
duties in stipulated manner. Well, they
90 To every taxpayer in their respective
districts and actually see for themselves.
They hand in their books when completed
to the commissioners. What then? They
are ordered to go back and value property
higher. | am informed that some of the
aSsesSors actually did go back and make
second assessment. Some Others refused
giving as a reason that they had made
their respective assessments under oath
and could not change them" What then?
The commissioners multiplied the valua-
tion by B. This made the balance at set
tfement S5s. .6aT.95. Now double this bal
ance and you have Sl17 .255. .9O-enough and
more To do all the business for one year.
VIII this balance reduce our takes next
year? | answer. wait and see. ! suggest
one remedy. Abolish the Office of assessor.
This will save 81. 1866. The commission
crS can guess near enough for all practical
purposes.
Taxpayers of Cambria county, have you
been sleeping? Are you still sleeping?
Your attention has been called 10 this mat
ter before. 1t really looks aS though you
like the taXpaying business. If you do not.
cannot some of you suggest a remedy.
offer one. Cut of all the salaries and
watch the eXilcs fleeing from the county
seat, to which after sacrificing all thoir
private interests they reluctantly" go in
the interest of Us taxpayers. a.
One of the most successful local Institutes
of the season was held in the school house
in Wilmore, OIL Friday and Saturday
nights last. Rev. NJ. o. Il. Sahm, of VIII
more, made the opening address and de-
livered an address of welcome on Saturday
morning that was scholarly and mastery
effort. Prols. Leech and Gibson. Misses
Jones. Shenkle, Bcynon and several other
lady teachers from EbenSburg were in at
tendance.
Rev. y. =. George, of South Fork. was
present on Saturday. Many teachers from
up and down the railroad were also In at
tendance and at all the sessions the house
was crowded with an appreciative audi
encc. The music was furnished by the
pupils of the school for the Friday evening
session, Miss Daisy Ashe. OrganiSt.
On Saturday Miss May Kennedy, a pupil
OF Mt. ST. AlnySius Academy, LoretIo, a
niece of Mr.. Mccormick, principal of the
Wilmore schools. presided. and Miss Lytle,
of South Fork, rendered selection,
MesSrS. MarSden and Gibson led the sing
ing on Saturday. Prof. John A. Coleman,
of South Fork. acted as chairman and
Misses. Cuttings, Nup and Lingle, acted as
secretaries. The discussions which were
participated in by DIR. BaiSdell. Rev
Sahm. MeSSrs. !. NJ. Brown, John McCor-
mick, George MarSden, j. w. Leech, T L.
Gibson, Geo. c. Felix, \. =. George, w. G..
Giffin, Clifton T. Settlemper and several
Others We're highly interesting and instruc-
tive.
1t was decided TO hold the next local in
Stitute at Portage but the date has not yet
been assigned.