The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1893-06-04
Assessed Values
Much Too High

dllelueu ny representative men.
D Those present were Mayor Crosby
Messrs. B. Van Dusen, Assessor Gear
v hart, D. II. Welch, Captain Reed
Charles Wright, j. w. Welch, A. Mont
gomery, Captain j. H. d. Gray f. ]
Taylor, G. Fisher, e. O'Connor, I
Bergman, S. s. Gordon, G. Wingate
E. A. Taylor, w. e. Dement,, w. b
: Adair, ]. C. Trullinger, f. J. Good
enough, v. Boiling, G. c. Fulton, w
: II. Smith
Mayor Crosby stated the object OF
the meeting, and his remarks were
: supplemented by an additional explain
atory statement by d. H. Welch, Mr.
. S. S. Gordan asked what amount the
assessment had been increased in the
past seven years. Assessor Gearhart
stated that the tax as equalized by the
state board was $5,7OO,OOO. Mr.. Gordon
remarked that the increase in popula-
ton in the city during the past six or
! seven years was out of all proportion
! to the increase of state taxes. He
asked If the people were any better
able to pay such exorbitant taxes at
this day than they were seven years
ago. The remedy for the evil, the
speaker said, the meeting would dis
cuss. Mr.. Bergman remarked that
his county taxes amounted to $500 on
land that did not yield him dollar.
Mr.. Wright thought, "We have an
elephant on our hands. We cannot
blame the assessor for assessing the
land at low figure, but the present
basis was too high" He moved that
committee of nine be appointed to
formulate some plan of procedure.
Captain Gray approved Of the plan
and thought that the appointment
would be benefit to the whole county
at large.
Judge Taylor thought that infor
nation should be obtained as to the
course adopted in other counties, and
laid before the assessor He cited a
number of instances that had come
under his observation in which prop
erty in Portland was assessed at less
than one-tenth its value. He referred
at length to instances of extravaganza
in the county affairs, touching upon
the burial here of men drowned in
Bakers Bay, and the trial of many |
cases that properly belonged in Wash |
ington.
Mr.. Reed indorsed the views of |
Judge Taylor, and especially favored |
the plan of the committee looking into |
many little leaks in the affairs of the |
county.
Collector Taylor said the city's af-
fairs needed as much looking after as
those of the county.
Hon. C. w. Fulton thought the mat
ter of street improvements should
be looked into. 1t was his opinion
that from the way times were at pres
ent no street improvements should be
made further than were absolutely
necessary. He thought the plan of
planking the Young's Bay road ill-ad-
vised and that any improvement made
should be of a permanent character.
He also pointed out a number of I'M
stances in which unnecessary expense
was saddled on the county in trying
criminal cases on this side, which by
right should have been tried in Wash
ington. Speaking of the assessment he
cited the case of Linn county, which
was assessed last year at less than
Clatsop, although it was five times as
valuable.
Mr.. w. H. Smith quoted number
of cases in Portland where property
was assessed at one-tenth Of its value.
He favored reducing the assessment or
that all state property be as
sessed alike.
Mr. J. w. Welch believed that the !
taxpayers were on the right road. 1.-THE 5
city and county assessors he said,
would doubtless act in accordance ]
with the wishes of the people as voiced
by the committee" II
Mr.. G. c. Fulton thought the COM
mittee should examine the books of
the city and county officers for their /
own guidance. i
Captain Gray approved Of the idea of
appointing a committee. but thought :
the Young's bay road work was nee !
essary. II
Mr.. Wingate-Roads are necessary
md macadamized roads preferable, but 7
.an we afford either The !
should be asked to cut 7
lown the assessment to equal those
n the other counties. AS to the ex- =
ravagance spoken of, if the county Of b
icers had less money to handle, they ?
would cut their coat according to their q
10th.
Mr.. Bergman-Go after the asses t
;ors, and show them the will of the o
,eople who elect them.
Mr. Gordon cited the case of Seattle, s
which had reduced its assessment sew a
raj million dollars, and denied that
my obstacle was in the way of a re- J
luction here. t
Mr.. Trullinger-The proper time to \
lssess on boom basis is when the =
'oom arrives. d
The motion was then put and car
led and the following committee APP :
'ointed: C. S. Wright, f. J. Taylor.
:. W. Fulton, s. S. Gordon l. Berg
nan, G. wingate w B. Adair, t. o.
-rullinger and D. H. Welch.
A motion was made by Mr.. Fulton.
nd carried, that 'ft is the sense of
his meeting that the city assessor
houId F,s x,arx, oonrorxra five f,, ,,1aoine-