The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-03-09
STILL IN THE DARK.


No Reasons Assigned For IaaGting III
valuation Of Real Estate.
WILL PR0FLIGAcY BE CONTINUED
Tnat the taxpayers OF The county ar,
thoroughly aroused to their interest ha,
been demonstrated during the past few
weeks wherever twoor more farmers or
business men have gathered together.
The tax question has been the sole
topic Of conversation in the store, shop
at the cross roads, and wherever it has
been discussed sentiment has been unau-
imous that steps must be taken to reduce
county expenditures and inaugurate a
more economic system Of conducting
public business if farmers and business
men are to continue to own unineumber-
cd the lands they have secure d afler long
years Of struggle and toll.
The increased valuation placed upon
all taxable property by the recent trien-
Eial assessment, ranging from 10 to 40 per
cent. it appears has not met with the ap-
provai Of the County Commissioners,
who have placed an additional 10 or %
per cent. upon the valuations returned by
the assessors.
The assessors of the various districts
are sworn officers, and under their sew
eral Oaths they are required 70 place a
/ just and fair valuation upon all taxable
property without fear or favor, hatred or
malice. il is believed that The assessors
without exception have Complied with
the law 10 the best of their ability. 1t is
apparent, however, that the Commission
ers have not taken this view of the mat
ter as they have in nearly every district
added a liberal percentage TO the valua-
tions returned under oath by the asses
sors.
There is a widespread desire to know
what excuse the Commissioners have to
offer for swelling valuations at this time.
What public Improvements do they con-
template that will require such tremend-
Gus increase in the county revenues2
Do they propose to erect an annex 10 the
Court House, plans, for which were pre-
pared and submitted TO the commission
ers more than year ago, and which it is
understood met with the hearty approval
Of at least one member of that bodyg Is
it proposed TO refurnish the large vault
in the Office of the Register and Recorder
with expensive and useless metallic fur
nitnre? Is it proposed TO erect expensive
iron bridges at points where there is no
public necessity for ths same? Is it pro-
posed to return portion Of the taxes as
sessed to favorites as it Is alleged has
been done in former years?
There obviously must have been some
reason prompting the Commissioners to
increase the valuation, for it appears
from their own published report of the
receipts and expenditures for the year
1897 that the former was more than ample
to meet the latter.
1t will be remembered in this eonnec-
ton that when thepresent board of Com
missioners assumed the duties of that
office they were confronted with an
empty treasury and an Indebtedness, the
exact amount of which they were unable
TO determine, owing to the number ofout-
standing orders and the confused condi-
tion Of the books of that Off ..
Is it for the purpose of paying debts
contracted by their immediate predeces-
sors in Office that the Com missioners
have found it cessary TO raise the val
uatiOn until in hundreds of instances the
valuation placed upon piece of property
is far in excess OF the cash value of the
same?
prora-s1- orr,,a-- ,..bo bo.-o .tto.,,ao3
the appeals already held have declared
in large NUMBER of cases their willing
ness TO take less price for their lands
than the Comm issioners have seen fit to
value them.
The argument viii hardly be advanced
that valuations have been increased by
wholesale for the purpose of equalizing
taxation, since this method affects all
taxables in the same proportion and il
will not be argued that an additional %
per cent. was placed upon the assessed
valuation of Brothersvalley township for
the purpose OF compelling the poor farm
er to pay more than the assessor, under
oath, believed he should be compelled TO
pay.
But the question uppermOst in the
minds of the thoughtful tax payer is, what
has become of the money annually col
lected for the use Of the county and where
does the reason appear for increasing the
volume of revenue at this time?
The taxpayer looks in vain to the pub
lished report of the Commissioners.
where a p)or,y disguised effort is made
to juggie the items 50 that they are unin-
teresting and unintelligible, 10 order to
blind the eyes Of the taxpayers.
In a majority of the COUNTIES in Penn
sylvania the receipts and expenditures
Of the cOanty are set forth item for item
in order that every taxpayer can see for
himself where every penny was expend
ed during the preceding year and who
received it.
Why has there been so much mystery
about the expenditures Of Somerset coun-
ty during the past fss years? Is there
mares nest in that important public Office |
that must be kept hidden and guardedS 2
Why WAS not the law directing the |
Commissioners to publish their report |
four times during the month OF February |
complied with? Was the efficient clerk
to the board unable to prepare his report
until after the auditors had adjourned, |
and danger was temporarily past
Taxpayers from all parts of the county
want to know all about the matter briefly |
outlined above, as well as other matters
Of grave public importance, referred TO in
recent issues Of this paper, aud the mum
Der who have volunteered % contribute
from their private means for the purpose |
of having the affairs ofthe Commissioner |
office thoroughly investigated aud venti-
lated is being augmented each day.
The objections and interpositions filed |
by the board of Auditors have been treat
cd with indifference aud contempt by the
Commissioners.
It is time for the taxpayers to strike.
Had PremonitiOa.
Constable freeman Younkin, notice of