Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1898-09-16
NO. 46.

uuuer CONSIDERATION the Chairman
suggested that as the assessment of
Samuel r. Smith, of Waterloo, last
year was S25, 900, and judging from
the bequests made public since his
death, it was reasonable to infer
that it was much too low, therefore,
that the executor, Seymour r..
Smith, be subpoenaed to appear be-
fore the Board to answer as to this
matter on Wednesday. The motion
to that effect carried and the sub
poena was issued. Wednesday
morning the Board resumed its
work by taking up Deckertown,
Fraukford, Hampton, Lafayette and
Montage, with no serious questions
raised as to either of them. New
ton came next with a significant
raise in the valuation that showed
that the astute Hardin had shrewd-
ly noted the trend of events. and
rather upset his claim of last year
that Newton was assessed high He
took credit for $51 900 increase in
his valuation, but as the Chairman
discovered that II w. Merriam's
assessment of 500, 900 was omitted
from his duplicate, the correction
of this oversight increased the val
uation to the total of SLY, 900, and
Newton as a whole is not yet high.
Mr.. Seymour r. Smith, executor
of the estate of Samuel T. Smith,
with his counsel, Thos. NJ. Kays,
now appeared before the Board, and
Mr. Smi6h was sworn. The ques-
tions being too pointed to meet his
approval, answers were refused by
advice of counsel. Chairman Van
Sickle explained that the Board had
two remedies to meet this emer-
gency: a. That Mr.. Smith was
amenable to the courts for con-
tempt, or the assessment could be
doubled, aud then excused him from
further attendance. At this point
Mr.. Kays began to question his
client, the Board and the Chair, but
the Chair declared him out of order,
since his client was excused. Mr..
Kays persisted and the Chairman
ordered a roll call to settle the
point. The Board unanimously sus-
tained the Chair, and Mr.. Kays
bowed to the inevitable. No evil
dence was brought out in the skir-
mish that would in any way weaken
the claim put forth by Chairman
Van Sickle that the assessment of
S25, 900 on this estate was too low.
The only point advanced by either
lawyer or client in extenuation, was
that the bonds and stocks held by
the estate against corporations out
side of this State, were not taxable
in this State The Chair held to
the contrary, and on examining the
law, the Chair was found to be cor
rect. Adjournment was now had
to 1.30 p. NJ. On assembling the
question was unfortunately over
looked, and no further action was
; taken respecting it. Newton re-
ceived some further criticism, and
the Chaitman pleasantly suggested
to Assessor Hardin that the valua-
tons on certain large properties in
the town be increased next year by
q or even q to Assessors North
rup of Green and Demarest of La
fayette, that they ought not to be
p criticized for reducing their valua-
tions somewhat on farm properties
next year. By comparison it was
found that Newton and Sandyston
we're the only towns that assessed
the telephone companies. Other
wise than as stated above the town
p ships came out of the ordeal hand.
somely, aud the Assessors feel al.
/ most without exception that the in,
vestigation that had been so Ions
, dreaded, had, as it were, cleared the
l atmosphere, settled many doubts
) brought them all in closer touch
l aud gives them a more comprehen
g sive grasp of the true situation thar
4 they ever had before. Coupled
K with this must be a feeling of graft
b flcation that the investigation ha
a resulted in adding nearly half mil
I lion of dollars tu the valuation from
V sources that work no injustice Il
= any, aud does relieve in some meas
ure where the oppression was great
: est. There is evidently a spirit o
: justice pervading the Board nov
5 that am pnrsurded will not hal
! until many ether evils are correcte,
$ and actual equalization of assess
a ments in Sussex County is mucl
5 nearer an accomplished fact than i
!, has ever beel before. H.
IL HAppv CA7TpERS