The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-05-03

or the fiscal year of the consolidated
government January /, 1885, The char
ter provided for a special meeting of
the school district for this purpose,
which was held and the tax of three
mills laid
OF the q mill tax laid for 1898 Az
mills Is for the expenses of the schools
Tor twelve months, January / to De-
cember 81, and 16 mills is for all other
departments for thirteen months, De-
cember l, 1897, to December ST. 1898, or
at the rate of about 14A mills for
twelve months. Interest charges,
bonds due, floating debts and sundry
charges pertaining to the business of
former years require the proceeds of
over mills of the tax.
In am confident that the reports of
the various departments at the close
of the year will justify the recommen-
dations of the board of finance and that
lower tax rate than we have had for
many years will not only be possible
but practicable for the year 1899. 1t is
certainly possible under present condi-
lions to have the business of the city
done more economically than at any
time for many years.
The increase in the grand list for
1887 over that for 1896 is very crafty
ing, amount to $2,273,775 We cannot,
however, hope to be on satisfactory
basis until the reassessment now in
process Is completed and adopted. In
my opinion the assessors should assess
all property and return lists of exemp-
tons showing sause for same in each
case. These are some of the facts
that every citizen has right to be in
formed of. In connection with the
general subject of taxation, I quote
from message of ex-Mayor Sargent,to
call attention to state of affairs
which ought to be and I believe will be
remedied by the provisions of the new
charter.
1.-THE assessment and collection Of
taxes appears to be in a condition
quite unsatisfactory TO that portion of
the taxpayers who do pay taxes, and
who do pay the whole expenses Of the
municipality. 1t would appear to any
one who knows no better that the as
SCISSORS do not dare to assess property
at its value as the law commands nor
to raise the ancient valuation of the
real estate, nor to raise the owners
figures of the value of personal proper
ty, because they know that if they do
| their full duty according to the law,
they could not get reelected; that the
board of relief for the same reason
| is kindly to all kickers; that for the
same reason the tax collector is only
| tax receiver, receiving and placing in
the city treasury the assessed taxes of
| only those who choose to come for
ward and pay; that for the same rea-
son no poll nor military tax is often
| collected except from those who vol
unfairly pay taxes on property; and
| that for the same reason liens to Sc
cure the payment of taxes are not fore
closed. 1t can hardly be expected that
public officials will perform duty in
such full and proper manner as to
make themselves unpopular when
| there is no penalty for only partially
performing the duty, and in such a
manner as appears to catch the public
approval, or at least the approval Of
those most active in forming public
| opinion"
In the mater of receipts from other
| sources than taxation on property,
believe that many cities of this coun-
try derive a very much larger income
| than does New Haven from special IL
| censes and permits granted to parties
who are engaged in lines of business
that require special oversight and en-
tail special expenses on the police and
| other departments of the city. I hope
to call your attention to some of these
| matters in detail before the expiration
| of my term Of office. The item of I'M
| paid taxes has always been a burden
! on those who do pay. Apparently but
i very little effort has been made to
| collect taxes from any one who failed
to visit the tax receivers office for the
| purpose of paying. The books of the
/ city are still numbered with charges
| for taxes and assessments for public
| improvements that should have been
! collected long since. The report of the
| controller shows that accounts in
hands Of the tax collector due and I'M
paid December l, 1897, amount to $751;
606O1, divided as follows:
| Street assessments ~. .....S %, 1888. so
| Taxes, lists of 1874 to 1895, in
| Sewerage fund account ... 1851 81
Total SoZI, b0o.ol
| On the books Of the public works de-
partment are accounts amounting to
| $121S9.07 Much that is uncollectable
now could have been readily collected
| if attended to in time. The new char
| ter provides for an assistant corpora
| ton counsel, to begin business in June,
| one of whose special duties is to the
| collection of such accounts. If 1t is
| desirable to keep the business of the
| city absolutely separate and distinct
from the charities of the city, and
| find that our citizens almost without
| exception believe that it is, except
when personal interests are touched by
| doing otherwise, these accounts should
be closed up, by sale OF the property
| if necessary. If all of our citizens
would resolutely oppose the slightest
approach to mixing the business Of the
| city and the charities of the city for a
period Of five years, the advance made
in permanent public improvements and
| the reduction of debt would be some
| thing marvellous. If all voters would
| vote this could be accomplished
| Respectfully submitted,
| F. B. FARNSWORT1,
| April, 1896. Mayor.
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