The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-03-16

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as nearly a cash basis as practicable.
The various assessors, working under
their respective oaths and affirInations,
conscientiousiy carried out the instrue-
tions received by them from the commits
sioners, and, as result, raised the yalu-
tions in their respective districts from 10
to 50 per cent. In some eases the returns
Of the assessors were accepted by the
commissioners, and in others the assess
ors were sent home with instructions to
raise the valuations still higher. The re-
turns of few assessors were rejected as
often as three times, or until after it ap-
peared that they had brought the valua-
tion up to point satisfactory 10 the ideas
of the commissioners.
Commissioners Kretchman and Good
were unfamiliar with this particular line
of their official duties, neither of them
ever before having had anything to do
with fixing the valuation of all property
subject to county taxation, and it was
only natural, therefore, that they should
defer to the judgment of Commissioner
Kimmell, who had previous training in
that Office, so it came about that an addi-
tional valuation, ranging from 10 10 so
per cent. upon the return made by the
assessors was levied, and, we are told,
without the knowledge or consent of these
two officials. 1t is only necessary to refer
TO one or two instances where this was
done to convince the public that the fore
going statement is not made without
authority. The percentage added to the
assessors return for the township of Jen-
ner WAS first placed at 33i per cent. with
out the knowledge or consent of Commits
sioner Kretchman, and, we are told, with
out the knowledge or consent of Commits
sioner Good. When Kretchman learned
that the valuation of the farms of that
district had been increased one-third over
and above the valuation placed upon them
by the assessor under oath, he entered a
vigorous protest, and, as a result, the per-
centage was reduced l3i points, still l,ag-
ing it 20 per cent over and above the val
uation returned by the assessor. II is not
strange, therefore. that a hard working
young farmer who recently purchased a
home in that township at what was be-
lieyed TO be an outside price, 5000 in
payments, was surprised to find the val
nation for taxable purposes raised to
$500
The valuation of Allegheny township
was raised first 50 per cent over and
above the assessors return, but was later
reduced to . per cent. after Commission
ers Good and Kretehman expressed their
dissatisfaction.
At this point the query, 'What were
Commissioners Kretchman and Good do
ing while this was going on under their
noses?'' arises. The answer is that great
many things affecting the interests of the
taxpayers, besides the publication of the
alleged annual report of the receipts and
expenditures of Somerset county for the
year 1897, were done without the knowl-
edg or consent of either of these officials.
But, even more iniquitous and unfair
than the process of raising valuations, has
bsen the method adopted at the appeals
now being held. Let US again cite Jenner
township. The appeal for that district
was held on Friday, March 4th. Between
sixty and seventy prominent farmers
visited the Office of the commissioners
and entered a protest against the ad-
ditiOnal % per cent. The assessor was
present, and in every case agreed that
the additional % per cent was unjust
and unreasonable, as he had valued all of
the properties in his district at as nearly
a cash value as he conscientiously could
do so. What was the result? The com
missioners removed the percentage added
by them, or in their name, from the valu-
alton Of all who attended the appeal.
In the township of Jenner there are
more than 400 taxables. 20 of this num-
ber have had % per cent. removed from
their valuations. viii the commissioners
permit the percentage laid by them to
remain upon the other 325? Could more
damnable partiality be shown? 325 Jen-
ner township taxables who were unable
to attend the appeals, many OF them on
account of their poverty and the conse-
quent expense incurred by doing so, are
asked to pay higher rate of taxation
than their more fortunate and wealthier
neighbOrs.
Where, we ask, is the justification for
such unjust and unfair Partially as this9
What good reason can be offered for re-
leasing wealthy farmer A from portion
of the tax assessed against him, and col
lecting every cent assessed against poor
farmer b?
If there was just cause to release A
from the additional percentage added by
the commissioners, or in their name.
there are hundred reasons why the per-
centage should be lifted from the shoul-
ders of overtaxed and burdened farmer b.
II there was cause shown why the addi-
tional percentage should be removed from
any one of those who applied, the same
cause was ample excuse for lifting it
from every taxable in the township.
The same method was adopted on the
appeal days for Addison, Brothersvalley,
Upper and Lower Turkeyfoot, Allegheny,
Berlin, Northampton, etc. OF those tax
ables who attended the appeals, all but an
exceptional case or two, had the percent
age added by the commissioners removed
and in several instances the valuation
was made lower than the assessor had
returned the same.
Many, If not all, of those who have at
tended the appeals so far, have done so at
great personal sacrifice and inconveni-
ence, and since, in every case, they have
secured what they came affer-a reduc-
ton of their Yaluaticn-what reason can
exist for carrying the farce farther? Why
put the taxables of the districts yet to be
heard to the expense aud Inconvenience
OF travelling to the county-seat for the
purpose Of having confessedly unneces-
sary valuation placed upon their property
removed?
Why don't Commissioners Kretchman
and Good take the ball by the horns and
publicly announce that they have remov-
ed the percentage added by the commits
sioners, or in their name, from the taxa
bles in every district in the county? It
will come to this in the end, and what
reason can be assigned for compelling the
already heavily taxed citizens of the
county to come from remote sections for
the purpose of entering protest which
is absolutely sure TO be granted.
Commissioner Kimmelrs anxiety 10
cover up the alleged mismanagement
and prohigacy Of his Immediate prede-
cessors should not stand in the way of Sc
curing justice TO every taxpayer in the