The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-03-23
A SHAMEFUL RECORD
Cited By Commissioners shobsr ana Kim
mel Under Fire Of Taxpayers for Prof
hgaey and Mismanagsnsnt.
wIIL sTAND AND rALL roaErHEa.


county has finally driven these amiahle
gentlemen from the bushes, and, in the
last issue Of the fake organ their names
appear under an article containing an ap-
peal to the citizens Of the county who
were induced 10 vote for them under the
mistaken impression that they were tax
reformers and would stand rs a barrier
between the taxpayers and the sharks
whom they charged with having preyed
upon the county treasury, to stand by
them- They assert that the eensure that
has been poured upon them by an out
ragged puhlie emanates from parties hav-
ing political axes to grind, apparently
failing 10 realize that the taxpayers Of
the county have declared determined
warfare on sham rsformers, and have re-
solved 10 secure more wise and econom-
ical management of public affairs in the
future.
Could anything be more grotesque than
their claim that taxation has been sys-
tematically coming down since the day
they assumed the duties Of the commits
sioners' officer They might with as
much propriety charge the honest taxa
bles OF Somerset and Milford townships
with being responsible for "the crime of
'73'' as to ask them to believe such an ut
terly absurd aud preposterous PROPOSE
ton. The county tax assessed in both of
these districts in 1893 was considerably
/ less than the tax assessed in the same
districts in 1896, and if the assessors' tri-
ennial return just made remains undis-
turbed and the county millage remains
the same as in the years mentioned, the
tax collectors OF Somerset and Milford
viii demand almost twice as much as
they did in 1898.
Taxpayers in other districts. who have
been compelled to exercise beggarly
economy during the past ten years in or
der to supply bread for their families,
are in position to answer whether their
taxes have been as systematically reduc-
ed by the alleged parsimonious and close
listed administration of Shober and
Kimmell as they were in the districts in
which these distinguished reformers have
their homes.
With the blindness of unsexed advo-
Gates OF the free and unlimited coinage of
silver at the ratio Of sixteen TO one, they
quote lot of statistics, just as interested
parties did two years ago, when they at
tempted 10 make the farmers believe that
the price of silver and the price Of wheat
had gone hand in hand ever since the
dawn of creation, whereas the figures
they quote show that taxes have gradual
ly advanced from year to year since
Messrs. Shober and Kimmell have been
in position to manipulate the valuations
and taxes.
VALUATIONS INCREASED on DEPRECATED
LANDS.
Is it possible that two such gifted busi-
ness men and tax reformers are ignorant
of the fact that farming lands throughout
Somerset county have deprecated to an
alarming extent during the past ten years,
and that majority of the timber lands
have been reduced to barren wastes? Do
they advocate policy Of increasing tax
alton on depreciating real estate? Their
argument would indicate that they favor
such an unfair and inexcusable measure.
This, however, has no bearing on the
question of the prohigate expenditure
that characterized the regime of these Of
ficials. No public improvements effected
under their administration are pointed
out, save a new roof put on the county
Jail at a cost of some few hundreds of dol
lars, while they maintain a discreet 81
lence in regard TO the 5000 expended
for expensive and unnecessary file cases
for certain public offices.
DIsPROvED BY THE RECORD.
The statement thai they were confront
ed by an empty treasury and bonded
Indebtedness Of SIS. 500 when they as
sumed the duties of office in 1891, is not
warranted by the records, which show
that there was a cash balance in the treas
ury Of some s. 900 aud available assets in
the shape of outstanding taxes amount
ing to $1,000. The reelection cast upon
their immediate predecessors is unwar-
ranted by the facts since they utilized
portion of the funds in the treasury to re-
deem county bonds bearing interest aud
wisely called in one or more of the bonds
having the greatest length of time to run.
A special tax had been levied by order of
court for the purpose of securing the pay
ment of the interest and principal of the
bonds. and Messrs. Williamson. Wagner
and Nen left the treasury in such splen-
did condition that continued wise and
economical management would have can
eelled the entire county Indebtedness in
one or two years. The special tax was
dropped for some reason which does not
appear and county bonds aggregating
81. 500 remain unpaid. Neither Mr.. Sho-
Der or Mr.. Kimmell will argue that these
bonds can be redeemed, or the interest
paid on them, with taxes assessed and
collected for purely county purposes
Where did the money come from to re-
deem the difference in the bonded in
debtedness left by Messrs. Williamson,
Wagner and Neff and as it exists to-days
Were temporary loans made at six per
cent. interest-to which must be added
the treasarer's commission-for the pur-
pose of redeeming bonds bearing per
cent interest?
The statement attributed 10 the county
solicitor. that he has been obstructed in
bringing the surcharges made by the
county auditors into court is entirely gra-
tnitous. since in no possible way could
the auditors interfere with prompt dis
posal OF this matter, which a majority of
the boards Of commissioners and auditors
have expressed desire 70 have speedily |
determined by the proper authority in
order that the Commissioners may know
Just where they stand in regard to msk-
ing temporary loans and paying interest
on orders issued by their immediate
predecessors.
REBATES sowS BROADCAST.
Asto rebates having been granted TO
avorites of Commissioners, the assessor
of one Of the largest, most popnlous and
wealthiest districts in the county, tells US
that during his six or seven years tenure |
in Office he WAS never notified but upon |
one occasion to appear at the eommiss-
toner's office to meet a taxable who felt |
aggrieyed at the valuation placed upon |
his land, while it is susceptible Of proof
that large number Of rebates were is
sued to taxables residing in his district |
without the knowledge Of the assessor. |
From Meyersdaie comes the report that a |
taxable of that town received a rebate |
without solicitation from the hands of
Commissioner, and the same object Of
the commissioners bounty appealed to a |
member Of the present board for the |
same liberal treatment