The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-19
MAY UNDERGO SOME CHANGES.
ALDERMEN NOT ALL SATISFIED
WITH ASSESSORS ORDNANCE.


Until the Legislature Meets. How
eVer-$75O "A Year Thought 10 BE
Enough for Associate Assessors
SaIaries-This Would Save the City
5000 on the $4,000 the Board Now
Costs Hearly-one Alderman Fa-
vOrs Retaining All the Old Board.
Mr. Lester HubbeII, MIR. Phillip
Russell and Justice sam Reynolds
Out for the New Places.
While the City Council is yet to fix the
salaries of the associate members of the
new board of tax assessors and receivers.
candidates for the vacancies have already
bobbed up, and the election gives promise
of being strongly contested. A number of
the administrators friends have not been
provided for, and some of them are looking
for places on the tax board. II is taken
for granted that Council will fix satisfac-
tory salaries.
Probably the most important matter in
connection with the ordinance will first
be to change 1t so as to conform to the
views of aldermen who have openly ex-
cepted to certain features, one among
them being that making the fixing of val
uations by the new board final. The pres
ent draft makes IL impossible for COM
plainants to obtain relief from judg-
ments of the board that may have been
prompted by prejudice or other personal
considerations Some of the aldermen are
looking into the possibility of getting
around this feature IN some way. Whether
II can be done is question, with the odds
against a change.
When the board was governed by a
special act of the legislature, the general
act of 1891 applying to tax boards of all
cities and towns in the state was inopera-
tive, but when this special act under
which the board now exists expires April l,
the general act will apply, thereby maxi
ing final the decision of the board Great
ed by ordinance.
An alderman on the assessment commit
tee, which framed the pending ordinance.
stated yesterday that he was not aware
that the general act would apply and for
that reason the ordinance will not
Intended 1t should. His opinion
is that several changes will be made to
the present draft but he could not saw In
just what respects.
while 1t seems to be an objectionable
fiaw.' he said, II do not see taxpavera
can be given any relief in the wav Of an
peals, though ii is eminentiy proper to
grant them this right The right TO value
property for taxation should not be vested
exclusively in three men, but the righr
to appeal to Others say the assessment
committee of Council, should be allowed
by the present ordinance this COMMITTEES
becomes a nonenity. its principal duties
beng absorbed by the new board of as
SCISSORS and receivers. There is apparent
~ no reason for continuing il. as there
VIII be no duties whatever for IL to per
form.
Had the committee known before that
the appellate right passed with the present
act' the situation would not have been
chahged, he continued, "as the commit
tee could not have inserted ANYTHING in
the ordinance inconsistent with the zen
eral act That matter came IN. hut
Council was advised by the city attor
ney that nothing could be done. think
the act should be repealed. AMI
is not improbable that stens
may be taken in this direction when
the legislature meets again. The law
governing the tax assessors of cities
should be the same as that applica BILE 70
counties, where the right of appeal exists.
any property owner in the county, dIssat-
isfed with the valuations fixed has Tho
NJ
ers, who may make such changes as the
circumstances warrant"
Asked as to the salary that NAV he maid
the associate assessors, the alderman said
the matter had been incidentally discussed
by Council, but the salaries the aldermen
favored varied considerably. Personally
he thought $3.50 a year would be reason
able compensation. The associates being
required 10 put in five hours a day during
the months of November December jan
uary and February, this would make their
salaries $18.50 each. The board now costs
the city 1920 but IL the foregoing salaries
are adopted il will cost $500, a saving of
5000. The associates are to be called upon
at any time by the chairman, SO that the
salary would probably be reduced to an
average of $50 The intention is TO mate
rally reduce the cost of the board and
while there may be some objection 10 cut
ting the salaries to the amount named
the chances are they will be put at least
that low 1t is thought there will not be
a great deal of trouble in finding good
and capable men at these salaries.
1t may be somewhat surprising to know
that at least one member of Council, rep
resenting the administration side favors
the retention of the board of assessors as
1t now stands, not excluding Mr.. O'Byrne.
The alderman urges that the present as
SCISSORS are familiar with the duties and
that a change will produce more or less
confusion The Importance of having ca
pable assessors, he said speaks strongly
for the retention of the present board in
its entirety. 1t is a fact, however that
the board cannot be retained. Alderman
Schwarz is ineligible for reelection and
while Mr. O'Byrne may have friends on
the board. majority will decline to vote
for him because of the prominent hand he
took in the recent campaign.
Others are after the places though, and
when the roll of candidates is called. their
names will likely be among the number 1t
is stated the applicants for the positions Of
associate assessors are Mr.. Lester Hubbell
Mr.. Phillip Russell and Justice Samuel
Reynolds. Mr.. Hubbel is treasurer of
the Georgia State Building and Loan Asso-
citation, was a member of the county
tax adjustment committee several years,
and Is familiar with property valuations
In the city Mr.. Russell has
been mentioned for place on
the tax board for some time All who
attended the Citizens Club meetings know
of the assiduous efforts made by Justice
Reynolds TO secure the election of the
Ell 10 oil y