The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-12-13
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
LARGE AND INTERESTING MEET
ING HELD LAST NIGHT.

The regular meeting of the Chamber
Chamber of Commerce hall and owing
to the hearing on the report of the
committee on municipal affairs regard
ing their investigation as to proper
Sourse to pursue concerning the social
ed heavy assessments on the property
of the city, there was a very good at
tendance, somewhat larger than that OF
the ordinary meetings.
The committee on municipal affairs
was given power at recent meeting
to investigate and make any sugges-
lions that would lead to remedy
whereby the assessments on property
should be made more reasonable and
after meeting several times the fol-
lowing report was drawn up and sub
mitted last night:
ITO the Chamber of Commerce of
New Haven: The subject of the reas-
sessment of real estate referred to your
committee on municipal affairs has
been carefully considered by five of the
seven members of your committee, who
are agreed that nothing could be gained
ny dpItdl " Inc legislature VI plACl
course not provided by present laws.
"F. B. Farnsworth, Chairman"
The following We're the members of
the committee: F. B. Farnsworth, j. T.
Manson, Felix Chillingworth, George d.
Watrous, Harry w. Asher Donald G.
Carmichael, and George F. Burgess.
The report of the committee was read
and Immediately Attorney Hamilton
moved that it be- received and that fur
Their action on it be indefinitely post
poned. This was a cause for great
deal of discussion on the part of diff
ferent members and it was over an
hour and a half before the report was
acted upon. Julius Twiss, Major T.
Attwater Barnes, II. C. Rowe, d. G.
Carmichael, General e. e. Bradley,
Henry G.. Newton John c. North, and
Mr.. Freedman were among the speak
ers that were heard on the question.
Each of the speakers raised a different
point as to the outcome os the report,
and some went as far as to say that
| the matter should be left in the hands
| of the legislature
| Other suggestions We're made, among
them one by Referee Newton, that the
sales of property be looked up for the
purpose of finding whether the proper
ty had been assessed for more than
two-thirds of the sale price. The gen
tlenen argued back and forth until
about 10 o'clock when the question was
called for. Mr. Hamilton again insist
ed that the motion be worded as fol-
lows: That the report of the commit
no rppaiXya6 a nd 1OIup5 nd
that further action on it be indefinitely
postponed
Mr. Freedman then called for divi-
sion of the motion and this was allow
ed. But on the vote both sections of
the original were passed The following
was then unanimously voted: That the
members of the Chamber and the citi-
zens of New Haven are requested to
forward in writing to James D. Dewell,
chairman Of the committee on legisla-
ton, any opinions regarding a remedy
that may suggest a plan whereby a
more justifabe system of taxation
may be enjoyed. by the residents of
New Haven.
The move will be met with favor it
is thought, and it is very likely that
there will be number of suggestions
made. Henry C. Rowe introduced
draft of a bill last night and in it are
many good suggestions concerning the
question. Mr.. Rowe said that the as
sessments We're in the main SO per cent.
or 100 per cent. more than the property
could sell for, and on appealing to the |
board of relief the reduction that would |
be made would be between per cent |
and 10 per cent, and that only in a few |
cases. Mr.. Rowe's bill provides that |
anybody having a grievance of that |
sort to settle may show that he is just |
in asking for a reduction on the basis
of the first action.
OF course, he added the bill will not
cover all cases, such, for instance, as
where a manufacturer or producers |
plant is concerned. That might be as
sessed too high, but he could not af-
ford to offer it for sale at anything like
what it would have to sell for merely
as real estate.
Mr.. RoWe's bill was as follows.
Sec. Amy owner of real estate in
the city of New Haven may. within ten
days after the assessment list is filed
by the board of assessors, file in the
town clerks office of the town Of New
Haven a written offer to accept at anv
time within three months a sum not ex-
ceeding rs per cent. of the assessment
for a conveyance of such real estate.
With certificate as to title showing
hat he is competent to make such con-
yeyance.
Sec. 2.-The board of relief may then
'educe the assessment to the amount
named in the offer or, at their discre-
ion, may advertise such real estate \.
or sale upon sealed bids to he made
N or before day named prior to the
expiration of such three months, TO be
accompanied by deposits of per cent.
n cash or certified check, of the amount ]
lid !
DIFF any bid is received for an
mount sufficient to cover the price |
famed in the offer of the owner and /.
expenses of advertising and transfer, :
he property shall then be sold to the {
highest bidder one half the excess
hove the price named by the owner, 1
nd necessary expenses to be naid to Y
he owner and one-half to the city of /
Jew Haven.
(c)-If no bid shall be received ex- !
eeding the price named in such offer, 7
+ if the bidder shall fail to comnIeta z