The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-04-12

|
worthy Of the serious consideration OF
! the city government and an opportuni-
| ty for the accomplishment of great
| and pressing necessity.
! MATTERS OF TAXATION.
! T must again renew the suggestion
made by me in my address of year
ago that the effort to bring about the
passage of an act diverting the tax paid
by street railways to the state, from the
state treasury to the treasures of the
various towns, should not be aban-
doned. The arguments in favor of the
justice of this claim have been so often
and so clearly set forth in the past, that
it is hardly necessary for me, at this
time, to recall them to you. Under the
principle established in this matter OF
taxation it would be just as fair, in my
Judgment for the state of Connecticut
to collect from the owners Of carriages
or automobiles in New Haven, who let
the same for hire, the license fee now
paid by them to the city for the privi-
lege of doing business. The cases are
precisely similar. The mere fact that
in one case the general assembly gives
the privilege does not at all affect the
principle involved. Both use the streets
of New Haven and for the same pur-
poses, except that in the case OF the
street railways the burden upon the
highway is far greater, the state by its
grant taking from the municipality and
practically giving to these companies
third, ard in some instances, half Of
the highway, for their uses. And yet,
although the city must bear all the Dur
dens which result from the use OF
streets by street railway companies and
the state none of them, the latter re-
ceives the compensation and the former
pays the cost Surely a most inequit-
able and unfair proposition!
Another matter that should be urged
upon the general assembly is the adop-
ton by it of a state tax. The tendency
of such an enactment would be to pre-
vent the legislature from making care
less and reckless appropriations, for,
with the knowledge that the towns must
bear a proportion of state taxation, the
legislators would give more careful con-
sderation to the many demands now
made upon them and many eXtravagant
and wasteful appropriations would be
saved to the state. The adoption of the
state tax would Also undoubtedly. help
in bringing about the REIMBURSEMENT of
the street railway tax by the state
Another matter of local interest in the
way of taxation, and one that requires
attention is the matter of the collection
of the military communication tax, |
know this subject is an old one, and one
that has been frequently discussed.
= i- TN, al M
collect the tax is one hardly of a con-
vincing nature. ! believe it Is possible
to collect it. If the collector has not
sufficient help to enable him to collect
this tax he should be given such clerical
assistance as is necessary to enable MIN
to do Sc. In addition to this we now
have an assistant corporation counsel
charged by law with the collection of
unpaid taxes. There is no reason why
every citizen ought not to be obliged to
bear his burden of the tax, and the UNI
that collector might meet
with, who faithfully performed his duty
In this respect. is not sufficient reason
for making those who do pay the tax
also bear the burden of those who es-
cape payment of the same and who can
be made. by a proper effort, to pay it.
THE RE-ASSESSMENT OF THE (
GRAND LIST.
The re-assessment of the grand list of 4
New Haven is now completed, so far as
the board of assessors is concerned. \
1t was largely through the efforts of the
olbamber that this work was begun and
to completion. SO many in
qualities and unfair values were at
endant upon the old list so many evils
If taxation had crept in, that it became
apparent that the only remedy for the
abuses as they existed was to make an
entirely new assessment, based upon
he statutory provision of a true and
actual value. | fully recognize the ut
er impossibility of making a list that
will be satisfactory to everybody. No
body of men that could be selected
ould make an absolutely just assess
nent. Some would always be dissatis-
led and find fault. No list can be more
han approximately fair. Undoubtedly
he board has adjusted many inequali-
les heretofore existing and in the main
las fixed upon fair and reasonable val
les. But while | recognize all this and
m willing to make due allowances for
honest difference in judgment which
viii always exist in regard to real es-
ate values, and for the lack of time
hat the assessors had in which to do
his work, yet it seems to me that the
card has made some serious and grave
liStakes. Land has, in many instances,
cen enhanced in value far beyond it's
cal or even apparent worth. While
leaning to remedy the inequalities of
ne grand list the board of assessors, I
ear, have created many new ones. 1t
ere far better for the city and for the
axpayers to have under valuations /.
nan to have over valuations If there
e merit in half of the complaints that !
ave been made by the taxpayers, it
ould be far better I believe, to suffer
while longer from the evils of the old !
st than to create others by the adop-
on Of the new one. If the list, as pre- s
AIRED by the assessors, We're allowed to l.
and in all respects, it would undoubt-
lily result in many instances of indi- =
dual injustice and do much injury to :
lie future welWare of the city. There >
hope that the board of relief. hoWev- =
, will adjust many of the differences
lat exist and base valuations on what {
lie law requires, viz; the present true
nd actual value. If this rule were
early adhered to in all cases there can