The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-10-15

| from the Assessors Before They
| Had Time to Examine Them-Did
Not Get Some of Them Until Three
Months After They Were Due-Are
Anxious to Cooperate.
| The members of the board of re-
vision of taxes and appeals are very
| much wrought up over the state
ment made by City Assessor Gwilym
Jones to the effect that If any reduce
tions have been made in this years
assessment, the city assessors are not
| to blame, inasmuch as they are not
| allowed sufficient time by the board
of revision and appeal to thoroughly
| examine the assessment books of the
various wards.
John j. Flanagan, a member of the
board, when seen by Tribune man
yesterday, made a statement in re-
ply to City Assessor Jones, contending
that the board of assessors had more
than ample time to examine and COM
pare the assessment books for this
year with those for last year. Mr..
Flanagan said:
This idea of throwing the blame
for the many reductions made in this
years assessment on the board of re-
vision and appeal won't go at all. Mr..
Jones asserts that we didn't allow him
and the other two assessors sufficient
time to examine this years assess
ment books. T deny that statement.
The board of revision and appeal
placed the 1900 assessment books in
the hands of the assessor in Septem-
ber, 1899.
SEVERAL MONTHS BEHIND.
"They had until January 1 to make
the assessment but many of the as
sessment books were not placed in the
hands of the city clerk until late in
April. A few were finished by the first
of the year. but the larger number
were not placed in our hands until
early in the spring. They were not
only allowed sufficient time to make
the assessment. but had ample time
to make it themselves, as the law
provides, without putting the books in
the hands of the ward assessors at all.
They're trying to put the blame on
the board of revision and appeal ard
we won't stand for it, that's all. Then
hands we don't lock them up in safe.
They're right there in the city clerks
Office, open to the inspection of any
one. If the assessors thought they
hadn't sufficient time to examine the
books. why they could come up in
the city clerks office and examine
them all they wanted to.
"There certainly have been some big
reductions made in the assessments
this year and I'm glad that Council
man Vaughan has started an investi-
cation. I see that he has already dis
covered that the county Jail and the
Cathedral cemetery have been as
sessed. Well. if he looks up the First
ward book, he'll find that the House
of the Good Shepherd and the Holy
Rosary church have been assessed too,
and at a pretty big figure. too. Just
what, do not remember at this time.
The board has already stricken off
these assessments, but they figure up
in the total just the same.
NOT ASSESSED IN PAST.
"None of these properties have been
assessed in years past. This fact can
be ascertained by looking up the as
sessment books. Since we began to
hear appeals on this years assessment
we have found that the modus oper-
andi has been to reduce one mans
assessment and put his next door
neighbours up to even up things.
'We have found many instances in
which additions have been made for
no reason whatever, and looking a lit
tie closer we have discovered that 1t
fn ipo T ho,
said. There's company land in West
Scranton the assessment on which I
see Mr. Vaughan has discovered has
been tremendously reduced, which
should have been assessed more than
last year.
ITS been cut up into lots now and
Is worth a great deal more than 1t
was last year, but it's still assessed by
acreage, and instead of being assessed
more is reduced 100 per cent That's
not right and in all instances where
such reductions have been made, IL
the matter is laid before the board of
revision and appeal We shall most cer-
tainly put the assessment up where
it belongs.
"We've done this already in every
case where such a reduction has been
brought to our attention. From the
appearance of some of the assessment
books I am led to believe that many
of the ward assessors simply copied
off the larger part of last years as
sessment without going to the trouble |
Of going over the ground.
"Many OF the assessors have been |
proved to be incompetent and not fit |
ted at all for the work, yet the board |
Of assessors say that they are going |
to reappoint these men to make this
coming assessment, which requires
the services of only capable men.
should be done to prevent |
The board of assessors from reappoint-
ing any ward assessors who have
lot made correct assessment this
year.
BOARD WILL COOPERATE.
''The board of revision and appeal
will cooperate as far as possible with
Vaughan in the investiga-
ion which he has started. We don't
he blame for things for which we arc
lot in any way responsible"
Councilman Vaughan is thoroughly
stirred up over the matter and de-
'lares that he will not rest until the
whole assessment is thoroughly inves-
igated and the blame put where it
belongs, He will today resume the
york of securing a complete compia-
ion of all reductions made in the
and Thirteenth wards, so
hat when councils meet on Thursday
light he will have proofs TO offer to