The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1901-08-13

As the payment of tax bills is now II
public has awakened to the unfortu-
nate condition of assessments of rea
estate in this city, many of them being
| three and four times what the property
would sell for, and in hundreds of cases
two and three times what it has actu-
ally sold for during the past year.
1t is perhaps we'll at this time to re-
| call that the New Haven Chamber of
Commerce unanimously recommended a
bill for passage to the general assem-
bly, which would have removed nine
tenths of the injustice under which tax
payers are now suffering.
1t is unfortunate that the citizens
generally did not awake to the import
ance of sustaining the Chamber of Com
merce in its efforts in this respect and
aid 1t to overcome influences which en-
ployed a well known attorney to go to
Hartford and interview each member
of the Judiciary committee, inducing
them to reverse their position on the
bill after they had voted to report it
favorably.
A careful reading of the following
reasons set forth by the Chamber of
Commerce for the passage of this bill
will show that, while no bill would per
haps be absolutely perfect, yet the one
proposed by the Chamber of Commerce
would have relieved most of the injus-
tice under which taxpayers now labor.
TAXPAYER.
There is urgent need of relief from
the excessive assessments, ranging from
one and quarter times to three times
the market value, upon real estate of
about one third of the owners in New
Haven.
There We're 1850 appeals to the Board
of Relief among the 1887 real estate
taxpayers of New Haven.
The Board of Relief did not reduce
the assessments to the market or lawful
basis.
Appeals to the Superior court have
proved unavailing in New Haven be-
cause of the contradictory evidence of
experts" and because the expense of
litigat ton is more than the possible re-
lief except on very large properties.
The small owners are without means Of
redress.
Under these circumstances the Cham
Der of Commerce has made a careful
study Of methods to insure the equali-
cation of assessments on q Just and
lawful basis, and offers the bin known
as Senate Bill No. as not only rem
ely for present difficulties, but as en-
bodying a principle which we believe
will be Of permanent and constant
value.
This bill provides that
amy taxpayer in the city of New
Haven who believes that any piece of
real estate in said city owned by him is
assessed at more than its fair market
value may, within ten days after the
thirty-f day of December in any
year. file in the Town Clerks Office of
the town of New Haven a written Of
fer, under seal to accept, at any time |
IN or before the fifteenth day Of the |
following May, sum not exceeding so |
oer cent. of the assessment for a con- |
leyance of such real estate, with a GER |
ificate as to title showing that he Is
to make such conveyance"
The Board of Relief may, within thir-
" days, reduce the assessment to the |
AMOUNT named in the offer, or, If not
hall advertise the property for sale. If +
10 buyer VIII ray this amount for the |
Their tie assessment shall be
educed to the amount named in the |
Dffer. The later sections insure good
attn on the part of all concerned and
,rovide for the details of procedure.
We ask favorable action upon this
ill because:
Nhn Of ~ 40 |
ver- assessments proposed under this
ill can be employed without any cost
+ expense to the taxpayer.
2. Under the proposed bill bona fide
fer of the owner will procure just re-
EFF in forty-nine cases out of fifty, be-
aase the owner knows better than any
ne else what the present" true"
market value" of the property is
[ win rarely, if ever, be necessary 10 |
dvertise.
3. The proposed method is the most |
nipple and logical possible. The stat
tie requires that assessments shall be
lade at the present" fair" mar
et' value This method provides an
ppeal to the market itself.
d. This bill does not provide for inv J
lange in the rule or principle of as | {
sssment as laid down in the existing |
atutes but does provide direct and 9
inclusive method to correct violations a
Y the assessors of the existing law. /
5. The existing law does not provide s
II any consideration in assessment of
lie cost of building. 1t deals only with g
lie, present" fair" market" val i
=" The considera ton Of cost Of build I a
o is a prevalent error without anv ! +
arrant in the existing statutes n
6. The offer under this bill cannot 7
'oduce a forced or auction sale" as t
in the statute, but its exact h
posite, because a forced SALE is "un- t
r compulsion of process Of law" while | t
is is purely optional. Moreover, in a
orced or auction sale" the price is fix n
wholly by the buyer or buyers, while f;
lder the proposed law the minimum Ii
ice is absolutely fixed by the seller. 81
I. The judgment of men is fallible o.
en- are very prone to errors We Il
ght, therefore, in legislation to pro- b
de for the operation of natural prin- W
1les of cause and effect in every case
ssible, thus avoiding dependence up 81
the fallible judgments of men. b