The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-03-16
FOR INCREASE
OF STATE TAX.
Providence Would Have 10 Pay
$4,000 More Than Now.
HOW VALUATIONS DIFFER.
Mayor Granger and City Treasurer Clarke
Beth Think iha Proposition Is Unfair
10 This City.

One OF the main reasons for the calling
OF a special meeting OF the city coun-
ell by Mayor Granger. is to call at
tention TO the proposed act providing
that the state tax be assessed accord
ing to the valuation. made by the cities
and towns.
This act has been made the special
order for Tuesday next in the Senate.
and IL IL should become a law Il will
mean that the tax which Providence
contributes to the state will be increased
by about $4,000.
The proposition is not looked upon as
just one by the mayor, and he gives
measure.
THE PRESENT ASSESSMENT.
The original plan was TO increase the
state tax from is cents on each 500 10
20 cents on each 500. but this was not
deemed advisable. so IL was decided to
draw up an act making state assessment
on the valuation as made by the city and
town assessors.
ne DItctnl SAdNt NdiUftlloil - tCo'sJf'f-
i5i. while the valuation according 20 city
and town assessments Is $I07, ,404.172. The
present revenue is S6I7.1S9.0l while the
revenue based on city and town valua-
tions would be $733. .S2S. 50. an increase OF
$S6, 1855. or sli,229.69 more than would
be received on the present state Valua-
ton even at a 20-cent rate.
For number OF years the valuation
OF property in the state has been made
by state commission. and while at one
period the state valuation for Provi-
dence was higher than the city asses
sors' valuation, such has not been the
case for long time.
II is generally admitted that the valu-
alton In Providence is about as high to-
day as IL can be made. and therefore OBJ
lection is made to the state taking the
same valuation for the purpose OF as
sessing the state tax. even admitting
that the state is In need Of money.
CITY TREAsURERs VIEWS.
City Treasurer Clarke was seen this
morning I'm relation TO the proposed
change in the law. and he said that. from
what ho could learn, the act was not
looked upon with any degree OF favor.
He stated that the valuation OF proper
~ i'm Providence, as made by the state
commission at present was Sll3, 3,O23lil,
whereas the valuation made by the board
OF tax assessors was 1882, H. ,2i0, which
showed a difference OF very nearly $20,-
100000.
At IS cents on each 500, the tax which
tho city Of Providence pays TO the state
amounts TO sS1l. .i4l.66. and IL the proposed
bill should become a law this amount
would he increased by. about s36,OOo.
City Treasurer Clark remarked that it
did not seem fair to the city of ProI-
dence TO take its valuation as made by
the city assessors, in view OF the fact
that many other places had quite low
valuation. Providence would be made 60
suffer. whereas some other cities and
towns would not be affected.
MAYOR GRANGER's ATTITUDE.
Mayor Granger was next seen. and he
said that he considered the matter OF
so mpclr importance that he desired the
action OF the city council upon II.
"Of course. you know" he said. that
the valuation in this city IL as high as II
can be. There may b. a few cases in
which property has not been fully as
scssed but. generally speaking. tho val
uatipn cannot well be increased
Now in Newport. East Providence and
Warwick the valuation is quite low, and
II docs not therefore seem fair to take
the assessors valuations for the whole
state as a basis for taxation. for some
OF these places would not be affected at
all. notably Newport.
II do not Know what course the city
council will pursue. but considered II
my duty 10 call special meeting or both
branches in order that the subject should
be properly considered"
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