The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-11-21

| Recorder w. l.. Conncll announced
| yesterday in the most emphatic terms
| that he is opposed to material III
crease in the tax levy for the coming
| fiscal year over the levy for the pres-
| cnt year.
| you can say" said he to n Tribune
| reporter. That ] am opposed to amy
| material increase in the tax levy. OF
course, there may be certain things
which will have tn be provided for.
and which may necessitatc Il slightly
| increased appropriation, but l shall
not allow, If | can prevent it, Il sutli-
| cicnt additional expenditure to bring
| the tax levy up any higher than it has
| been. The general concensls of opn-
| ion is that taxes are high enough in
| this city, and I'm going to follow this
| general trend of thought.
"lhe very fact that the ripper bill
gives councils practically unlimited
| power in the levying of taxes should
| make them more careful than before
! not to abuse their power. Bul if the
ripper bill gives councils unlimited
! power in the imposition of taxes. it
also gives me. as recorder, absolute
control of the appropria ton ordinance.
any part of which ] can cut out if l
feel that the expenditure is not necc.;-
sary. 1t is needless to say that | will
exercise my power in this direction il
| occasion demands
MAKING ASSESSMENT.
The board of assessors are now en-
gagged in making assessment for the
next fiscal year, and, as is generally
known, are assessing all properties ut
their fun value. instead of at Il one
third value. as in the past. The mi!i-
age will. of course. be materially re-
duced, on account of the increase in
valuations, and the tax levy will be
graduated, first class properties pay
ing full rates, second class properties.
two-third rates, and third class prop
critics, one-half rates.
The recorder believes that the bur-
den on the owners of first class prop
critics can be lessened and materially
reduced by the equalization in the
value of second class properties. The
assessors have been bringing in wierd
tales of properties which they have
found to have been not assessed for
gears and OF other properties which
they have found assessed far below
what other properties adjoining have
been assessed
The equalization of values by the as
sessing of every property in the city
and the raising of the value of those
properties which have not been as
sesSed high enough. will have the cf-
feet, in the recorders opinion, of max
ing the taxes on first class property.
which will have to pay the highest
rate, no more than they have been in
the past Those who differ with him
IN this respect, say he takes too hope
ful Il view of the situation, for the
reason that the difference which will be
caused by the second and third class
properties paying only two-thirds and
one-half rates. respectively, will have
to be met.
VALUE OF PROPERTY.
The total value of property under the
assessment now being made is var
iously estimated at between SEQ, 100000
and $IO,000,00O. though the latter figure
will probably be found to be The cor
rect one.
In connection with the recorders
statement regarding his intention to
exercise. If necessary, the absolute con-
troll over the appropriation ordinance.
vested in him by the ripper" bill, it
is interesting to note that City Solicit
or Wat son holds that he has mower not