The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1901-03-13
TAXATION REFORM
FOR PHILADELPHIA
An Appeal to the Legislature in
Behalf of Small Property
Owners.
FLAGRANT Discrimination CHARGED

nifty 90 Elect Members OF tue
Board. Who Are Now Appointed by
the Judges, to Supervise the As
SeSsment of Real Estate.
Special CorrespondenceO
Philadelphia, March l2.-Philadel-
phia is now demanding reform in tho
methods of assessing taxes, and she
has appealed to the members of the
legislature from the interor counties TO
assist her in getting through legisla-
tion which will bring about the desired
result
For years there has been complaint
over what was declared to be ilagyant
discrimination in the assessment Of
taxes against the owners of small
properties Mechanics and other work.
ingmen, who, through industry and
thrift, have managed to save up enough
10 purchase small homes, have been
Obliged TO pay taxes upon assessments
which represent full So per cent of the
market value Of their properties, while
the mansions of the millionaires, val
ued at 5000, 600 and upward. are assess
at but 25 per cent of what they would
bring if placed on sale in the open
market
The assessment Of real estate in this
city has for some years been made by
board of real estate assessors, who
are named by a board Of revision OF
taxes. The members Of the board of
revision Of taxes are appointed by the
board of judges of the courts of COM
mon pleas.
The complaint is that by this round
about system the people have no re
dress when they have reason to COM
plain Of the assessment of taxes. They
cannot reach the members Of the board
Of revision OF taxes, who are a law unto
themselves.
What the people now demand is that
the present board Of revision OF taxes
shall be abolished and that q new
method of making assessments shall
be adopted, under which the members
Of the board having the supervision Of
this work shall be elected by the peO-
pie,
Bills providing for this reform have
been introduced in the senate and the |
house of representatives at Harrisburg |
and they are being pushed through as |
rapidly as possible There Is no doubt !
that in the event of their passing both |
houses they will be signed by the gov
ernor, who is in full sympathy with |
the movement for tax reform in this |
city.
Those who have for years. through |
the influence of the judges. controlled |
the patronage Of the board of revision |
of taxes. and the real estate assessors |
naturally do not want to relinquish
their power.
They have therefore. started an aei-
tation with the view Of misleading
members Of the legislature and getting
them to oppose the bills which arc
designed to give the desired reform.
They have raised all sorts Of ohfac-
tions to the proposed change and have
sought to create the impression that
the legislation desired is simply in the
interest Of certain political manavers.
whereas the contrary is exactly the
case.
The men who now control the board
are 10th to yield their political infu-
ence which these positions rerre-ert
REV, DIR. CONWELL SPEAKS OUT.
Some idea of popular feeling on this
subject can be had from a public state
ment from Rev. Dr. Russell II. Crn-
well, pastor Of the largest Barl.st
church in this city, "The Temple" m
commenting upon this proposed re-
form legislation he said: 1T IS a good
thing; an excellent thing. There was
never anything so completely I'm
American as the present board. can
not conceive how the people Of this
city could ever have permitted them
selves TO give away their liberty to
such an extent as to allow the fOunda-
tlon OF body constituted as this is.
Understand me, | have not a word to
say against the individual members Of
the board; they are es,imable gentle
men; but it is the institution that is
The people. in permit
ting its existence, have created a tvrapt
against whose dictum they have no re-
dress. They have created a revisory
board, which they cannot destroy.
which has the power TO tax them TO
ruin or TO tax them to success. Once
appointed, the tax reviser remains for 9
life, It is a condition creative of {
abuses.
The abolition of the board as M
present constituted and the suhsti,u-
tion Of body of men elected bv tbo
people, Is the only logical way to Amer
lcanize the institution. am verv GLAD
TO hear that such a bill is before the
legislature, and I sincerely hope that
II viii pass and become law. At pres-
ent there is no way to cure an Injustice. |
Inc members Of the board are their
own masters and masters of the pe9n,a !
rs well. 4 board elected by the raoD'e !
would be subject to the will ~ th-
people, which is as II should be- The {
grievance is a serious one. and cannot {
pc removed too soon. The wonder is
ago." ''H7
PLAYING FOR DEMOCRATS.
An attempt is being made by those {
seeking TO continue in control Of tha Q
board Of revision Of taxes to GET the
democratic members of the legislature /
ined up against the reform bills. They
IRE using arguments that this is a Re- '
publican machine move. and that fl a
viii hurt the Democratic party. Q
The facts Of the case are that th4 G
legislation will make this
lew tax board a non-partisan body /
'ivlng the Democrats the right 10 e'ect (
representative on the board and t0 q /
hare In the patronage. (
GoRDON'S PERSONAL MACHINE. 1
It has been a matter of public scar- !,
ai for years that former Judge Cor i
on has practically dictated the seIec- ~
Ion OF large percentage Of the Den y
cratic real estate assessors. Thev L
Growth of French JacObin Clubs, 1
i Jacobin club was established at Mar n