Waterbury Democrat., 1901-11-18
ROTTEN SYSTEM.
Poor Man Gets Worst of Water
 bury Tax Law.
MAYOR KILDUFF's ATTITUDE

"
 dinue Until Men Are Paid Salary
 Enough to Give All Their Time to
 Duties of Positon-What He Said
 in I Former Message on the Subject.
 The question of taxation is still be ing aired. In fact. little else has been talked of in certain quarters since the meeting of the board of finance last Thursday night The article i'll Sat ultiay's Democrat helped 10 scare peo- pie all the more and now property owners have got to a point when they feel that this matter of taxation must be lighted. no matter what it costs to do it. Mayor Kilduff made no mis- take the other night when he said that a fifty mill tax would create revolll- ton. Things are bordering on that state at the present time and the only thing likely to save lis from an upris- ing on the part of the smaller prop erty owners is the faith all have in Mayor Kilduff to remedy the evil by creating a revolution in the assessors office instead Of among the taxpayers. \ Democrat reporter had talk with Mayor kilduff on that subject to-day and the way his honor handled it goes to show that his appointments to the board of assessors will be men who will do their full duty without fear of treading upon any mans corns.
 II have nothing new to say on this question: said his honor as he clasped his hands behind his back and paced up and down the office, apparently somewhat agitated in mind. 1T have been lammering at it for years and don't see that it has amounted to any thing. The assessors have a way of their own of doing business and it seems to be impossible to have them do things differently-out of the ques- ton to get. them to list property as law directs them. Supposing you and have $500 in our possession to-day and you go out and buy building lot With view to putting q house on 1t as. soon as you can raise the neces- sary funds, and drop into a jewelry store and put mine into diamond and cut q swell with it. What next? The assessors will get after you and com- pei you to pay taxes on your lot while
  diamond 1 own, although the law states that one is taxable as well as the other. But I could keep on in this way indefinitely. Let me read you an extract from my message to the board of aldermen in '94 regarding the assessors"
 His honor read the following from the journal of the board, of aldermen:
 This department to my mind is one of the most important branches of the municipal government. In q city like ours, with a population of 35,000, rap- idly increasing, with it's great wealth, it's large and varied business enter prises, it requires men of eminent abi1- ity. large experience and great firm ness to successfully and satisfactorily perform the duties imposed upon the board of assessors.
 The system of valuations adopted many years ago has not been changed. while nearly every department that depends for development and support upon this system, has undergone many very important changes.
 The system of listing property at q certain percentage of it's fair and just value was adopted and maintained to avoid as much as possible the payment of q large state tax Now that this state tax is not at present exacted, there is no good or valid reason for continuing this system.
 The rule of valuation as fixed by the statute laws is the proper and only one to be governed by. 1t distinctly pro- yides, That the present, true and just value of any estate shall be deemed by assessors and boards of relief to be the fair market value thereof, and not its value at ! forced or auction sale.''
 There is only one true and proper course for the assessors to follow in the matter of fixing valuations, and that is the one marked out by the sta- tutes.
 There are no discretionary powers conferred upon the assessors in this matter of valuation. They have no right to say that property shall be listed at 10 20, 30 or 40 per cent of it's value.
 This system of listing property at q certain percentage of it's valuation is a pernicious one, for it follows in thr old groove; it affords opportunities for favoritisn; it is illegal; it IS delusive; 1t is q snare and a bad system to tie to. F@.A ass . It has been said that .absolute equality of taxation is hardly. attain- able under any System.'
 But equality of taxation should be the aim of the assessors. and every ef- fort made to accomplish 1r; and ca, taken that the great masses of the community, the men of limited means, who have struggled to secure home, should not bear more than their just proportion of the burden.
 With property listed at it's. fair and just value, the grand list would amount to $4O,O00.0OO.
 To say the least, would not a tax rate of nine mills on the dollar on such a grand list. sound and appear better to the outside world than the present one of thi1ty-one mills on the dollar, on grand list of SIP 2,OOO,OOO?
 The present high rate of taxation has without q doubt tendency to cripple the prosperity of the city. Man. ufacturers move away, and those who would otherwise come. stay away.
 I recommend that this court request the board of assessors to list all prop erty whether real or personal; inn proved or nnimproved, at the fair and -l.-.