Evening journal., 1902-03-14
CONDEMNS NBW
CITY ASSESSMENT
CONTINUED From First Page).

several other suggestions the follow
ing was adopted
Whereas. Il appears from the report
of the special committee on city assess
ment for 1902 that the assessment Of
city property fixed by the Board Of
Assessment Revision and Appeal was
made largely upon information fur
nished by special assessors, who are
not legally constituted officers of the
city, that the valuations of city prop
critics are. in many and conspicuous in
stances unequal and largely in excess
of the true cash value of the properties
so assessed: therefore be il
Resolved. That this board condemns
the assessment made as aforesaid, and
recommends to all property owners
who may feel aggrieved that they ap-
peal from said assessment
IT, has come to the committee that
piece OF land purchased in East Lake
by Samuel h. Baynard for SS,40O, was
assessed beyond reason. The property
is from eight TO ten feet below the
street level. and this, it is claimed,
greatly depreciates its value. The old
assessors had il on their books as being
valued at S11 600 and although this was
thought to be high, no objection was
made The assessment for 1902 has
been raised to $4,000 by these sky
scraping assessors said Samuel II.
Baynard. and this the owner believes
IS owing to the assessors ignorance
or dishonesty
Joseph L. Carpenter who sold the
property to its present owner, said he
had sold better ground in the neigh
borhood at 1925 foot, and he consid-
cred the tax outrageously high. Presi-
dent LawtOn said he had received com
plaint from the Pullman Car Company
and expected that a representative of
the company would be present. but on
account of visit to the West he was
unable to be there.
The company says that its assess
ment was $4,000 on the old plant. but
these figures have been raised TO $780,
900. Notwithstanding the fact that
some of the new shops have been
erected on marsh land. and that would
exempt them for at least eight years.
Property that has only recently been
sold at private sale at 81 a foot is as
sessed at Sc. and the only way that
seems open to the taxpayers is to form
a citizens association, procure able
counsel and combat the assessment in
the courts. by refusing to pay It. It is
held that the assessment is illegal be-
cause in many instances it exceeds the
cash value Of the properties. and the
law on this point is very plain.
This action of the Board of Trade
Will be the signal for the heavy bur
dened taxpayer TO arise in his just an
ger and give battle to the incumbranee
that threatens to suck his life's blood
away. It not onlydeyOlYes upon thetax-
payer TO fight. but upon the wage
Garner as well. because increased as
sessment means an increase of rent
Mr.. Reed thought that the Board Of
Trade should investigate any injustice
to the taxpayer, and after making a re-
port should stop and allow him TO
fight it out for himself.
= Indignation was expressed by all OF
the members present but several
thought IL improper to adopt resolu-
tions too scathing in condemning the
assessment, although It be inequitable
and unjust
Mr. Rossell offered the following
resolutions in regard to the new city
charter. and after their adoption moved
that any action be postponed until the
next regular meeting:
Resolved, That this board reaffirms
its approval of the bill entitled AN act
10 alter and re-establish the charter Of
the city OF Wilmington prepared by
the boards special committee, and pre-
sented to the General Assembly at it's
last session.
"Reolved. That this board condemns
the neglect of the General Assembly
10 consider and act upon said bill. and
specially condemns the refusal of that
body to comply with the request. made
in behalf of this board, to pass the
bill with amendments providing for the
submission of the same to popular vote
Resolved. That this board deems il
necessary. for the removal of the
evils under which the people of Will
mington are now suffering that the
city government should be reorganized
under new charter, and this board
recommends to the voters of the city
that at the next election they select as
their representatives in the General
Assembly citizens who can be relied
upon to give proper and intelligent at
tention to this most important ques-
ton"
g1arenon Apdercop fornnarIxy n