Waterbury Democrat., 1902-06-03
ASSESSORS HAVE BUSY TIME l
Old Soldier Who Objected to the
 New System.

He Gave the Assessors a Call Down Said it Looked as Though He Was
 the Old Plan He Paid No Taxes,
 But Under the New, That is Full
 Valuation, He Will Have to Pay His
 Share.
 The board of assessors came near
 being wiped out of existence this morn
 ing by an enraged citizen, who thought
 that he might just as well make q
 fight for his home now as later. He
 was satisfied that it was coming to that
 and called around to get a line on what
 was going on. The caller was l.. w. he remained he made things lively for Assessors Clohessy and Beecher and the two clerks. Mir Tillotson is an old soldier and like all other honorably discharged army men he feels that the new system of taxation will be a hard ship upon him. The law exempts from taxation property belonging to United States soldiers and sailors to- the amount of $1,OO0, but they have to pay the same as others on anything over that amount. so that unless they can get it abated some of them will have to come down handsomely, and all of them who own anything will have to pay something, for almost any kind of lot will be listed for more than $1,- 900. According to the old plan a man whose property was listed at $1000 or less had to pay nothing. Now this property will be taxed on a valuation of S3.OOO, more or less, thus compelling the owner to contribute towards the public expenditures
 After being told that he would have to list his property at it's full value, MT I1llotson caused for a few moments, and then said that he believed the aim was to force him onto the street. What do you mean?' he asked, con- ing down on the table with his clenched fist. You can't get blood out of stone. Can you compel me to pay when I have nothing to pay with? Why are you people watching so close ly the man who is trying to own a home? Might I inquire what you real ize from the tax on libraries? How many gold watches a--d other property of that kind had yot in the list last yearg'
 MT Beecher: "We're not responsible Tor the law. We are simply instru- ments of the law placed here to see that 1t is carried out.'
 Mr Tillotson: T understand that; IT pfY T -Sx pie who own personal property with the same diligence as you watch oth- CTS! How many gold watches did you tax last year!''
 MT Beecher: T don't know; wasn't 1 here last year."
 MT Clohessy: ''If you think your | saX too high under this system you will l nave the same redress you always had. | lou can appear before the board of re- | lei the same as eyer."
 MT I1llotson: You have no right to | assess my property without looking at t. How do you know what it is worth ?''
 MT Beecher: Were not assessing [ now. The law requires us to give property owners from June 1 to July 1 0 hand in their lists, and if they don't 10 that then we do it and add 10 per ent. We intend to look at all the property in Waterbury after we get trough with this part of the pro- ,ram.''
 Mr Tillotson then withdrew, stating S he went that he wouldn't mind q CIV cents if he were millionaire, and dding that he could not swear to such
 statement as was being prepared for i'm
 People who read the article in yes erday's Democrat regarding the new i epafture in the assessors office want know what was that prophecy of udge Cole to which attention was allied. Briefly stated it consisted of q tatement to the effect that if the city E. ontinued to force public Improvements pon poor people without any regard $ TO their ability to pay, more than air the people who owned property in : waterbury at that time would be breed to get out of it inside of ten ears. MT Cole said this at a meeting cid i'll the City hall about four years go at hearing for sewers and side , Falks in South Riverside street. I
 But, after all, there Is not so much lult finding as one might expect over le listing of property at it's full value. eople with small holdings appear to Ike the thing philosophically. and if le big fellows come forward and do 2 Revise the bhrden of taxation will \ e more evenly distributed than ever efore,s and we'll all be singing the I raises of those who brought about the i nange. lf it should turn out other t 'lse then you may expect to hear | drop.