The Savannah morning news., 1903-06-18
INCREASE IN VALUES
EXPECTED THAT RETURN OF TAX
ABLE PROPERTY WILL SHOW
AN ADVANCE OF 100000.
BOOKS OF TAX RECEIVER BAKER
WILL CLOSE SATURDAY.

An Increase of Values of About 3
Per Cent. Is Expected-Reduction
of Present Tax Rate Is Practi-
Large Tax Payers Have Made
Their Returns-POH Taxes Have
Fallen on More Than 5,OOO-Mr.
Baker Has Kept Books Open ms
Long ns He Consistently Can.
When the tax books close day after
tomorrow. the digest will show that
the property returns are nearly a mil
lion dollars in advance of those of last
year.
Tax Receiver Baker thinks that the
figures may be that much in excess of
1902, and he confidently expects that
the increase will be over three-quarters
of million,
This increase of nearly per cent. is
induced largely by prosperity and by
the readjustment of values. 1t means
that the tax rate for Chatham county
will be lowered. Mr.. Baker, as well
ty Commissioners, have maintained
for some time past that the present
rate of $7.50 would be lowered when
the board made up its budget in the
fall. The normous increase in prop
erty values practically assures this.
OF course the tax on franchises is
| not counted, in making the estimate,
since it is payable direct to the Con-
| troller General If it were, the en-
| hancement of values would be about
Is per cent. instead of per cent.
No Supplemental List.
The books will close on Saturday aft
ernoon. All of the returns for the large
holdings, except one for about $4,000,
have been made, and it is expected that
many of the remainder will be receiv-
ed before the closing time arrives. The
property owners have been less dila-
tory this year than in any preceding
year, and as a result it is not probable
that the tax receiver will open any
supplementary list for delinquentS.
The books have already been kept
open as long as it is possible. In ex-
tending the usual time, Mr. Baker is
| infringing upon the time allowed him
by law to make up his digests. AL
ways willing to serve the public and
grant them whatever concessions are
in his power, he is now working on
borrowed time. The books have been
open since April 2 and with a compe
tent office force to attend every one
wishing to make a return, the tax re-
turner will have only himself to blame,
it, failing to make his return within
the time prescribed by law, he is dou
ble-taXed
Work On Digests.
The law requires that the digests of
the tax receiver shall be written up
and placed in the hands of the Con-
nv ne 1 do diff
cult task to prepare these digests in
six weeks. Until the returns are all
made ii is impossible to begin the
writing of the digest. The office has
| now remained open longer than is
usual, and it is the desire of the tax
| receiver to begin work on the digest
| next week.
A remarkable fact is that of the
! 5000 and more who are subject to the
payment of a poll tax, less than 5000
have made their returns. This is at
| tributable, in no small measure, to the
| fact that this is an off year, or a year
when there are no political pots sim
mering. Those who do not make re-
turns for poll are also amenable to
| double tax, so that those who wish to
vote next year will have to pay a poll
| tax of 81, unless they make returns
right away.
Polls Are 5000 on.
In contrast to the poll returns this
year, are those of last year, when over
| 5000 made their reports to the tax re-
| ceiver The law requires that the re-
turn of poll tax shall be made in the
| same manner as that of property and
the rich and poor alike make their re-
| turns upon the same blank. Double
| tax operates in either case.
The past week in the office of the tax
! receiver, was a very busy one. 1t is
not anticipated that the three last days
| of grace will be any buster. When il
is considered that the tax receiver has
| to book $4,000 accounts, it may be
| judged what amount of work he has
| to do in receiving them. The taxes
which have been received in the past
two and a half months must be writ
ten upon the digest in little over halt
| that time.