Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1906-09-06
VOL. Al.
Gross Misuse of Office.

MIR. EDroR:--
Few people realize that it is immoral to
submit TO injustice Fewer still are suf-
fciently courageous, manly, and christian
like to help right neighbors wrongs.
They prefer to see the helpless oppressed
to the annoyance and trouble of working
for general bettcrment Thus every
branch of politics has become corrupt,
and a misuse of the public funds has be-
come the rule instead of the exception.
1t is Just as criminal to make unjust
assessments as it is to obtain money in
any other dishonest way yet this shame
FIJI fraud goes on from year to year, with
out any determined effort being made to
check it.
Toemphasize the crying necessity for
reform in Cameron county, | will cite an
experience Of my own, viz
In the year 1900 disposed of build
Ing on Fourth street, Emporium, but |
was assessed Just as much the following
year as if still owned it. Naturally
demonstrated and, upon investigation, it
was admitted that two persons were as.
sessed for the same building. The com
missioners were very courteous, and
proved their inclination TO be fair by re-
ducing my assessment for that year, But
the assessor raised my valuation $50 the
following year, so as to make my taxes
keep up to the high water mark. Again
protested, but it was useless The as
SCISSOR had entered his figures and they
were now legally entitled to it. Subse-
quently sold house property at a sac
rifce, because felt could no longer en-
dure the burden Of taxation in Emporium
But the taxes on my remaining property
are rapidly climbing, to make up the de
fciency.
Is this right? Is it just? Is il wise :?
Is it not time to have the local assess
ments published, as means Of curbing
unfair discrimination? Assessors are
quite as human as other people, and they
are no more likely to see that county Of
fcials honestly expcnd the money that
they are to conscientiously appraisa prop
erty values.
They are effective instruments in rails
ing money to pay the running expenses
of a town, county, or state; but you want
to keep your eyes on them, and not let
them trife with the assessments. 1t is a
bad babit-that of theft
Nor are the leaders in the public
thought blameless. Every time there is to
be vote cast for expenditures of the pub,
lie funds. the voters are assured that the
debt is decreasing-has, in fact, become
mere ba9atelle. Yet year by year the
taxes continue to soar.
Now there must be drop somewhere
that will cause the peoples endurance tc
overflow. Taxes are trust funds, aud the
county officials who expend the public
money extravagantly or dishonesty y ought
to be indited Tor embezzlement.
How much longer are we to submit t.
be overburdened by taxes out of all pro
portion with our incomes? In New
York city where rentals are enormous
the taxes are on y little over a cent anc
half (l.5D. Where in Emporium
where rentals are low, | paid over sever
times that amount this year for taxes,
Perhaps you may claim that propert,
is assessed at its actual value in New
York city; but | know from painful ex
perience that the so-called "actual value
is preferable to the Emporium assessment
From a purely expedient viewpoint it il
not wise to kill the goose that lays tn
golden eggs. People in the city ar
learning not to over tax themselves, bu
to 6nd sufficient revenue in municipa
ownership of street railways. and othe
profitable investments. When Emporium
officials condescend to consider the com
mercial interests of its taxpayers, Instead
of putting money in the pockets of a few
we can turn on the electric fan and res
easy. 1t is significant that public senti
ment is clamoring to have the local as
sessments published That is step il
the right direction. Let US go flrthe
and insist that. those running for offic
shall pledge themselves to have this done
No misuse of the public money can lon
continue if the voters do their duty An
the men who shrk their duties are nc
absolved from moral responsibility. Th
devil is quite as much where things ar
-'left undone" as where crimes are CON
mitted. Eet the voters watchword thi
tall be REFORM irrespective of part
lines.
A TAXPAYER.