The Paducah sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1898-1906, 1906-01-25

SURPRISE In STORE
FOR MANY PEOPLE
Supervisors Send Out Notices to
800 Property Owners.
That They Have Assessed ON Dia-
monds, Pianos and Automo-
biles.
ABOUT 100000 WORTH IN ALL

A great many people in Paducah
will be surprised this week to ascer-
tain that long-concealed diamonds,
jewelry, their piano. automobile and
such things, have been assessed for
taxation.
When the supervisors are asked
how 1t happened, they only smile
and declare that they don't know. AS
a matter of fact, the county super
visors today began sending out no
tees to three hundred people, of
raises in personal assessment. This
list was obtained by some unknown
person in some unknown way, and it
is understood that the city supervis-
ors also have it. 1t is not known
where the list came from, or who
prepared it, or, If it is known, no one
will give out anything about it. Most
of the persons on the list did not give
in their personal property to either
the county or city assessor, but some
one, in some way, prepared the list
and il is said that hundreds of
pianos, diamonds and all the auto
mobiles in the city have been listed.
The total valuation of the prop
erty represented in the list is about
100000, it is understood, but when
protests are heard, 1t may be cut
down IN S15O 0OO
1t is said that about $4,000 worth
of unassessed diamonds were found
on one city block. Pianos and jew
elry that have been owned for years
and never been assessed before have
been assessed this time, and there is
likely to be considerable surprise
when the notices are received by the
owners.
One man voluntarily went in be-
fore the county board yesterday and
stated that he understood he had
been assessed for a diamond, and
that he owned one, but had had it
only since December. which would
exempt it from taxation.
Another man had been Boosting
that he was the only man to give in
his diamonds for assessment, and
when the supervisors looked, they
ascertained that he was mistaken, as
he had not given them in. His dia-
monds are now assessed.
The supervisors say that thousands
of dollars worth of personal property
has never yet been assessed in Padu-
cab, but they are getting next to how
to get it, and every year they manage
to add to the list.
The city supervisors are hearing
protests now, but the county board is
engaged in considering transfers of
property. The county board starts
hearing protests on February 5th.
The city board of supervisors also
has list of over 800 names, sent to
1t anonymously, 1t is said, and listing
about $4,000 worth of personal
property belonging to the people
whose names are on the list. All
kinds of personal property is listed,
automobiles, diamonds, watches, etc.
Where the list came from, or who
compiled it, is a mystery. A mem
Der of the board told a Sun represen-
tative today that they intended pay
ing no attention to it, as 1t was
mere rot"
1t is a subject of comment, how
ever, among good many people, and
the automobile owners especially are
interested to know what will be done
with the automobile assessments.
The city board has assessed them to
the satisfaction of most of the own
ers, but the county board, II is said,
has them assessed at about 10 per
cent of their value.
1t is rumored but not admitted
that the anonymous list received by
the city board is similar to the list
the county board has. Many people
are wondering why such a state OF
affairs should exist as to make it
necessary, in order to collect just
taxes in Paducah, lists of property
owners have to be prepared by un>
known people and sent in.
1t is also being wondered il 1t is
a fact that the lists the city super
visors have is the same that the
county has, why the city supervisors
should refuse to use 1t when the
county sunervfsors used IT,