The Baraboo news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1884-1911, 1908-05-06
TENOR OF FA0DRESS OF SAMUEL
BAsINGTON TO THE ASSESS
ORS OF SAUK COUNTY.
MANY ARE LIABLE FOR MONEY
Merchants and Manufacturers are AS
sessed at Lower Values on Their
Stock Than Other Persons.

Strict obedience of the law, no favor
itism, and assessments as nearly as
possible to the real value of property
was the tenor of the address of Super
visor of Assessments Samuel Darlington
of Prairie du Sac to the assessors of
Sauk county Tuesday afternoon at the
county court house.
Mr.. Darlington is man who does no
hedging. His language is straight
forward to the point. There can be
no mistaking his meaning. So we'll
had he gone over the ground that he
was able to explain to the different
assessors where they had failed to get
all of the taxable property listed.
He said that in many districts the
assessors paid too little attention to the
improvements, and urged that the
word of the owner of the property as to
its value anu Improvements should
not be taken. He mentioned case of
his own experience where he had taken
the word of man who was member
of the town board. Out of nine horses
dt seems the owner reported four. One
team of those not assessed sold for $3.50.
He said that often men who are strict
in their dealings in other respects are
quite otherwise when it comes to show
ing up all of their property for taxa
tion. He doubted if ten men in
to IN could be found who would give
an accurate statement as to the value
and amount of property.
Regarding wide tired wagons he
mentioned they should be assessed the
same as other vehicles.
"Don't forget to ask about pianos,"
he said: ''for you will find them where
you least expect. There was an in
crease Of 81 last year and there will be
more this year."
The lowest average value of property
in the county he saiG was the stock of
merchants and manufacturers, the
percentage being 20, while the other
property was from 80 to so per cent.
"Call for an invoice" he said, sand if
they do not produce it use your own
judgment"
Concerning money to be assessed he
said that great many more are liable
for money taxation than one would
suppose. 1t is not necessary to have
the money out at interest he said. If
it is in existence it should be taxed.
Concerning gasoline engines the
speaker said that they were to be taxed
as personal property as they did not
go with the property in the case of
sale unless expressly so stated in the
sale contract.
He said Improvements should be as
sessed according to the real improve
ment to the property and according to
tie actural cost of the improvement.
To get a right assessment he said it
is necessary to make complete vista
tiOn and a correct valuation. The dis
tance to market and the school advant-
ages should be considered.
Mr.. Babington said that the office of
assessor was the most responsible and
most independent office in the county.
He urged that the assessor stand firm
and pay no attention to the chronic
kicker and do his work without fear or
favor.
In the discussion which followed
Mr.. Darlington was able to explain diff
ferent points of the law, and to tell
more forcibly than in his general
speech what each particular assessor
should do to get the property all listed
and rightly valued.
According to his figures the assessed
valuation of the real estate property of
Sauk county asst year was S19, ,252, 1872.
The real value was $4,000, 400. The
ratio was 6O.14%.
The following are the assessors of
Sauk county with their post-office ad-
dresses. Nearly all were present.
Rolla Morley, Baraboo; Walter Phal-
en-, Sandusky; Jermiah McHugh,
Reedsburg; N. Conan, Delton; Her
man Koenecke, Reedsburg; w. T.
Loomis, Baraboo; Paul Luther, Plain;
Frank Hanley, North Freedom; Her
man jain, Baraboo; Henry Ferber,
Prairie du Sac; George Copely, Lime
Ridge; M. M. Grover, La Vale; John
D. Steuber, Prairie du Sac; c., 81.
Kindschi, Prairie du Sac; George Sher-
wood, Reedsburg; George FL. Peck,
Spring Green: S, S. Mather, Prairie du