Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1908-04-30
TO INCREASE
ASSESSED VALUE
Supervisor OF Assessment Recon-
inends Assessing All at Full Value
Would Promote Epuaiiz alton


Would Promote Euuaiiz alton
The annual meeting of the asses
court house Tuesday, according to
law. All the assessors were present
as follows: Louis StensOn, Bruce:
Dave Biller, True; Alex Parks, Flam-
beau; &. +. Shattuck, Hawkias; j.
w. Crooker, Ingram; :. Dosdall,
Stubbs; F. N. Brainerd, Big Bend;
NJ A. Anderson. Weyerhauser; Il. &.
SIayton, Rusk; I. Tomezak, Strick-
land; t.. Lessard, Lawrence; NJ. Ell
son, Willard; II. B. Peterson, Allan
TIA; NJ. II. Ward, Grow; p. Alder,
Dewey; F. Girard, Thornapple; Geo.
Moore, Grant; c. r. Diamond, Wash
ington; A. O. Curtiss, Marshall.
Supervisor OF Assessment Sever
Serley of Atlanta delivered the fol-
lowing address, which we publish in
full:
To THE ASSESSORS OF THE COUNTY OF
RUSK, STATE OF WISCONSIN:
GENTLEMEN: In meeting here in
conformity with the laws Of the state,
for conference and instruction relative
to our duties as assessors, it IS pre-
sumed that you will take the lead in
conferring and | in instruction. | am
fully conscious of my inability to in
struct. Many of you have had the ex-
perience and technical knowledge of
the work, coupled with good Judgment,
for years. | can but remind you OF the
obligations we owe to the state, and
emphasize the chief points in your labor,
TO encourage you to work for improve
ment and for better results. In these
days our employers, the people, are
looking for results. The demand OF the
times is for knowledge, performance
and equity in your official action. We
cannot stand still in our work, to do
just as we'll as our predecessor, is gong
backward We must do better, move
on with courage, resolving each year to
make some advancement and snow
progress. There should be no hesita-
tion in securing better assessment this
year than in the last, or any previous
years of our service. No one should
despair and say that assessments can
not be made more accurately and eqult-
ably in the future than in the past.
When one reaches perfection in any
line, his usefulness is impaired.
My authority consists in advice and
persuasion. | will try and merit your
confidence and respect. [ want to hear
your honest criticism on my work and |
expect you 10 listen to my criticisms on
yours, both with a spirit of fairness and
tolerance, to the end that a more per-
feet and a just assessment be made.
1t is your duty to put all the property
of your district, that is liable to taxa
ton, on the assessment roll. We have
the tax-dodger. likely some IN every
district, they are a hard class to deal
with The belief is all too prevalent,
that a man who returns his personal
property is robbed by his neighbors who
do not bear their share, and each man
feels inclined to disobey the law. Our
assessment law not only raises revenue,
but also liars and laWbreakers. There
is but little conscience on the subject.
But we can get large portion Of their
holdings on the roll if we would use
the so-called ''doomage power" with
discretion and fearlessness.
The ''doomage power" allows you to
use your Judgment, instead of the word
or oath of the property owner, and
your success as an assessor depends
upon how many times you have used
that power during the year. II tax
dodger gives in $1,000 worth of prop
ertY, and you have good reason to be-
lieve he has $4,000 or $4,000 worth that
he should be assessed for, don't give
him the benefit of the doubt by assess
ing him $4,000 or less, but give your
employer, the district, the benefit every
time by assessing him $4,000. He will
take care of himself before the BOARD
of Review, while you are employed by
the town for the express purpose OF
getting all the property liable to taxa
tion on the roll
1t has been mentioned that the asses
sor has not enough power to bring, the
tax-dodger to terms. Now, | want te
again remind you that the power
already exists. 1t exists now! 1t Is
upon the statute books. 1t gives you
the power to set down in your rol
against every individual who is liable t
assessment in your district, such sums
for personal property as you believe
will be just and equitable, and tha
may be done whether the person to b'
assessed has presented you a sworl
statement or not, then, if that indivld
nal so assessed does not go before tn
Board of Review and make a full dis
: closure, under oath, of all his persona
property liable for assessment, he
not entitled to relief before the board
nor is he entitled to relief in the court
to which he may afterwards take hi
case, Exercise that power and yo
can accomplish great deal, and ever
step forward will make the next ste
easier and more effectual.
Too many assessors permit propert
owners to assess themselves: blan
is given them and they fill it out, an
the assessor has not courage to add t
the list. When such practice prevail
the temptation is too great for huma
nature to resist. The owner represent
himself only, while you represent a
the taxpayers of the district. Strlv
to list every assessable piece of proper
ty and let the averages take care
themselves.
Large corporations or business firm;
or in fact any large holder of property
have the power to revive or deaden tn
prosperity of any community, henc
many districts assess the large propert
holders low, SO as to obtain the favor {
good will of the owners. Now, viii
that good will is indeed valuable ar
in many instances essential to tn
growth of the community. | don
think they should be favored with
low assessment and hope you will NJ
consider that a large business intere
should be exempt from taxation
account of being a benefit to the peoplI