Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1909-08-14
sHELLFIsH COMMISSION
Will Be Able to Increase Revenue to
Provide the $4,000 Wanted for serv-
ices

New Haven, Aug. 13.-In an inter
view with Shellfsh Commissioner
John H. Clarke today in reference to
the resolution passed by the senate on
Tuesday last, creating commission
for the investigation of the question
of oyster taxation, and appropriating
$4,000 for the services of three mem
bers of such commission at SIS per
day each, Mr.. Clarke was questioned
particularly in regard to the amend
ments which were presented just be-
fore the bill was passed, by Senator
Brinsmade, providing, first, for
board of relief, and, second, that the
taxes should be collected by the tax
commissioner instead of at the office
of the shellfish commission, as here
tofore.
Mr.. Clarke stated that he understood
the occasion for the first of these
amendments was to meet the criti-
cism that this commission would be
an expense to the state without any
revenue being provided to meet such
expense, and that the commission by
being given powers of a board of relief
and so enabled to increase as well as
decrease assessments, would be able
to provide revenue IL ii saw fit, to
equal or even exceed the ten thousand
dollars which 1t is proposed to eX-
pend.
AS to the second amendment. Mr..
Clarke said that he had never heard
it discussed, and knew of no reason
for it unless there might be suspicion
in some quarters that the shellfish
commissioners would not carry out
their sworn duty and collect the tax
which might be laid by the other com
mission as board of relief. He said
| that as he understands it, the duties
of the tax commissioner are wholly in
consistent with the collection of rev.
enue; that he does not at the present
time collect any revenue or handle
any money, and is not under bonds.
Also, that if the office force Of the
tax commissioner is busy at the pres
ent time, or under normal conditions,
then it will be necessary to add to the
force in order to carry out the collec-
ton duties. Also that the records of
ownership and all the other records of
the shellfish office, which would neces-
sarily have to be referred TO in the
collection of taxes would continue to
| be kept at the office of the shellfish
| commission, and the work of collec-
ton would be greatly hampered by
| the tax commissioner not being able
! to refer to the records except by COM
/ ing to New Haven.
Continuing, Mr.. Clarke said That
part of the amendment which provides
LndJ all moneys received Dy the tax
commissioner in payment of taxes and
| interest shall be accounted for and
paid to the state treasurer, is in di-
rect conflict with chapter zoe of the
public actss of 1907, in that it takes
away from the towns Of New Haven
| and Orange, taxes on New Haven har-
Dor oyster grounds. 1t also violates
! the agreement which was made with
| these towns two years ago and, in
| the absence of which agreement, the
attorney general is of the opinion that
the act bringing New Haven harbor
| into state jurisdiction would not be
constitutional, in that it would work
| n deprivation Of taxes which belong to
these towns on the ground referred to.
/ There is another provision along the
same line recently passed at this ses-
sion in reference to taxes on the town
| grounds in Westport"
In closing, Mr.. Clarke said that there
are not, and, as far as he can ascer-
| tain, never have been anv uncollected
! taxes to speak of and there is no
| reason he knows of why the present
| system of collecting taxes will not
work as well in the future as it has
in the past.