Putnam patriot., 1909-10-29
Extra Work for Assessors.

At the last session Of the Legislature stringent laws were enacted which spe- officially require that all property, un- less otherwise exempt, shall be assess ed al its apresent true and actual val uation,'' and very Just law Il Is.
 Last year some time the Putnam Bu- siness Mems Association invited State Tax Commissioner w. II. Corbin to address our citizens on the subject of property for the purpose of taxation. He compiled, and before a large assem- blaze he made 1t quite clear that the present mode of assessing property was both wrong and injurious to public mo- rals. In some towns property was as- assessed at half it's actual valuation, in others at three quarters, and some at It's true value. But even then IL as not always certain that the true value was sworn 10, or that all the property
 was listed. He showed, further, that sessing property less than at It's true valuation. It was an actual injury 10 make such levy. Where property was assessed al half it's actual value, a tax had to be laid just double the amount that would be required al full valuation. II the levy was i6 mills, only x mtlls was actually levied--and the statement went out that such n | town was heavily taxed, ana the effect | would be to deter people to buying pro- pefty and settling there, who would go l where only an $ mill tax was levied,
 erroneously supposing they were thus l beneiiting themselves.
 The Commissioner's statement WIS
 c c,nvincing and was we'll received, but there the matter ended No doubt the
 law was enacted through the influence of Tax Commissioner Corhin. He has
 followed Il up by sending a circular 10
 the assessors of all the towns in the
 State, explaining the law in detail, and In addition, the Tax Commissioner Is to hold meetings in each county, where | hejwill meet and enlighten and instruct
 the assessors as to their duties and ohli- gations in carrying out the provisions
 of the law faithfully, for there is q hea-
 " attached for their non-eomphance l with the law.
 The Tax Commissioner invites the
 assessors of this county 10 meet him al
 Willimantie on Tuesday, October a6, al ts0 n. m, in the New Town Hall, 1 where he will address them for their instruction, guidance and admonition,
 in their forthcoming new duties, He
 will also answer all questions to re
 m ,se any doubts and difficulties in regard to the provisions ot the new law. IL behooves every assessor tn the
 towns of this county to be present al
 this meeting whether they think they
 understand the law or not IL is an important matter and the consequent
 ces may prove serious if there should
 be any failure in strictly carrying out
 the provisions ol the law.
 l Every citizen should also understand
 the general provisions of the new as- sessmenI law.
 i In one ol his circulars the Tax Goni- missioner gives ia condensed form the I Vital points in Inc assessment laws,
 with especial torcv upon that clause
 which provides that all property. an- | less othera lse exempt, shal he assess ed al Us true and actual valuation. lie alse says:
 "Mhile lhe sssessoes are allowed to | take sroal the town clSfk the tlsI and l abstract os the previous year to pefiees the new lis,, the statutes do nas seena to liasti.y Inc s holesais copying oi such lists ss substitutes Ter Aoar own Nala- atipn.
 Then he closes with this comment.