The Detroit times., 1910-10-24
TO Make APPEAL
ON ASSESSMENTS.
Greenfield, Ecorse, Hamtramok and
Crosse Points viii Submit Grisv.
ances To Arbitration.


Dissatisfied with the boosts given
the assessed valuations Of their town
ships by the committee on eQualiza-
ton OF the Wayne county board OF
supervisors, the supervisors Of Green
held, Ecorse. Hamtramck and Crosse
Pointe townships have retained coun-
sci to file an appeal with the chair
man OF the board. Attorney Elton X.
Nellis represents Hamtramck, while
Attorney James n. Pound Is looking
after the interests of the other three
complainants.
I'VE are making the appeal under
an act OF 1909, which provides for Q
protest In the matter OF over-taxa-
tion," said Mr.. Nellis at the close Of
the Saturday morning session of the
the chairman OF the board of super
visors IL obliged to appoint an outside
ex-supervisor, that Is, former super
visor outside OF the county Of Wayne.
while the aggrieved persons appoint
one themselves. Then these two get
together and appoint q third man,
who IL also disinterestod ex.super-
visor. This committee then reviews
original assessed valuations and the
work of the equalization committee,
and II It Is found that the increases
were unwarranted, redress Is assured
In accordance with the provisions OF
the act This committee has, the
power to reconvene the board of SUI
pervisors and can compel the board TO
readjust the figures as recommended
by the committee. The committee has
full power and its findings are final."
Supervisor vignoe, Of Greenfield
township, complained bitterly before
the board of supervisors. Saturday
morning, at the be ost the equalization
committee made in the assessment OF
his township. He charged that the
committee didn't comply with the law
In making the increase; that II dis
eliminated against Greenfield In favor
of other townships, and that the as
sessment fixed by the township board
was right and adequate. To bring the
matter officially before the board and
to insure the township ample protec-
ton in connection with its appeal, ne
moved q reconsideration of the adop-
ton of the report Of the equalization
committee. The motion was lost on
the following division: Yeas--Atchin-
son, Beaufait, Kelly, Labadie. Megges,
Pernot, Schroeder, Vignoe and Wiles
g. Nays--Bower, Bradner, Burt, But
Ter, Ellis, Field. Friewald. Garvey,
Gilman, Colts, Grindley, HARPER,
Hurst, Konkel. Korte. Lempke, Loech-
ner, Miller, Mckinney, Near, North
rup, Ostrowski, Owen, Skrzycki.
Thompson, Tossy, Trevor. Vernon.
Wager, Walsh, Wing. Zoeller and
Chairman Goeschel-34.
Members of the equalization COM
mittee contended that there was no
discrimination against Greenfield or
any other township, and that justice
was accorded to all.
Supervisor Labadie, of Ecorse, 10
Just as much displeased with the work
of the committee on equalization as Is
Supervisor vignoe, and he introduced
a resolution which he hopes will OBJ
viate further trouble OF the kind In
the future. The motion follows:
Resolved, That the prosecuting
attorney OF Wayne county be re-
quested to prepare bill to bo sub
mitted to the legislature Of this
state, at It's next session, provid-
ing for q county tax commission,
whose duty Il shall be to exam
inc and, equalize the assessment
rolls Of the cities and townships
of the county of Wayne, and ex-
cept said county from tie pro-
visions of the statutes now exist
ing in reference to equalization, SO
far as the same are Inconsistent
with this resolution.
The resolution was referred to the
ways and means committee and will
be considered on Monday.
1.-THE committee on equalization has
been boosting the assessed valuation
of Ecorse for years back" said Super
visor Labadie, and we now think IT
is time to call halt. We feel GER
tain that the appeal we are taking
will give us some redress"
The committee on ways and means
took UP a number OF matters prior TO
the board meeting, Saturday morn
ing. II reduced the salary OF the
county surveyor from $500 to $3.50,
on recommendation Of the county
auditors; boosted the pay Of the wo-
man stenographer In the once OF the
county school commissioner from 1920
to $40: declined to grant the chief
clerk In the justice courts an In
crease in pay from $1,000 to $1,000 a
year. and threshed out the requisition
of the poor commission for $4,000 to
be used for temporary relief; $4,000,
TO care for the insane at the Eloise
asylum, and $1,000 for insurance.
The commission has reported that
II will have a surplus OF $4,000 on
hand at the end Of the present fiscal
wear. and the members of the ways
and means committee are Of the opin-
ion that the commission should use
its surplus and not require the super
visors to spread any amount on the
tax rolls this year for maintenance
of the poor and insane. The commit
tee decided TO ask the prosecutor
whether il could compel the commits
sion to use its surplus. and his opin-
ion Is expected in the Monday meet
ing OF the committee.