Norwich bulletin., 1910-10-19
PUTNAM
State Tax Commissioners Corbin Ad-
dresses Assessors and Board of Re-
lief from County Towns-k. of C.
Check for Estate of Rev. Eugene
oConnsll-County Commissioners
Consider License Applications,

State Tax Commissioner William Fl.
Coro1n gave an interesting and valua-
Die talk to about thirty five members
OF boards of assessors and boards of
relief representing many towns of
Wlpdham county. in the city council
chamber Tuesday afternoon
II was such gathering a the COM
missioner holds from time to time
throughout the state for the purpose
of giving an opportunity to of1cials
VINO have to do with matters Of tax
alton TO ask questions about this al
ways important subject and informally
talk over special phases of the intri-
cate task of fixing rates judioiously.
1t was three hours session. Mr.
Corbin occupied the mayors chair,
while the visitors sat around the al
derman circle and grouped themselves
outside the railing in the spectators
chairs.
Answered Many Questions.
There was rapid fire of questions
Tor tue commissioner to answer. and
ne answered them all Much if not
all, OF the information that he impart-
ed was as valuable to others as to the
person that asked, and many of those
present busted themselves taking
notes
Mr.. Corbin drew literally on his
fund of taxation information clearing
. up points that have been but hazily
understood in some instances. @. mis-
Interpreted in others. Mr. Corbin ap-
peAred to enjoy the talk as much as
anyone and later said that he did.
Lay Tax at Special 7-wn Meeting
One particular thing that he dis
cussed and advocated is of special
general interest. This was that towns
desist from laying the tag rate for
the ensuing year at the annual town
meeting. The commissioner requests
a 1Ea~.. lNr II a q
lsfactoTy, results are to he obtained
would be to lay the tax at a special
town meeting that ought to be held
as/late as February. This would al
low of the assessors and board of re-
nef holding their meetings and ad-
1usting the grand list according to
any changes that might be necessary
IHen when the meeting to lay the tax
was called the rate could be accurately
nxed by reference to the grand list
as basis for ascertaining the amount
of money required to be raised
Present Method Faulty.
Laying tax at the annual town
meeting IN advance of possible changes
| In the grand list is fixing the rate for
the ensuing year on the basis of the
past years assessment and NAV be
considered as handicap on the as
SCISSORS. and board of relief
ohS1'N NohHO Up tnc 1UatcrJ.
The commissioners also suggested
that 1t would be proper for tax Off
Gals to go after citizens who always
failed to file declara tons as to the
! value of their taxable holdings per-
ferring to be ten percented. This fail
ure, in many cases, is considered by
Mr. Corbin as evidence Of a desire to
conceal the true amount of assessable
property. His remedy, as explained to
his audience is to bring such persons
before the board of assessors put them
under OATH as is permissible, and by
questioning them determine what the
real value of their property u.s. There
were many other matters relative to
taxes discussed, including exemptions,
rights of the board of equalization,
methods of fixing values, etc, etc.
Towns Well Represented.
Nearly all the towns in this end of
| the county were represented in the
meeting, including Putnam, Thompson
! Woodstock. Pomfret, Killingly, Plain
field, Brooklyn and Canterbury.
Practice for Basketball Team.
Manager Frank Cordier's basketball
| yeam had its first practice workout of
the season Tuesday evening, when
| they gathered in Hammond hall to
risk around, timber up, and toss the
| ball at the baskets that haven't had
such treatment in so many months
that some Of the spectators thought
they lodged. But, then, this may have
been because of inaccuracies of judg-
ment in looking and throwing.
At any rate, the team has COM
menced to get into shape. The Yale
Rovers have been taken on for ga me
TO be played on Thanksgiving after
noon, and the players will strive stead
| lily from now on to get into form for
long hard season, And their fol-
| lowers all wish them good luck.