The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-02-21
ENGLISH BUYERS
Have TO BEWARE
Merchants Cheat and Are
Not Ashamed-Cet What
You Can Is Theory.

starts housekeeping In Engiaho mas
to find out Is that II no doesn't look
uncommonly sharp he will be cheated
right and left by the tradesmen who
supply him with the daily necessities.
English honesty Is a tradition. but 1t
hasn't penetrated down to the small
brakeman. nor indeed, to some of the
big ones. In fact the legal motto:
"Cayeat emptor"-let the buyer be-
waro--is still the keynote OF all deal.
ings In the British isles.
Except In some Of the big stores.
where the American influence has
made itself felt. the one price sys-
TEN is unknown, and the little local
man charges every price he thinks he
can get. The grocer and the butcher
and the vegetable man don't even stop
ut that. II you don's scrutinize your
bills closely you will find yourself pay
ing for grapes that never were deliv-
cred and for groceries that you never
have eaten. When you draw atten-
ton to the mistake" the tradesman
tells you blandly that they ought to
have been charged to Mrs. Smith, next
door.
Government Makes "Mistakss."
But one would hardly expect that
governmental institutions are run on
the Same principles. One would think
for instance. that the great British
government would scorn to exact
moro taxes than were it's due or that
. British municipality would be
ashamed to overchargc you for your
share Of carrying away the ashes and
garbage and keeping the streets clean.
but In dealing with these public bod
lee ono must also bear In mind the
motto: "Cavaet emptor."
Ono Of the favorite tricks Of the
British municipality 10 the overassess-
ment Of real estate held by small ow-
ncrs. who may be assumed to be ig-
norant Of the proper methods of fix
ing taxation. Big real estate compa-
mes never are overassessed, because
they wouldn't stand II, and an attempt
20 do 10 might lead to expensive and
unpleasant litigation. Here's a typi-
cal case OF an attempt to fleece a
small owner which actually occurred
In q London suburb a few days ago.
Hundreds of similar cases occur every
week.
How Taxes Are Assessed.
To begin with It IL necessary to ex-
plain that In England the local taxes
are assessed on annual rental value Of
the house, and not AZ in the United
States on Its capitol value. but the
law says that this annual rental value
shall not be the rent actually paid. It
IL the net return to the owner after a
proper allowance for repairs and other
outgoings and usually is about four
fifths of the actual gross rental value
In the case In point man had
bought a house In the same row as
that In which he had been living as a
tenant and when he received his first
local tax bill he was surprised to
find that his rental value was a good
many dollars higher than that of the
similar house he had just quilted. He
protested to the local council and re-
ceived reply that he would be noti-
fled OF date on which he might ap-
pear before the assessment commit
tee and state his case. In the mean
time the collector turned up couple
Of weeks ahead of his usual calling
time and threatened that II tho tax
demanded was not paid at once the
sheriff would be put In possession. A
few weeks later. nothing further hav.
Ing been heard from the council. the
man wrote again. and this time he
received letter stating that the coun-
ell had decided to reduce his assess
mcnt to figure little higher than
tho owner claimed 1t ought to be. and
intimating that II he didn't want to
take that no could sue.
Owners overasssssed.
Suing would have been expensive.
90 the owner accepted the concession
and asked for refund OF the money
overpaid on tho first half years bill,
whereupon he was informed that this
was impossible. as at tho time he paid
tho higher assessment was the legal
one.
find on inquiry that a number of
other owners In the same district have
been overassessed in tho same way,
but those who made no protests re-
ceivcd no reduction and are paying
moro than they ought to. also learn
that II ID the accepted practice all ov.
or London boroughs to try on the
highest possible assessment in the
hope that no protest will be made in
tho case Of small owners.
But the municipal governments are
not the only offenders. The great i'm.
perial government OF the British EN-
pirc also tries to squeeze little bit
extra out Of the unfortunate taxpay.
or when It can. The income tax law
provides for number OF exemptions,
but 1t IL 10 involved that only an ex.
pert can understand 1t, and IL the
puzxled taxpayer appeals to a collec-
tor or surveyor for help he is told that
the officials business is to get all the
money he can and not to help any one
to reduce his tax bill Moreover, 1t
seems to be his business to try on ex.
ira charges. I have before me an in
como tax bill sent after receipt of a
perfectly straightforward return to
which the sum Of $e6 had been added
without rhyme or reason.
Beware 10 Motto.
When the taxpayer called at the col.
lector's office to ask what this meant,
he was met with the bland statement: