The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-06-08
And Barre Civil Authority Dis,
misse' Three
HAD Az oRTANT SESSION
- important Discussion Was on Ins
crease in Appraisal of Barre Savings
Bank Stock from $40 TO $50 a Share
FIG. Howland's Appeal Sustained.

After hearing five appeals from ths
loI2 appraisals of the Barre assessors.
the board of civil authority late last
night sustained two of the appeals. dis.
missed three and took final adjournment.
Only eight of the twenty two members
OF the board were present. James Mao.
kay acted as chairman.
The first appeal was that of George w.
Mann on the appraisal of two houses and
lots on Wiley street at $1,000 each. Mr..
Mann stated that each house was identi
cal with one other house of his on ths
same street, which the assessors kept in
lhe hst at VI 600. He claimed that the
appfalsal was more than the houses and
iots cost MN, the cost price Of each
property being Sl,500. He said that IL
that = ihe way the city is going to
assess hlm, he was sorry he had built
the houses, although he was getting S24
rental per month from each Of III
houses, which are double tenement
His appeal was sustained: and the as.
sessment on each of the two houses waf
reduced to $1,000.
The next appeal was that of Fred N
Braley, who protested, through his attor
ney. j.. NJ. Harvey, against the action
OF the assessors in adding $4,000 IA nj,
taxable list after he had filed an inyent
tory and sworn to it. Attorney Harvey
insisted that the assessors must. under
the law show property which is not be.
ing taxed before they can exercise their
law-glven prerogative of increasing the
list II, in their judgment. the taxpayer
is not paying on the value of all his
property and, be maintained they had
not shown single piece of property
which had not been declared.
Tn the other hand, the assessors as
serted, through City Attorney L. L.
scott and by their personal statements,
that they believed the appellant was not
assessed on ali his property; and. there.
fore, they used their right under the
law IN adding such sum as thew be.
leyed represented the difference betwees
the amount set in the list and the appel.
lant's actual property.
Then followed long wrangle on the
points of the law, but in the end the
board dismissed the appeal.
Henry Powers appeal on the valuation
of his house on Grant avenue at 81 200
was dismissed, as he had not entered an
appeal with the assessors, according to
the laws requirement
Perhaps the most important action
was on Frank c. Howlands personal ap-
peal and the appeal of the other resident
stockholders of the Barre Savings Bank
Z Trust Co. against increasing the tax
able value of the banks stock from $40
10 Sl60 share. Mr.. Howland main
aimed that the valuation, while great
to his bank, was not basel
IN market value of the stock as detera
mined by the record of sales and thaS
t was high in comparison with stock of
,ther banks in Barre.
City Attorney Scott, at this point. pro-
ested against the comparison of the
'alue of stock in local banks as a means
or getting at the value of the Barre
savings bank stock; and although no
uling was made by the board on tho
'rotest. such basis for an appeal was
ot insisted on by Mr.. Rowland, although
ater in the meeting comparison was
rought out with other local banks.
The assessors said they had placed
leo valuation on the Barre Savings bank
took after they had determined the book
alue of the stock at $3.50, and they
resented figures to show the increase in
urplus and undivided profits during ths
ear to warrant the increase from Sl40
0 $3.50. They had allowed, they said,
20 difference between the book valuation
nd the valuation for taxation, consider
lg that difference very ample. They
ad also reached a decision, they said,
n comparison with the stock of the
our banks in Montpelier.
Mr.. Rowland, too, presented figures
rom banks throughout the state, as
iowing that his assessment was too
igh In fact. last year he and the
ther directors of the bank had consid-
red the valuation 1T Sl40 too high, al
lough they decided to enter an appeal;
ut when the amount was jumped to
100 this y-ar they should not submit
ithout protest.
After over an hours discussion in open
'ssion, the board of civil authority went
ito executive session and then voted to
lstan the appeal of Mr.. Howland and
duee the assessment on his stock to
40 per share. At the same time they
smissed the appeal of the other resi-
mt stockholders in the Barre Savings
INK, on the ground that it was not law
lily made. Therefore. it is probable
at the board later will have some petit
ons for abatement of taxes when the
her stockholders who are assessed on
60 valuation got around to pay their
xes for 1919.