Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1912-02-17
Governor Waller Among the Leaders in Op-
position to System
SOME MISTAKES DOUBTLESS MADE
There VIII Be Many Appeals the Board of ReieBetter
Service Expected Another Year-t is Not Likely the
Board of Relief VIII Greatly Reduce the Grand List

Former Gov. Thomas NJ. Waller,
who was among the leaders in oppesi-
ton &c what he deemed unnecessary
appropriations and which resulted in
a big increase in property valuations
without any decrease in the tax rate,
Is now forefront in the movement to
reduce the valuations to a point that
would meet the absolutely necessary
expenses of the city, He suggested
the calling of city meeting for &C
ton unless the change he desires is
made BY a general pairing down by
the board of relief. This body is
holding regular sessions and the gov
ernor has given public notice that he
will be at the meetings of the board
to aid the aggrieved in procuring their
reductions from the figures set by the
board of assessors. He was politely
Informed that the aggrieved would
receive the same consideration from
the board by appearing in person as
If represented by counsel whose serv-
ice was gratuitous or under pay. Just
the same the governor was present
as a citizen in favorable of a general
reduction of the assessed valuation Of
taxable property. 1t is believed that
the governor has many followers, more
than he had at any of the city meet
ings when his propositions were
turned down.
This increase in valuation of prop
erty really means to the taxpayers in
cash an increase from sixteen to
twenty three mills, although the rate
remains unchanged. The great ma
jerity Of taxpayers are content to pay
their eGua! share of the taxes and the
cause for this protest is the unequal
valuation that some claim has been
made by the assessors, based on the
fact that, while some of the heaviest
taxpayers have been largely increased
In their property valuations, the in
crease has not been in proportion to
that made upon the man who pos
seSses his little morgaged home. True
the valuations may have been low be-
fore the recent increase was made
but that rule applies equally to th5
big and little taxpayers, and there
fore the increase should be proper
Tomato. Here is fair sample. There
is a valuable plant doing a paying
business in the city that is in the lis
If assessed property under the new
rule at about $4,000. A bank II
Norwich has q mortgage on this valu.
able property for 100000, which, o,
course, was not given until the ex-
| aminers Of thu bank reported the
property to be worth at least 5000, 900
| as under the state laws the banks art
not permitted to take mortgage fol
an amount IN excess of one-half of thu
actual value. This is only one in.
stance and those on the inside declare
| that there are many more of the SAM
| kind, 1t was expected that the re
valuation Of taxable property would
bring with it not only a general in,
crease in value, but also a fair equal
| tZation Of valuations, and without dis
elimination. The claim Is made tina
| this has not been done, hence the "hu
| and cry" against the board of asses
sors and appeal to the board Of re
! lief.
From present indications the boar
| of relief will not make any materia
| change in the figures submitted by tn
| board Of assessors as the assessment
| is made to meet the appropriation
recommended by the people in cit,
meeting assembled, and they are guild
ed by the will Of the people.
Mayor Mahan made lucid explana
| tion of the tax situation in his ad
mirable speech at the EIks' banque
| in New London Wednesday eYenini
| when he reviewed at length tn
changes that had been made in hi
Old home town when he was news
! boy under fourteen years of age. H
referred to the increase in the ia.
rate of from ten to sixteen mills fort
years ago wher Governor Waller wa
mayor of the city and when exMayo
J Tinker, then a member Of the cour
! of common council. was the bitteres
/ opponent of Mayer Walters progress