Evening journal., 1913-08-27
BAR WRITERS
FROM MEETING
Chamber of Commerce Hears
Assessment Report Behind
Closed Doors
SYSTEM WOULD
COST CITY $4,000

A special committee Of the Chamber
of Commerce held meeting behind
closed doors last night in the rooms Of
the Chamber Of Commerce TO hear the
report Of George H. McGovern. who has
returned from his trip of investigating
the practical workings Of several taxa.
tion systems in different cities.
Those present were President Josiah
Marvel, Oscar G. Purdy, G, D. Garrett
son. George w Sparks, Councilman Wei
Ter f. Slower. Secretary George II. Nc
Govern. Industrial Manager r. NJ. Pin
del and Building Inspector William
johnson.
Representatives from newspapers
who were present were informed by
President Marvel that as some of the
things 10 be said might he Of per-
sonal nature and cause reflections on
the different systems, he would leave
Il to their discretion what not TO use
and what to use At this iuncture
c. D. Garretson held a conversation
with Mr. Marvel, who then said that
as II was a committee meeting il should
be secret. Mr. Marvel said that IL the
presence Of the newspaper men
would influence the discussion they
would be asked to leave. The news
paper men we're requested TO leave.
Another man. who said he was pres
ent as a citizen. was asked TO leave
by Mr. Marvel.
After the meeting Mr.. McGovern said
there was nothing done except to receive
mis- report of the conditions which he
found in different cities, and also that
he answered questions. The committee
will not make a decision TO recommend
any system until after meeting this
afternoon with the real estate brokers
of the city.
During the conference Mr. Pollock. a
representative Of the Somers system,
was called in and asked whether if the
city should decide TO Use his system the
computation tables used to fix corner
values become the property of the city.
Mr.. Pollock told them that the tables
would not. but that he would furnish
the city free corner computations for the
second year.
Within the past week another city
has adopted the Somers system. San
Antonio, Texas. has signed a contract
for that system. Four other Texas
cities have used the system.
George H. McGovern, when asked
by an EVENING JOURNAL reporter
how much money the Somers people
WANTED to assess the property OF VIII
mington and install its system, re-
lplied It would cost about $4,000. Il
is understood that the Somers people
made nearly a million dollars clear In
one year from assessing property IN
different cities Of the country.
]. Bail Peirce. president of the Real
Estate Brokers Association, has Is
sued the following letter to the
brokers in Wilmington supplementine
Mr.. Marvels call for the meeting this
afternoon.
"The members of the Real Estate
Brokers' Association have been re-
duested to meet committee OF the
Chamber Of Commerce, Wednesday
Afternoon. August 81, at 3 o'clock in
the Chamber of Commerce rooms, to
discuss the proposed changes in the
Assessment system Of the city.
mir. Marvel is very anxious to have
the help of this association, and
would like to have all the members
attend
IL trust that this is a matter inn
portant enough to all Real Estate
Brokers. that we may have a full at
tendance Of the Association