Evening journal., 1913-10-22
ASSESSMENT SAYS The BOARD 80. -

pccted to be continued in power.
IF 1t had not then believed this
revision to have been a good thing for
the city. it would not have worked
strcnuously for its passage.
'lf. owing to accident, the board is
now OF opposite political faith and
afiliatiou. our Democratic brethren
should still be ln favor OF their
child's growth and welfare
1T is hardly logical 20 claim that
II our present board Is retired and
they arc again commissioned. as SER
wants Of the people that they will
strangle their own offspring.
"All parties being agreed that the
measure is necessary, we viii waive
further discussion along that line.
~Our plans arc now matured and
we arc more than willing to disclose
them.
First. let MS say that our present
records on which assessments are
based. are OF the most meager de-
scription None Of them Of any value
whatever. as basis Of valuation or
as proof of same, All the assess
mcnts. therefore. now existing or
heretofore used. being purely arbi-
trary and capricious.
We propose 20 use descriptions that
ht each case and 10 furnish informa-
tiou that viii T-ove values
We propose 10 remove guess and
cnthrone knowledge.
~Our plan follows; We are having
made by the city engineers office, a.
trifiing expense. a plat plan Of each
city block. This plat plan will show
the size and shape of each lot toscth-
er with the owners name.
This the city has never before
possessed; and it Is the opinion Of
those competent 10 Judge that a very
large amount of property has en-
tirely escaped taxation year after year
because OF our inadequate and imper-
feet records.
I'm fact, the amount OF taxes already
lost TO the city because of these poor
records is sufficient in itself to pay
for large share if not the entire cost
of this revision.
Whether or not these back taxes
can be recovered Is a matter for
future consideration.
I'VE believe they can. IL SO no citi-
ezn need worry about the cost Of this
work as the cost to the present tax
payers would be little OF nothing.
"One thing is certain all the prop
erty in the city will be found in the
next tax levy and consequently tho
burden will be shared by a larger
number with a proportionate rcduc-
ton to those who are now paying.
"This tax levy when completed
will be published by our Board, and
A is certain that no property
can be omitted from subsequent tax
iovies without becoming conspicuous |
by It's absence
1--WE presume that you all will agree /
that this is right. that this Is square /
that this ought TO be done
"1his portion OF the work is being /
done entirely by our own citizens, at
very small expense.
"Sccond---We arc employing three |
OF the leading real estate men ia VIII |
mington TO give us the value Of ono
foot front by one hundred feet deep
IN the centre Of tho four sides of each
block in this city.
Each OF these men As TO act in
dependently of each other and the
values furnished by them are 20 he
averaged ani the result taken as the
rovrcct vhiue for the unit In each
case The expenses Of this Is also
snail
t1our board has Investigated this
matter very thoroughly and we have
= found this 20 be the practice Of cit
|cs who are up TO date In taxation
matters; and also the practice Of the
leading insurance companies in the
loanine OF their funds.
rThird--We have after Weighing the
merits OF various experts. selected one
that we believe best fitted to apply the
unit price on land to the various par
cells in the city making proper scien-
tific allowance for the increased values /
OF comers due TO their preferred sit
uation.
This we deem highly essential. His
services will not cost us more than /
fifteen cents parcel and no one can |
offer valid objection 70 such a light |
expenditure for so important and nee |
essary a reform.
''Fourth-We are going 10 employ
thirty to forty OF our own citizens,
builders and mechanics to inspect the
ordinary properties and to make re-
ports 70 rs on the following blank so
that We may have complete and ade-
quate records of each building In the
city.
RAln ANNOA4o NAlN AlNl NNNr nut uOW
possess and meyer has possessed them.
Their services IN this connection Will
not cost 10 exceed thirty cents per
building on the average.
"We have employed several non
resident disinterested experts OF large
experience 70 appraise all factor,
properties, all the finer buildings. bott
business and residence; and also e
inspect and appraise the work gone
over by our local people using theil
inspection reports as a basis.
THE cost for this ought not to ex
ceed sixty cents per building. Theil
report is subject TO revision and re-
view by this board and we viii cheer
fully hear all evidence OF interested
parties in rebuttal of their values. The
board itself making the final assess
ment
1T is expected that these reports
will disclose large values that have
heretofore escaped taxatione and that
they will remedy thousands Of in
equalities.
What will be the results7
"First-You will displace your