Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1914-12-05
TAX COMMISSION
COMES TO TOWN
Take a Look at Books Of County
Commissioners and The
Clerk Of the Court.

Ex State Senator Arthur T. German
and Levin C. Wickes. members of the
State Tax Commission; and Allan G.
Girwood Secretary. were IN SNOW Hill
on Monday last. and held a conference
with the County Commissioners in ref
crcncc to matters of taxation IN Wor
cestcr County.
The State Tax Commission was Crca-
ted hy Act of the last Legislature, and
one of the duties imposed upon that
Board is to review the assessments in
each county with the idea of establish
ing uniform system throughout the
State. and equalZing, as far as possible,
the assessment on the same class of
properties in every county of the State.
They paid especial attention while in
the office 10 comparing assessments on
properties bordering on Somerset and
Wicomico Counties to ascertain the
basis of assessment established in each
OF these counties After having their
Assessor spend considerable time in
comparing the license books in the
Clerks Office with the assessment
books in the County Commissioners
Office they had blank forms sent TO all
persons obtaining license, and not as
sessed on the county books. In almost
every instance there was some good and
sufficient reason why the parties were
not assessed on the tax books 4 great
many of these proved 10 be license to
sell rikk, which has been abolished by
law. and great many were for license
10 people having stands along the board
walk at Ocean City during the summer
season, and moving before taxes could
he levied and collected They found
that all these matters had been carefully
looked after by the board of County
commissioners each year, and that
there is practically nothing in the way
Of extra assessments obtainable in this
county
MIR G. v Rowley. who represents the
State Tax Commission in this county.
was present, and was the subject of
congratulations on the part of the Com
mission for the faithfulness and thor
oughness of the work done by him un-
der their instructions.
The Commission stated that in some
OF the large counties of the State they
had been able TO add large amount Of
property To the assessable basis, es-
pecIally was this the case where improve
ments on property had not been added
for some years. and also where they
found considerable property on the
town books which did not appear on the
county books There was nothing, how
ever. of any consequence of that char
acter in our county. as the commission
crs visit each year. every town in the
county and every district. assessing any
discovered property. or any improve
ments made during the past year. The
Commissioners were in thorough accord
with the work of the State Tax Com
mission, and stated that they were pre-
pared to work in harmony with them.
and. If there was any property IN the
county escaping taxation in any way
whatever. they would be glad to find same
put on our books, as II means more 10 the
county than To the State.
The question of the increase in values.
especially of farm land. since the last
assessment. was thoroughly discussed by
both Boards. OF course. il was admit
ted that such an increase has occurred
but, at the same time, We hold that the
farmer is carrying sufficient share of
the burden of taxation and our Board H.
not willing TO disturb this assessment.
unless 1t is an exceptional case of un-
Just taxation, and certainly not unless
ii is done generally throughout the en-
tire State.