Evening journal., 1914-04-21
new Assessment
HAS Defenders
Ninth Ward Association Re-
fuses TO Go on Record
Against the Work
BELIEVE IT MOVE
FOR CITY'S GOOD

Der Of the Taxpayers League. and Of
the Ninth Ward Civic Association, ap-
peared before the latter body at its
monthly meeting last night and en-
deav0red to have the association go
on record as disappearing the new as
sessment, as well as the manner in
which it was made by the Board Of
Assessment, Revision and Appeals.
Mr.. Adair was surprised. however,
when the association, almost to a
man, were loud in their praise of the
assessment. and. instead of going on
record as opposed to it, went on rec
ord as opposed to any legal attacks
on,i
Mr. Adair started the ball rolling
when he suggested that the Ninth
Ward Civic Association appoint a
committee to confer with committees
appointed by other civic associations
to consider the advisability Of testing
in court the legality of the new as
sessment. He declared there was a
strong undercurrent of sentiment all
over the city against the assessment.
In reply to a question from one of
the members Mr. Adair declared that
the other civic associations oppor ed
70 1t were the Taxpayers League, the
Eleventh Ward League and others
whose names he could not recall.
Mr.. Adair said that while he did
not know it to be a fact, he had
heard on good authority that some
assessments, under the new system
had been changed without the prom
erty owners making appeals, where
as the law specially states that no
assessment shall be changed without
appeal being made.
Mr. Adar made a warm attack upon
the assessment, especially the manner
IN which it was made by "out- town
experts" The moment Mr.. Adair had
concluded Fred X. Felt, general agent
Iof the Concord Heights property. stated
that he desired to heartily endorse the
new assessment and believed that everv
resident of Concord Heights would dc
the same. Basing his opinion upon the
assessments OF the many properties in
that vicinity he believed the new as
5essment was fair and equal. and while
a lew mistakes possibly had crept in.
yet he thought the assessment as a
whole was very good.
Two years from now everyone OF
you will bless the new assessment. he
declared. 1T will do more GOOD than
anything in the history of the city for
200 years back"
81 agree with Mr.. Felt, exelainec
Henry +. AIullin. "There was something
radically wrong with the old assessment
land this is the best attempt ] ever saw
made to amend it. / don't think man
lever came into this city and devoted a.
much of his time and care to work in
the interest OF the city as Colonel Stovei
has done. Assessment makers are bound
to make a few mistakes but they have
done good work
u can't see Mr.. Adair's point" re.
marked G. ID. Garrettson. "The new
assessment is many times better thar
the old one
] At this iuneture Mr.. Adair remarked
that the city had paid the assessor
$500 a year for doing something that ths
experts and real estate men We're alsl
paid for doing.
eve paid them $500. that's true re-
turned Mr. Garrettson. "but we shoule
be ashamed Of it. II is not our bust
ness to interfere in this matter WHY
should this organization or any othei
one interfere with the assessment. Civ,
it chance"
James d. Stroud, president Of tn,
association, also spoke in commenda.
ton of the assessment and remarks
of like nature We're made by a mum
Der Of those present in the manner
of a general discussion.
While Mr.. Adair had not made +;
motion that a committee be appointe,
to test the legality of the assessment
having only suggested il, yet Mr.
Garrettson, to place the association
on record on the question. made mo
ton that no committee be appointe,
for this purpose. The motion prevail
ed unanimously.
This morning Mr.. Adair explained
that he was not giving his own opin
ion upon the assessment TO the asso
citation, but was merely carrying on
the wishes of a committee from othe
associations, who had requested hin
to ask the Ninth Ward Civic Associa
ton to join with them in am inquir,
into the legality of the assessment
He explained that he was merely act
ing as the spokesman of these com
mittees when he propounded the sug
gestion to the meeting last night
The annual meeting of the associa
ton was held, and the following Off
GERS were reelected: James ID. Strou
( presidents j. r.. Donovan, vice-presi
dent; +. p. Johnson, secretary Jaco
Kleitz, treasurer. The following eY
ecutive committee was named: c. I
Garrettson, W. S. Adams, j. Warre
Vedder
Mr. Felt requested that the associs
tion endorse his petition to City Cour
ell that Concord Heights be represente
on the list of streets to be paved. H
mentioned that a hundred lots and Sc,
. enty houses ON Concord Heights al
4 owned by residents OF the Ninth war,
4 and they pay big taxes. yet they AZ
not represented on the appropriation fc
! street paving. He asked that one stree
4 at least be paved TO connect the hous
4 owners of Concord Heights with 9th,
4 thoroughfares of the city. The matte
4 was referred to the executive and street
committees. MIR. stroud. the re-electe
+ president of the ASSOCIATION, read Il
S Following report of the progress made b
the association during the past year:
"In reviewing the work Of the yea
while the association has accomplish
4 ed things, yet there is much that v
can still find to do. Appeals hay
i been forwarded to the Levy Coul
q and City Council. We are promise
4 by our Councilmen affair propositic
of street paving during the year. II
y ward has had a large percentage
& new electric and gas lights added. III
s signs designating the streets ha,
3 heen nut nm. The Wilmington an