Evening journal., 1914-03-27
Assessment IS
Raped BY MEN
OF nth WARD
Say Increases on City Prop
critics Are UnjuStifiable
and illegal
Demand APPEAL
HEARING IN public

Taxpayers Of the Eleventh ward
held meeting last night under the
auspices OF the Eleventh Ward Demo-
cratic Legion in Polish Turner hall,
at Maryland avenue and Sycamore
street, heard speeches by leading
Democrats of the ward against the
new city assessment, received data
about it prepared by the committee
Of the Legion which had called the
meeting, and passed a resolution pro-
testing against the assessment.
About $50 citizens of the ward at
tended the meeting. Before It was
called to order former Councilman
John J. McGovern, with book con-
tanning the new and old assessments
Of properties in the ward, gave out
to those who desired it information
about the changes in their properties.
After the meeting Stanley Yasik.
Polish undertaken, took the book and
read OF IN Polish a large number Of
assessments.
The meeting was called by com
mittee composed of John J. McGoy-
ern, Edward MCGUIRE, Thomas Whit
land, Michael b. Parkinson and
Thomas w. Bradford. This commit
tee was appointed at meeting OF the
Eleventh Ward Democratic Legion TO
look into the assessment. It made
its report to the Legion several days
ago and was empowered to call the
meeting and present what data it had
collected on the assessment to the
citizens of the ward.
John J. McGovern called the meet
ing to order, declared that il was not
Of political nature. and suggested
that chairman and secretary be
cleo. q. Edward +. Denny was chO-
sen as chairman. No nominations
we're made for secretary. 50 Mr.. Nc
Govern acted as secretary. He read
the report OF the committee Of the
Eleventh Ward Democratic Legion.
aud it was accepted and then began
TO read long address.
In attacking the assessment, Mr..
McGovern declares that IL was il
legal because the appropriation for
she assessment was passed IN viola
iion Of the city charter, regarding
The financial policy TO be followed by
CITY Council: that the Board of As
eessment, Revision and Appeals has
surrounded all of its work with sec
recy and privacy, contrary to the
plan adopted in New York City aud
Newark. n. j., and has given as lit
tie information as possible TO the
public He denounced the action of
the board in passing a resolution,
asking the assessors not at this time
to give out information regarding
the assessment. April 1 is the time
set by law for the information to be
given out, the books being opened to
the public then. The underlying mo-
tive i'm the new assessment, he de-
clared, is to permit the carrying out
OF the individual exploitation OF Ia
vored district betterments. He also
declared that publicity men had been
employed to create a sentiment in
favor of pretended great public Inn
provements. None of the proceeds
for bond issues would be spent in the
Eleventh Ward. he said.
1--WE have only to lock TO New York
City" he said, where public money
when expended I'm favored districts
to benefit favored individuals or in
serests, IS Immediately character
1zed as Tammanyism. The eXpendi-
ture Of money i'm the City of Phila-
lelphia for favored interests is called
McNichol, Ware and Gangism, but
when it is carried on in the City Of
Wilmington it is called great public
improvements urged and advocated
1y public spirited citizens"
Mr. McGoyern declared that Il was
not right that the Board Of Assess
nent, Revision and Appeals should
be vested with the power to say that
a piece OF property is worth $1,000
his year, $4,000 next year, and $4,000
he following year. He declared
hat the assessment had been made
a loose manner by the so-called
experts, who, in many cases, looked
over one house in a block, fixed It's
Faluation, and then valued all the
other houses in the same block ac-
,ordingly, without regard for such
improvements as bath rooms, heat
srs, etc. that existed in one house
and did not exist in the others.
He came to the conclusion that the
assessment as laid in the year 1913
and 1914 is illegal. and it is optional
with the citizens of the entire city as
70 whether or not they will pay any
.ax at all.
During the meeting questions were
asked Mr.. McGovern by two persons