Evening journal., 1914-12-18
new ASSESSMENT
Law FAVORED
Bill Would Abolish City Tax
Office and Make Treas
urer Collector
BOARD WOULD
SERVE SIX YEARS

City Council is about TO consider the
draft Of a bill which will be presented
TO the next Legislature providing for
permanent Board of Assessment, Revis-
ION and Appeals, to be appointed for six
years and to be non-partisan. City So
lcitor Daniel o. Hastings conferred with
members of Council last night on the
subject for nearly an hour. Mayor
Howell also attended the session. and at
the close City Solicitor Hastings was
authorized TO prepare a bill for presen-
tation to the Legislature which will pro-
vide for the board.
This board Will consist of three
members, two to be appointed and the
third TO be the chairman OF the finance
committe Of City Council. In all prob
ability the first two members OF this
board to be named will be appointed in
the bill One will be a Democrat and
the other a Republican. AT the expira-
tion of their term of Office their success
sors will be appointed by the mayor.
The bill will provide for the abolition
of the office Of assessor and collector for
the northern and southern districts OF
the city, and the city treasurer will be
made the collector of all the city's taxes
| The books of the treasurer VIII be audit
ed once month and statement OF
the condition OF the tax office will be
submitted TO City Council once each
month. When the city treasurer goes
out of Office and his books have been
audited. his work will be done and de-
lnquent taxes will be collected by his
successor in the Office.
I'm order to avoid any objections from
political standpoint, IL will be arrang-
in some way that the clerks and the
deputies in the city treasurer's Office
shall be divided equally between the
two political parties. There will be
other features of a minor nature at
tached to the bill, but these are the sal
lent points of the proposed act which,
il is estimated, will bring about revo-
luton in the business methods Of con-
Quoting the affairs Of this city.
The suggestion seems to have met
with the approval of all the members
of Council. When Mr.. Hastings has
compiled the bill he will submit il to
Council for their consideration, and it
is believed they will give it their hearty
endorsement. With this guarantee it is
not anticipated that the act will have
any opposition when il goes to the leg
islaturc, so that il will be passed and
the new order Of things goes into ef-
feet next July.
AT the conference Mr.. Hastings
favored one receiver Of taxes for the
whole city instead of the city treas
urer having charge of the collection
of taxes. as he did not think there
would be any economy in the latter
plan. President White and Council
man Kane thought that the city treas
urer should look after the collection
OF taxes while Colonel w. L. Slower
favored Mr.. Hastings plan.
Other suggestions made by Mr.. Hast
/ ings were that the receiver of taxel
should divide the city into at least fou
districts, with a deputy for each par
ticular district Instead of the prescn
method of forcing collection Of taxes, h
suggested, that after taxes are due on
year that such receiver or city treasure
be compelled TO hiring suit against ever
person who failed 10 pav his taxes
such suit TO be brought before a iustic
of the peace IL the amount be less than
5000 and in the Superior Court if NOR
than 5000; in other words. treat unpaI
tax rs debt due the city and brin:
suit ON II in the ordinary way.
Mr.. Hastings would provide an ad.
ditlonal clerk for the auditors Office
whose particular duty it would be lc
audit the books of the tax Office one,
a month. showing just what had beer
collected; what reduced to Judgment
and the amount remaining unpaid
He would also provide that the Ia,
collector or treasurer who failed I,
bring the suits as required by tn,
statute should automatically be re
lieved Of his duties and a successor
appointed.