New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-02-15
Mayor of Kingston Favors
Changing The Personal
Assessment Laws.
TOO HEAVY BURDENS
ON MANU- ACTURERS
Hudson River Town Discards
Obsolete Ways of Determining
Worth of Real Property.
~ PALMER tA\iIEID. Jr.
MAYOR Of Kingston. y.

Al the present time the question II
taxation is the main issue In most mus
inequalities. and one Of the greatest and
most important In AL municipalities. We
must have taxation. We must levy pc
cuniary contribution upon rhe property
within our respective municipal bounds
10 defray the expenses OF and 10 support
our city governments All possible ef-
forts should be made. however. 10 levy
the taxes with the same uniform and pro-
rortionate pressure
The amount OF taxation is determined
by the multiplication Of the assessment
by the same fixed ngure or tax rate.
Equality Of taxation. therefore. depends
absoutelr upon and means equality u
assessments II some are favored and
allowed 10 bear less. than their share u
the tax burden. thCn others must neces-
sar.ly hear more than their Just share.
Where such conditions exist some are
subjected To an unjust increased pressure,
which amounts 10 IN aggravated tax.
II is important 10 = city that ts asses
ment roll should not be lopsided OF over
balanced. as matter OF right and fair
ness 10 its taxpayers. The tax centre Is
the municipal heart OF city, and it be-
hooves each municipality 10 keep the tax
heart continually pumping the vitslizus
blood of equality through and over every
page and line Of the assessment books
Fairness and equality IN taxation are an
mducement 10 outside capital 10 invest In
q city Every individual. association Or
- Ia. hn will
be treated - 10 taxation before IL viii
invest ITS money Ia any locality. No man
ufacturing concern will locate in place
where IL will be treated like one end OF
sponge and have IT'S very life squeezed
out By an unfair assessment. when the
other end OF the sponge Is hardly touched.
Outside concerns seeking A new location
are not impressed with an assessment
roll that is inflated IN part and con
tracted IN part. Inequality and injustice
are msepsrable and unequal taxation :
injudicious AID INJURIOUS
II hos been and is the method in most
cities Of the third class 10 appoint an
assessor or = board Of assessors VINO have
their own respective businesses. and who
devote a few DAYS each wear i'm driving
through the city. viewing the properties
through the corners OF their eyes Their
field work is then completed and the
principal Job is the copying OF the pticr
Years assessment roll. with a few minor
changes such a method j. obsolete. aud
IS wholly alien TO accuracy and 10 the
correc, principles OF assessment and
Qualification. and IL mas been abandoned In
he city 81 Kingston
Where any city decides 20 leave the by-
way OF inequality and 90 reach the high
way Of equality it must be lead by an
assessor On boz ID # assessors who are
competent and conscientious. and who de-
vote their time to the huge task confront
ing them and favor. prejudice. politics
and an other Improper matters must NOT
he allowed T. enter into their determine
tons when the assessed valuation %,
each and every property lu a city divided
by ils real value. brings the same PEI
centage. or result there IS true appor-
tionment and equalization Of assessments
We must take from the pockets OF the
taxpayers the exact amount necessary 10
properly and successfully administer the
affairs ~ our cities but Nc should moi
take one nenny more Those who handle
and lar out me ncope = money should not
bc prlncelv nor generous With IT, There
> ou!d be security for economy ~ our
CITY expendi,ures The present excess Of
taxation is serious economical evil that