Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-10-13
TAX EQUALITY MAYORS
PLAN FOR "CASH" CITY

Continued from Page ons
was long ago advocated as a new method
OF obtaining additional revenues, but II was
finally determined that no revision Of ex-
LIST ng taxation methods could be made on
anywhere nearly an adequate scale without
the help Of the Legislature. The plan OF
the Mayor and his financial advisers is so
sweeping that nothing short OF legislative
enactment will give the relief sought with
Is consequent increase in revenues.
Manufacturers who have opposed in.
creases on water meter rates, on the
ground that In some instances they arc
unequal enough to work hardship have
insisted on revision Of realty assessments.
Chairman Gaffney, OF the Water Rate Com
mittoe OF Councils has assured these OBJ
Jectors that the question OF equalizing rates
is being given careful attention.
oAEFNEY FOR REVISION
When asked as to the administrations
plans for Improving the present assessment
system, Chairman Gaffney, who Is one OF
Mayor Smiths most trusted advisers, said /;
Il am In favor OF amending assessments no
that they will be equitable to all. ! do not
believe in overassessing some realty own
ers and underassessng others. That Ii all
that care TO say on the subject"
The estimate OF increased revenues OF
from $4,000, 900 to sb,000.oOO is the one
on which city hnanciers are confidently
pay-as-you-go basis that for so many years
has been entirely lost sight of. Their plan
is most comprehensive and will include n
decided revision and altering of existing
methods Of assessment and revision.
Under It no buildings In dead" sections
of the city will be overassessed, while as
ssssments on buildings in live, growing
sections will be assessed. at increasing
values.
LAND VALUE AS BASIS
In fact the new plan calls for assess
ments based primarily on land and not on
buildings. A more equitable and we'll dis
tributed assessment on land Is looked to
to prevent the undervaluation of vacant
lots In centers where values are kept on
the jump by improvements, The general
assessment of land with separate values
given TO buildings Is looked upon as the
best method to distribute equitably the tax
burden upon owners OF realty.
In preparing for the changes cases have
been brought 20 light where properties
have sold for three or even four times their
assessed valuation, and on the other hand
eases have been found where buildings
have been sold for many thousands Of
dollars less than the value placed upon
them on the assessment books of the city
These inequalities stand unexplained and
are taken as conclusive evidence that the
present methods are inadequate and that
the city is deprived In numberless cases OF
income that should properly come from
this character OF taxation,
OPPOSITION EXPECTED
Several reasons have Influenced the
Mayor and his advisers to keep under
cover their plans for larger revenue In
1918. Primarily the plan Is expected 10
meet opposition at the hands OF many real
~ owners who are now profiting under
present conditions, Another reason is that
the amendments planned are likely TO be
opposed by the members OF the Board Of
Revision Of Taxes and their friends.
The plans viii likely be made public
within the next thirty days. but until such
action is taken the scope Of the amend
ments Will not be definitely known.