Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-10-16
VISION OF TAX
Ian ADVOCATED
By BLANKENBURG
Ex-Mayor, as Early as 1912,
Pointed Out inequality
of System
SCHEME WAS sMoTHERED

&dvocacr cf Mayor Smiths proposition 70
4r&od the system OF assessing real estate
1ov being employed IN Philadelphia which
- held 70 Be unequal and unfair In lts dis
<tIe4 u rfrons1y urged by Rudolph
Diankenburk Mayor Smiths Immediate
pr&decessor. and, In many other matters one
- his most active opponents
Members Of the Board Of Revision Of
I2xes. which nxes the values ht which real
- favor Of the present method. asserting
nat the Mayor and his supporters are
un4er wrong impression. To change pre-
xalline msthods for those susEested. the
work on the part OF assessors and operate
against the citys benefit
This contention Is answered and Mayor
1ulth's stand IN the main indorsed by Mr.
ll4nkenburg. who advocates also taxation
q personal property as well as other
sources Of revenue which the city might
pursue to Increase its annual income.
while Mayor OF the city Mr. Blanken-
Uurx devoted considerable portion OF one
- hts annual messages to Councils--that of
x91f~-to what he termed unjust assess
Mtuts and the practical usurpation by the
Board OF Revision OF the power to nx the
municipai tax rate.
Under our present system of irrespon-
eibls making OF real estate assessments"
declared Mr.. Biankenburg In that message.
- large number Of taxpayers are treated
with evident injustice. The small homo
owner IL made to pay a much greater per-
c>ntage Of tax than that paid by resilient
ana Nonresident owners OF other kinds OF
property, who are either overlooked or
knowingly evade paying their just share Of
eax burdens
~rhs whole development OF the city Is
s1us retarded and its general prosperity
checked by tax truancy. favoritism or
eulpabie negligence. made possible under
ne present untrustworthy system. proper
division of tar burdens will never be de-
vieed or obtained until there shall be shown
broader public spirit on the part Of those
quite able to bear their full share and until
hcy shall Cooperate In an effort for the
9eneral equalization of not only real es-
tAR taxes, but all other taxes. Until such
time It appears that any growing burden
must necessarily fall upon real estate IL is
tnerefore ail-important that every effort
should be made at this time to force sem
sible. businesske and just administration
upon the Board Of Revision Of Taxes. 30
that this burden may be made as light
possible, and. above all. that II may be
impartiaily and fairly distributed"
Mr.. Biankenburg then recited the ap-
pointment by Councils Of the committee ito
confer with the Mayor TO consider the
dnances Of the city and the recommenda-
Sons for amendment made by that body.
This report through failure OF the Coun-
cilmanic members of the committee to sign
H. was not presented to Councils. but was
submitted by Mayor Blankenburg as part
of bis message.
'Ths ter,erary smothering OF this re-
port" said the Blankenburg message, "the
failure of the board OF judges TO infuse
some new blood into this antiquated and
arbitrary board when the opportunity Of
Tered last spring and the defent In the
Legislature Of the bill taking the power
Of appointment TO the Board ot Revision
of Taxes from the judges and placing Il
where the members of the board would he
responsible to a power superior TO them
eelves. have combined to efnbolden the
board to persist In Its arbitrary, obsolete
and unjust methods
UNEQUAL VALUATION
The systematic policy of inequltable
valuation. resulting in gross abuse In the
shape of assessment Of properties must be
met and solved. Not only is the annual
income Of the city affected but the Dor.
rowing capacity Of the city proportionately
decreased
In the very heart OF the city, moreover,
are 20 be found large number of vacant
lots. In some instances they are covered
by cheap temporary structures intended TO
bring enough rental to pay taxes on the
property. In many cases they are wholly
unimproved. pay a minimum share OF
taxes. yet Increase In value year by year
nt the expense of the city and at the in
direct cost OF those who have improved
their land. Further, they are generally
made the receptacle for waste. are unslghtly
In appearance and generally surrounded by
boardings which disfgure the highway, es-
peci4lly when defaced with offensive ad-
vsrtisements. These properties are in many
eases held by persons who do not reside In
the city; by persons who are owners OF other
poorly developed properties. who. In many
eases, live abroad. They wait for the time
when the energy and enterprise Of the
Woodworking citizenship OF the city will
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