Evening journal., 1916-04-04
SUSSEX Assessment
LAW Referred TO As
MODEL FOR Delaware
Continued from First Page.


correct amount OF real estate and live
stock. at its actual value. This imme-
diately provoked discussion through
out the county that. II based on a value
OF mental training. has been quite
equal, in my judgment, to the entire
public school system for the same
amount OF time that il has been go
ing on. These returns. while Moth
ing like what they should have been.
were OF considerable assistance to the
commission. Something like 1000 hav-
ing been returned. the commission
taking these returns. not as final. but
simply for what they we're worth I'm
the way OF information. went into the
several districts. and with the further
assistance Of a few men whom they
there selected. proceeded to make the
assessment.
Their work is now Just about com
pleted with the exception OF making
up their duplicate. Just what the rate
VIII be. or how the taxes will com
pare with the previous years, is 4
little early to predict.
Increase in Vaules
Our last assessment amounted 70
! about sixteen millions. Indications
! are now that the preser assessment
will be at least thirty millions. and
, possibly more. Our rate which is
/ now eighty cents. will therefore be
between forty and nifty cents.
1T is not supposed that this assess
ment is going to make our taxes un-
usually light, or work any special
wonders. but Il is practically certain
that a great mass of property owners
who have heretofore been pretty IL
berally assessed. will now be relieved
of carrying IN unjust burden.
"Now it. is not 10 be supposed that
/, this work is going ON without some ad-
verse criticism. For instance the com
mission is criticized pretty severely for
' not making a more thorough personal
. inspection of the property throughout
the county. rather than relying so much
on the opinion Of others. Such criticism,
S I am sorry to say, is not without just
foundation. The reason. however. for
3 their shortcomings in this respect, was
n because they failed 10 realize for some
r. time after their appointment, the cnor'
n nifty Of the work ahead of them, and
did not get down to serious business foI
S some three OF four months. by that
y time, however, they realized that they
had about the biggest job ahead Of then
n that any three men usually get uT
against. and they were obliged 90 take
r some short cuts, and in doing so they
naturally have made more or less er
y rors. and so far as ] can find out. they
8 are about all being heard from. While
!, these errors are slight compared will
. those under the old system, the tim'
- is not sufficient for them all 10 be cor
rcctcd at this assessment. and they ar
. going to leave rough spots to stumbl
"a over at the next session OF the Legisla
~ ture. ] do not expect. however, TO Sc
= any attack upon the law by the homes
and intelligent class of people. At leas
u to the extent Of repeal. and goin
OF back to the old. for. even though th
n system may not be working entirel
Id satisfactory any reasonable pcrsO
Z! would be willing to give II more tina
ten months trial when they were willin
2. TO give the old system more than
r. hundred and fifty years, and KNOWN
all the time il was not satisfactory.
Can Change Each Year.
b. while this is the general assess
n ment. and in a sense, the one sup
posed to stand for six years, the com
10 mission has the power 10 make wha
pr change they see ft each year, 81
when they have handed in their du
" plicate OF this assessment II they WI
t continue right on with the SAM
m diligence for another year, the.
should have a very equitable assess
ment. AS a matter OF fact the con
ofl ditions are just right to continu'
et the work for the agitation ha
RI brought out the very information the
n were seeking 10 obtain, and for tn
al next six months or a year. publi
40 opinion will have very piece o
4 taxable properly in the county brand
ed with its value and quantity
The fear is. however. that the com
- mission will tire Of its work. an
o., realizing that their salary for tn
. rest of their term is only $500 in
stead OF 81 900, decide that they hav
81 done well enough. and let it roc
IT. along. II this should happen, III
. remedy would be for the new coun
10 ty commissioners to see that the
NJ did their duty. or appoint a com
ct mission that would. II was fortu
nate for the system that the lay
w provided for the appointment of In
u first commission by the Governor. a
ed nc wisely selected three men WHIT
ch while they may be bit hand
I'M capped in efficiency by their age. ar
Iia men Of excellent judgment and in
ns tegrity.
he "It is plainly seen that the success
le- of such a system depends upon IN
ct personnel OF the commission. an
lin some people fearful Of the new plal
th predict that II the commission is eve
ed composed OF the same class OF me
Tot as our old assessors, that matter
)st will be even worse than they wei
ad heretofore. Personally, l do not b'
,erl live il will ever be composed Of sue
.. men. and II Il should. I believe thrt
no would make more equitable asses
NJ ment. working together. through II
lie county, than thirteen. There is OF
tc- thing at any rate that is pretty ce
- tain the assessment system and pra'
"a tically all the rest of the county go
ernment has by these new laws, go
~ ten farther away from petty POLITE
ai and local favoritism. which were
menace 10 the old system.
cp Would Tax Wealth.
,,h Now. while am supposed to col
no fine my discussion 10 the new syste
no of taxation in Sussex county, al
me could go on commenting its goo
me features 10 an indefinite length. y
ter as good as Il appears TO be. compare
rot with the old, Il is still so far fro
M being what we should have that / a
ing tually lose heart in discussing IL b
Sc fore an intelligent audience like TIL
ce. To MO the nrinciD1c that all fOru