New Britain herald., 1917-03-17

have to wait for him to get start ed, the judge said, and declared that such rule is wrong. Argument as to space to locate the additional piece of motor apparatus without new station was stopped when Mayor Quig- ley called Captain William Porter of Engine company No. and learned that there is room at this station for
 another piece of apparatus.
 In the next heated argument of tho evening 1t was again Judge Ganney and MT. Humphrey who were pitted against each other, although eventu- with the medley of voices. supporting the arguments of Mn Humphrey. In the salary account Chairman F. 8. Chamberlain explained that antici-
 pating some possible action whereby the common council may fix the sal ary of the building inspector at $2,-
 800, that figure had been included. Judge Gafrney objected on the ground that the finance board has no right to fix salaries and also no right to an- ticipate such. Mir. Humphrey said 1t was not the plan to fix the salary, but to merely supply sufficient sum in the treasury to pay 1t if 1t is named. In this he was supported by the board. but the genial judge was not convinced and insisted that the prin- ciple of the idea was entirely wrong. The New Britain General hospital asked for $2.000. but was granted $2.- 500. partly because 1t had not re- ceived any increased appropriation in many years and also because the management had intimated that with money for it's upkeep, the institution T. >f 1~ A- .~A vaSA ~ its own. A careful perusal of the tables printed In connection with that article will show exactly what amounts were asked and what were recommended, thereby making 1t evi-s dent just what items were cut down by the finance board.
 Think Assessment System Wr0mg. .
 Before tho adjournment Mayor Quigley called attention to the steadily increasing tax rate and blamed much of 1t on the present system of assess- ment. Tn this the board concurred. Mayor Quigley AEi& that two years ago the charter. revision committee made plans for revision of the as- sessment board, but one of the local representatives changed the wording of the bill and the measure did not become reality. What we need fs two cracking good real estate men on that board. and they should devote their entire time to 1t. :, the mayor said.
 'sYes, we need . couple of good real estate men at about $2.500 each. ''s Fred Beloin said.
 ''No, $3,60O each" the mayor said.
 Mir. Beloifl did not agree with that figure as he thought neither of the assessors would have any more work to do than the building inspector.
 Why. I'll bet two good real eAtaAe men could go out tomorrow morning and raise $5.000, ,o00.'' said the mayor.
 'sWhy, of course, Dr. Martin agreed, ''and in that way cut down the tax rate instead of having to jack 1t up.''
 : judge Gantney agreed absolutely that there is great weakness in tho present system of taxing real estate, but the greatest evil to his mind is tho system of taxing personal nroperty. The mayor agreed and ventured the opinion that New Britain's citizens In their private property and bank ac- counts have 2 valuation total1ing $5.- 000. .000. Judge Gaffney would not put the figure as high as that, but thought there Is hundreds of thou sands of dollars worth of personal property that Is not taxed.
 Speaking Of the probable grand list loss in the way of real estate is as- sessed Mayor Quigley said he knows of one Main street block whre tho owners have refused to sell for $s0.- 900 more than 1t is assessed for. To show that oftimes property is rated too high he told of another block cost ing $2S,000 which Is assessed for $30. .OO0.
 Edward N. stanley, treasurer of tho Savings Bank of New Britain. said that any intelligent real estate man will admit that New Britain property Is not assessed to within one-third or one-quArter of what its selling price is.
 Again speaking of the vast amount of personal property that Is not taxed. Judge 0affney declared that '.the per- sonal property list has got to be over- hauled" He then pointed to Mr. Be- loin and laughingly said: There Fred, you've got big diamond in your bosom now. Are you paving taxes on it?"
 .'I certainly anon one of them. The other keep to raise money on" the hotel man laughed.
 The total revised income of the city is now listed at $197360. The city treasury shows an unusually inc balance of $36,0O0. A tax of sixteen and one-quarter mills in the first dis trfct will provide an income of $793,- 2ss.SS, and a rate of four mills in the second zone will provide $1S7.661.S9 more. Tho miscellaneous income in
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