Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1919-05-15
The Tax Problem.
County Commissioners RefGse
to Reassess.


There has been considerable controversy
between the State Tax Commission and
the commissioners of Frederick county
as regards the reassessment of property
recently sold, the State Tax Ger mission
ers demanding that such prope y be re-
assessed, and the County Commissioners
refusing to comply to the demands.
Latest reports state that the County
Commissioners are ready to fight any
legal action which may be taken bv the
State Commission to make a reassess-
ment.
In letter from the State Tax Com
mission to the County Commissioners
setting forth why new assessment
should be made, said letter being pub
lshed in full in the Frederick News last
week, is found the following:
"On the accompanying sheet we set
forth few of the 800 recent transfers
in Frederick county, illustrating the
great disparity in these cases between
actual selling price and assessment.
Whether these selling prices reflect the
"full value, not looking to forced sale,
in every case, or to what extent they
justify change in the. assessment, can
be determined only after notice and hear
ing. They certainly do not raise the
presumption that the old assessments
are correct. Whether given price is
fancy" or Gin flated," and if so to what
extent, can generally be determined by
considering the price at which the prop
erty could be resold. BY applying such
test it can readily be ascertained wheth-
err what was at first regarded as an lin
fated" price has not become the fair
normal selling price"
Gin order that there may be no mis-
understanding, the State Tax Commission
orders and directs the county commission
ers of Frederick County to revalue and
reassess for the year 1919. after due
notice and hearing, the several properties
listed on the inclosed sheet and also such
other properties whose reassessment for
1919 has been recommended to the board
by the Supervisor of Assessments. i"
Following are some of the transfers
referred to-
William G. Baker, purchaser; assess
ment 1918, So, $50; selling price. $4,000
so per cent.
George w. Young, purchaser; assess-
ment 1918, SIS, l6O; selling price, $32, 900
so per cent.
w. Gary Larkin. purchaser; assess
ment 1918, So, 43O; selling price $1,000
38 per cent
J. Dean Zeiler, purchaser; assessment
1918, $ll, 100 selling price, $40, OOO-55
per cent.
Thomas P Jones, purchaser; assess
ment 1918, 1900; selling price, 1872, 900
As per cent.
Harry E. Cramer, purchaser; assess
ment 1918, SIS, $50, selling price, $35, 900
as per cent.
William H. Thomas, purchaser; assess
ment 1918, $3.50; selling price, 1900
so per cent.
Braddock Hotel Co., purcha ser; assess
ment 1918, $l8, 7SO; selling price. $4,000
including contents of hotel-29 per cent.
Charles l.. Bussard, purchaser; assess
ment 1918 $l1, 100; selling price, 1000
So per cent
Luther E. Willard, purchaser; assess
ment 1918, SO, 600; selling price, $l3, l5C
81 per cent.
Reese F. Poffenberger. purchaser; as
sessment 1918, SO, 900; selling price $22, 500
-43 per cent.
Frederick P. Gibson, purchas ser; assess
ment 1918, $40 100; selling price, $4,000
SO per cent.
Harry E. Burdett, purchaser; assess
ment 1918. 1900; selling price, $4,000
40 per cent.
John W. Haines, purchaser; assessment
1918, $3.50; selling price, $4,000 so
per cent.
Vernon T. Smith, purchaser; assess
ment 1918, S., 40; selling price, $4,000
40 per cent.
Charles Winpigler, purchaser: assess
ment 1919, 81, 72O; selling price, $4,000
80 per cent.
Henry l. Burrall purchaser; assess
ment $27, 000-47 per cent.
Charles w. Halter, purchaser; assess
ment 1918, SO, 1856; selling price, $l4, 200
so per cent.
Charles D. Harshman, purchaser; as
sessment 1918, $l0,5O5; selling price,
1924, O00-43 per cent.
Luther d. Lenhart, purchaser; assess
ment 1918, SO, $50; selling price, $lS, 500
AZ per cent.
William B. Cutsail, purchaser; assess
ment 1918, $9,425; selling price $2l, 900
-45 per cent.
Lewis j. Wachtcr, purchaser; assess
ment 1918, $13, 1870; selling price, $2S, 900
AZ per cent.
Charles H. Dixon, purchaser; assess
ment 1918, $l2. 700; selling price 1928, 900
AZ per cent.
Charles F. Willard, purchaser; assess
ment 1918, So, 525; selling price, $l9, 1000
AZ per cent.
Charles M. Souder, purchaser; assess-
ment 1918. $40, 455; selling price, $l7, 200
so per cent.
Lee T. Titus, purchaser; assessment
1918, $S,775; selling price, SIG, OOO-54 per
cent
Ill L