New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1919-03-01
HOLD CONFERENCE
ON TAX QUESTION
fCoru*u"h f'"'n Fur, F'gc
was pointed out would be disastrous
for the city.
Parks Would Not BE Kept In

for the city.
Parks Would Not Be Kept Up.
In the park appropriation the 81
mill budget cut $1,000. AS a matter
of fact all appropriated by the board
was $4,000 and $4,000 to care for
bond issue. Thus the 2 mill budget
would cause a deficit in the park de-
partment If the q mill budget were
to be adopted, it would mean. as far
as the park department. would be
concerned, that not q lawn mower
would turn this summer. not a bit Of
grading Or other necessary park work
would be done, and Walnut Hill park
would have to be closed. the grass
grow high and wait until some money
would be provided for the care of it.
Some of the money in the police
department which was cut by the 81
mill budget provided for the hire OF
the city's three policemen who are
now in France or Germany with the
American expeditionaIy forces These
men went out to fight and the city
Will take care that they have their
Jobs when they return. It is only fair,
and the policy of the city since its
men entered the service, in any
branch.
Assessment System Wrong.
Mayor Quigley stated this morning
that the men were all of the same
opinion regarding the trouble at tho
root Of the natter. He stated that
it was the assessing of property in
the city. Many of those in opposition
to the % mil tax rate have been blam-
ing the present administration under
Mayor QuigleH.
Mayor Quigley this morning denied
that the blame is on the Administered
ton. AS proof he told Of the efforts
he had made for Il re-assessment of
the city's property. Mayor Quigley
had realized since he entered office
that the high rates of taxes were due
to low and unequal assessments. The
first year as mayor Of the city he adj
vsed in his annual message that
something be done for equal assess
ments. In 1915 his message urged
new system Of assessing property. His
words were: II believe a, new system
should be installed, in fact it is newt
able" In his 1916 message he again
urged that something be done on the
assessment error. He stated that the
value of property should be known
and not. guessed. He spoke of the
gross inequality existing. His 1917
1lleSSaS2 TclloTdted me FORMER mes
sa ges. The following is the staten ent
as he made it in that m essage
Extracts From 1917 Message
This most important function of
our government has been allowed to
drift along without a great deal of at
tention or system and certainly with
out equality: and yet, it is here where
our revenue must be derived 10 con-
duct our government.
''Ine0ua litieS in assessment for tax
alton are harmful and productive Of
a pessimistiC, dissat listed citizenship.
1--WE must approach the subject
from a fundamental standpoint and
evolve a system which will be mani
testify fair.
"Property which can he legitimate
Nv taxed should be taxed and values
should be known, not guessed.
because a man purchased land
ten years ago for $1,000 it does not
necessarily follow that he shall always
be taxed upon that value.
"Improvem ents made by the COM
munity improvements and growth is
that increased value the community
! has 81 right 10 demand a tax
1.-The community creates the value
! of property and the community has
] a right TO Hchlahd a just. TAX upon
| this society-cTeated value.
mo system of taxation will ever be
| popular but we can make it just and
| that should be our aim.
"rChe burden of the cost of gov
eminent should be distributed equally
| and this cannot be done until more
| time, study and knowledge is applied
! 10 making assessor cnt@.
! our assessors should devote their
! entire time to this work. it is q no
torious fact that there is gross in
| equality in our present aSsessm emf