New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1925-12-10
BLODGE7T HITS At
ASSESSORS CRITICS
Says No One Has Right 10 Inter-
ieIe With Board
SWORN TO PERFORM DUTY
kowalski Fined $500 For Liquor
Law Violation --- Diphthcria In
Forestville - Rockwell Memorial
Committee Has So 900 on Hand.

State Commissioner OF Taxes Sam
uei Rlodgett at a public meeting
held in tho city court room last
evening. complimented the assessors
highly on their work In making q
property reNaluation here. In re-
ferrns to the statement that had
been made to him that certain Off
cials had been to the assessors and
suggested to them that the valua-
tions be lowered, he called attention
10 the fact that the assessors arc
under oath TO set down the value Of
property at its true value, and stated
that the true value means the high
est price that could be obtained for
the property If reasonably advertised
and in the hands of competent
salesman.
He said that this was the first time
that he had ever heard of one set
of officials coming forward and sug-
costing that the assessors act con-
trary to law and 10 their con-
science"
1T is just as logical for the board
of assessors TO step into the office OF
the city clerk and tell him how TO
perform his duties as it is for the
city clerk to step into the office OF
the board Of assessors and dictate to
that board" he said. land I have
/ advised the assessors to pay no at
inntinr fn norfh 80
tax list was honestly fixed and &C
Cording to Justice and conscience"
Mr., Blodgctt said that the asses
sors of Bristol had undertaken an
unusual thing In attempting the
property reyaluation without the use
Of tax maps and compared the ap-
preparation Of $500 which had been
made for the work of the assessors
by the city council under protest,
with the cost Of valuation In other
towns. He referred to one town
which provided maps and had a
contract with some people to furnish
a valuation for $4,000; another
town with a population OF 5000
which paid S1l 900 and another with
a grand list of between five and six
millions which paid $4,000. He said
that if Bristol should go ahead and
have maps made and the work
completed it would cost about S40,-
0gh.
He spoke with the highest praise
of the work of the assessors In gath
cring the information, with regard
! to methods of aIsiving at values,
acreage, classifications, building and
land and for the first time in the
history Of Bristol, making all this
information available to the public,
and for the use of their assessors.
"If I thought that there had been
the slightest measure Of Partially to
anybody or if taxation were used
as a penalty because of political pre-
judice, ! would be the first one to
make a thorough investigation" he
said. 'If l thought any faVoritism
were shown I should be as quick as
anyone to make public criticism Of
It. But | think your tax assessors
have worked hard and faithfully to
do q mcndous job-a service for
this growing city-and l think the
people ought to rise up as one and
assist them in it,"
Mr.. BlOdgCtt recommended strong
ly that maps be prepared and also
remarked that an invaluable ad
unct to the work of the assessors
would he the permanent services of
an expert accountant,
Fined For Liquor violation
John kowalski, whose place on
Birch street in East Bristol. was
raidcd last night by Officers Thomp-
son, JeglinsN and Norton, was fined