New Britain herald., 1925-03-07

ment. He said that the town will benefit financially, as there is prob- ably much taxable property which has escaped the notice of the as- sessors.
 Mir. Pickett recommended that the town do the work itself, saying that there should be enough talent in Berlin to do the work, pointing out that the present board of assessors could probably do better with help from men in the town who are ex- perts in their lines of work.
 Mr. Linder said that there are many items taxable which sometimes escape the attention of the assessors. He said the fault with the present way of assessing is not with the as- sossors. but with the system.
 Mir. Pickett doubted that there would be much income for the town for several years and asked how much extra people would have to be taxed in order to pay for the install ation of the new system. It was stated that about two mills will cover the cost
 Miss Adele Murray spoke in favor of the project and presented figures to show that property has been un- der assessed heretofore. She said many people are suffering because of the present system and that there is lot of money lying around loose, that rightfully belongs to these suf- fcrcrs. She questioned Mir. Picketts idea that people would volunteer their services free of charge in order to act as consulting experts for the assessors.
 Mir. Emerson was opposed to the project and asked if a political ma chine was involved in the project. A storm of protest greeted this remark, First Selectman Carter stating that no political machine is involved. AIr. Gibney said he had seen something of the workings Of political machines but that he had never heard of a machine bothering with taxation.
 Carl J. Muller, assessor, recom- mended that action be deferred on the proposition. He said that it is a good one. but was of the opinion that the time is not yet ripe for such a move. He delivered a talk in which he stated that the asses sors have moral, as well as legal duties to perform and if anyone is undertaXed it is because such a per son cannot possibly pay more.
 There was more discussion and the proposition was. finally put to vote. It passed, each resolution be- ing acted upon separately.
 Sclcctmans Salary Legal
 The next matter to be taken up was the report of Judge E. F. Gafr- ney regarding the salary of First Selectman Carter, over which there was considerable discussion at the last town meeting when the finance board was requested to secure legal advice.
 The report was lengthy one and the final paragraph tells the story:
 '1 am therefore of the opinion that the appropriation of $1,000 for the salary of the first selectman of the town of Berlin, adopted at the meeting of the town of Berlin, Oc- tober 9, 1923. was regular and legal. The payment of S1,OOO for the year 192S24 was also regular and legal"
 There was some opposition ex- pressed, but the report was ap- proved. Willard I. filling moved 1 that the report of Judge Gaffney | with section 14 of the state consti- i tuition be inserted in the next an nual report. It is probable that Mir filling meant section 24, as the first section has nothing to do with the question in mind.
 Report Of Committee
 The report of the reassessment ] committee was as follows:
 ''To the Legal Voters of the Town of Berlin;
 "At the adjourned town meeting held October 15, 1924, the follow ing resolution was adopted:
 Resolved: That the selectmen of the town of Berlin. together with a committee of six voters. two from each voting district. be appointed a committee to consider the advisabil- fly nf employing an outside expert 10 reassoSs property value in the town Of Berlin; this committee to report their findings to the town