New Britain herald., 1927-01-22
SMALL TOWN TAXES


 been busy of late years in an effort to make the cities of the state col lect their taxes properly. New Brit ain is one of the cities the tax conn missioner admires in this regard; he has held up this city as model in some respects. What has the row Tn Bridgeport been about except consternation over the states action in virtually forcing a better collec- ton of taxes, even if it had to be done with the special law known as the ripper bill?
 The tax commissioner has been heard to remark occasionally that the larger cities of the state now are
 in pretty fair shape as to the tax collection systems in vogue; but the smaller, towns, the country towns from which the majority Of state senators come, furnish another story. The tax commissioner, despite the talk about the wofully lax tax col lection systems in vogue in these places, evidently has been unable to bring the states efficiency system into operation in these small places.
 The tax commissioner says in his report that less than 90 per cent of have been collected during the first year they have fallen due; and that his records show that if the taxes are not collected in these places during the first year the chances are only one In three that they will be collected In later years. Such state ments have been made by the tax commissioner almost every year; in speeches and in conversations with officials he has held up the necessity of more prompt collection of taxes in the country towns.
 Yet nothing is done about it. The majority of legislatures come from these small towns, and the most un- popular thing they can do is to in- flict ripper" legislation applying to their home constituents. They are not eager to act; the sum total of representatives from the small towns are political power in the legis- lature, and anyone who begins to tinker with their lax tax collection systems is sure to find himself the acme Of unpopularity in the Legis- lature. The tax commissioner has gone as far as he has dared to call attention to the manifest delinquen- cies of the small town tax payers, but he is not trying to experiment with any strong arm methods. Such are reserved for the cities, where the sum total of representa- tlves do not form a political block of sufficient strength to bother any, one in the Legislature.
 Action regarding the small towns is greatly needed. Why should the tax payers In the cities be punctili- ously looked after and forced to pay promptly and in full, while the tax payers in the small communities throughout the state are permitted to make faces at the state tax de- parment? Logic and reason stag ger at the prospect. Let the small townsmen do their duty like the rest of us; and if they imagine they can get by indefinitely by failing to pay their just share of state taxes it is the duty of the state to change their mind.
 But then. nothing much along these lines will be done. The political power in the small towns is too much for the tax commissioner to battle; he would be worsted. What IS the use of having political pow CT, anyway, if it isn't going to mean sometAng tangible? That, at least. is one of the thirteen command ments in the rural districts.