New Britain herald., 1928-04-10
TAX LAW DISPUTE
 IN CITY CAMPAIGN
Bartlett and Paonessa at Odds
 on Last Minute Charge

Councilman Bartlett closed his campaign last night at Falcon hall
 speaking to gathering estimated al 150. while ex-Mayor Paonessa and other speakers were holding forth al Rialto hall with an audience of abou. f,5O0. The Political Follies'' made their last appe arance of the cam- patgn at the democratic rally.
 Candidate Bartlett accused his opponent of misleading the public with reference to the bill under which it is no longer required that property lists be filed with the boa I'd of assessors. To sunstantiate his claim, he read the following letter from State Tax Commissioner Blod g. cit.
 II have been inquired of with re- spect to the statement purported to have been made by Mir. Paonessa, as contained in The Courant under the New Britain news in the issue Of that paper of the 9th instant. The statement referred to reads as fol- lows:
 WE VI liiis NltN idtt Pl llN IH tS which other cities in the state do not have. As an example let me point to our assessment system. by which you people are not forced to declare every October the value of your pro- rerty or have 10 per cent added 10 your taxes. MT. Rlodgett. state tax commissioner. granted me that spc- cial privilege for you because l found that the poorer Of the owners were forfeiting more than 5000 a year.
 II have no disposition to partici- pate in any way or form in any po- litical controversy in which the citi- 1ens of New Britain may be engaged. This is 70 particularly with respect to questions of taxation.
 However. since this matter has been put up to me. I am obliged to say that the statement is unfortunate because it is of kind to mislead rather than accurately to guide those who might be interested in this sub ject.
 Y was first approached on this subject by Mir. Thomas Linder, one of the present tax assessors in New Britain. MT. Linder is always pio- neering in tax matters. and I assume that it was he, who originated the very excellent plan which became semhly of 1925.
 This law does away with the pen- alty formerly imposed for failing to hand in . list containing a dcscrip- ton oI the real estate. Personal pro- perty is still subject to the 10 per cent addition for failure to file q list of the same.
 II think Mir. Paonessa's statement in this regard is misleading because 1t does not accurately state the fact.
 ''Ax tax commissioner. granted Mir. Paonessa, nor MT. Linder no fla yorS whatever. I am after sound, economical and fair methods Of tax ation, and these privileges, so far as I have them to grant, will he grant ed to all alike. But I had no fayors to grant Of the kind. IL was the general assembly which granted the favors. if any were granted"
 PamesSa Makes Reply
 Candidate Paone.sa when inform ed of the Bartlett claim. issued the following statement;
 "I. as mayor Of the city. originated tho plan. and discussed i' with my appointee. MT Lnder. who had not thought of it: hut Who considered the matter after l directed him 10 do so. and eventually both of uS conferred | with Mir. BlodTett. as he admits. and l discussed with him the proha bili'y ] of obtaining the passage of such lDw.
 Two years ago brought the mat ter before the people of New Britain l and not one person attempted to ! deny the fact that I obtained the i passage of the special ac, exempting | tho reporting ol property 10 the as- 
 Tonight. at the last possible min i ute. when it was deemed impossible i for mo to answer with the truth, Mr. | Bartlett misleading the voters and not expecting that l should have the to tell the public the , facts, has read a letter that deceives | tho voters and deceiyes the truthful | ness of my statements.
 T point to the Blodectt letter as admitting the facts just as ] placed ! them before the people, and I firmly .