New Britain herald., 1929-12-18
TAX COLLECTING \ LA CARTE

\ LA CARTE
 From oldcn times to the present . tx collectors have been unpopular | flows among those who disliked 1 b pay taxes on principle. There are references to tax collectors in the l l5ihlc, and the impression one gets is | at many of the populace regard ! Il tax collectors as no whit better tlan publicans and sinners. Oi course, in those days there was diff iyrent system; the Roman emplrs f1rmcd out its tax collecting func- tons in the provinces. and such en- terprising persons as took over the contracts to collect taxes depended for a profit on collecting something above the taxes dues. which went into their own pockets. A visit by tax collector was something to be avoided: and as fair percentage Of the population was Of migratory disposition probably many good citizen moved about rapidly so as to avoid paying what was due to Caesar. What was saved in this way possibly went far toward paying the expenses of moving.
 ..The facility with which taxes are paid has been vastly accelerated in our day. The system is better; more scientific. The saying that nothing IS more certain than death and taxes is a popular way of referring 10 the inevitable. In this city, at the pres cnt time, the tax collector is under going sharp criticism from those not in a hurry 10 pay their bit. Such criticism inevitably comes to the lot of tax-collecting functionaries, pro Njded they work hard at their job. So long as it is the business of tax collector to collect taxes, rather than sympathze with the payecs, such criticism will fall to his lot. Indeed the more criticism tax collector re- ccivcs the more it appears to be evidence he has been collecting taxes regardless of how and where Il hurts.
 Our own tax collector, Mir. Loomis for years has been aiming high said aim being to collect every cen due the city. In that way q good rec ord is made, although there haF been some deinquents; even, as MI Blodgett points out, when time }oared with prosperity. Tax collect ors who make good records inNarl ablv receive the unstintcd approba lion of the state tax commissioner who in his idle moments is Nastl interested in how local collector bring home the bacon for their mt nicipalitics.I Long before the presel he has commented the local systel Of getting the money; indeed. 1T state commissioner probably has r' carded New Britain as mod tax collection city. He wants It
 remain in this class. He would new think Of making such statemc about tax collecting in Watorbur What he thinks about the system
 Waterbury is too hot 10 print
 A good tax collector is certain
 hn zcalous individual. Wrestlil with figures day after day, the on thing ,hlt looks important in Ii are figures. The person who fails
 nav the figures cnscrollcd behind l name immediately is looked up with suspicion, If such a dcIlnque remains under suspicion too 10 out goes a constable for the mon' which nets that worthy & under statutes. Many citizens thus visit naturally become indignant. I such indignation sometjm"s does ! prevent them from reaching ii their pockets and kissing good to some of their money.
 Along with efficiency in keep track of what's due and nnp comes a unique cooperation " the banks. A bank which hold mortgage against d property nat ally is more than mildly interes in how the taxes are paid, The 1octor's office contains these pu records. and any bank r"presor five has the privilege of looking inc figures. Az a matter Of |
 many a so-calIcd property owner heinz faced with he necessity paying on the mortgages and pay inc city's taxes, and finding 1t di cu,t to do both but well able to one and not the other will natur nrefer to pay on the mortgage
 let the taxes wait, Now, if the
 collector tells the bank about 1t