Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1939-02-09
Assessment Plan
Meets Approval

At meeting of taxpayers, inter
ested in the conservancy d1strlc
flood assessment, held Monday ev
ening in the court room, Hon. G.. B
Smith, chairman, reported on wha
has been done He told of the meet
ing he and Atty A. B. Mercer anr
+. w. Cochran, had in Columbus
with our representative, Dr. H. P
Michener: State Senator II. T. Phil
lips, and others, and stated they
are with the people here 100 percent
in the matter. They discussed with
them the plan as proposed by Atty
Mercer, in which the general as
sembly would pass measure-sort
of flood tax moratorium, for year
or so, or until such time as congress
works out plan, taking over
the whole program, and in the
meantime, taxpayers can pay their
real estate taxes without the benefit
assessments. On their way nome
from Columbus, Mr.. Smith stated
they stopped in GAINESVILLE and met
a committee there and succeeded In
getting them interested in the prop
osition, and we understand that
Representative Ralph Marshall, of
Muskingum county, will introduce
bill in the legislature, carrying out
Atty MERGERS ideas and suggestions.
Atty Mercer was at Marietta
Monday night on like mission. and
addressed the chamber Of COM
r,erce. At the conclusion Of his re.
marks that organization endorsed
the whole idea, and are back of the
proposition.
A mass meeting is being called
for Feb. Is, at 1880 O'Clock, in the
Iash high school building, Zanes-
vile, the purpose of which is to
form a permanent organization OF
the entire conservancy district. 1t
is hoped many from here will at
tend this meeting.
1t was also suggested by Mr..
Smith and Mr.. Cochran that as
many as interested write to Repre-
sentative Michener and Senator
Phillips and let them know that the
people here are back of Mr.. Mer-
GERS proposal 100 percent. Mf.
Smith also stated that he had the
understanding that Congressman Sc
crest is having bill drawn up to
take off the remaining 80 percent,
also the maintenance charge-in
other words if it passes it will mean
that in time individual property
owners will be relieved Of all as
sessments. AS to the $4,500,O 900
which congress approved, it was said
that the war department is not ia
vorable to appropriating all of this
sum at one time, but to extend 1t
over perhaps three years Mr.. Coch-
ran stated that the benefit tax as
has been assessed and placed on the
tax duplicate is erroneous, pointing
out that it was put on before con-
gress agreed to appropriate tht $4,-
100000.
J. H. Ewing, of Malta, read let
ter from Senator Vic Donahey,
which was in reply to one sent by
Mr. Ewing to the senator. Mr.. DON
ahey in his characteristic manner
said that as everybody knew he had
been opposed to the assessment plan
from the very start, that 1T was un-
just and he would do everything in |
his power to get the relief asked !
ing that every taxpayer in the coun- |
ty should be interested in having !
the assessments removed, since they !
are all taxed and some of them
three times. Those in the flooded |
districts in the villages must pay |
their individual food tax; they must
also help pay the flood assessment I
against the village, and also the as
sessment against the county.
Taxpaying Period Extended
1t was stated at the meeting that
the county commissioners had
granted an extension on taXpaying |
in this county, without penalty, till
March Is. This will give more time
in which to get the general as
sembly to act.
Another meeting is called for
next Monday night at 1880, in the
court room.
In so far as we have been able to +
learn, no other person had thought
or the plan as proposed by Attorney
Mercer, and wherever presented it
has been favorably received and the |
people have fallen in with the plan,
believing it to be the best-and in
fact about the only way open for ac-
tion looking to the payment Of real
estate taxes, minus the flood tax,
until a permanent program can be
worked out
A meeting was held Wednesday
at the Citizens bank, GAINESVILLE, +.
w. Cochran, r. X. Brown and Atty
a. B. Mercer meeting with Mus
kingum county committee. Repre-
sentative Ralph G. Marshall, of Mus
kingum county, Attorneys A. B.
Mercer and A. A. Porter will meet
today to draft the moratorium bill
on flood assessments to be intrOduc-
ed in the legislature by Represen-
tative Marshall.
Atty Mercer, and Walter Ducker
of GAINESVILLE, will go to Newcomers
town today to line up the people
there for the project.
CROP AND
FEED LOANS