The Manitowoc pilot. [volume], June 07, 1900, Image 2

About The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932

Image provided by: Wisconsin Historical Society

                
PLEADS FOR A UNIFORM RULE.
An Argument Showing faxes Will Not Raise by a
Full Assessment.
‘ T<> the Editor of The EHol: .
"In your issue of May 24 appears an article written bn the sub
ject of assessment and taxation, under the signature of ‘F. S.’, and
as we are about to enter on anew theory of assessing piopertv- I
thought it appro at this time, to make a contribution to the subject
although not wanting to antagonize ‘F. S.', but merely to throw
some light along the line of assessment.
\ great deal has been said heretofore about assessing proper
ty at it- full value; now what is meant by that term? I understand
ii means that il should be assessed for such a price that could oi -
dinarillv be obtained at private sale, and in arriving at that pricethe
assessor must take in consideration those things which go to fix a
price of an article sold. In my mind this is not the main trouble,
eiE ountered by the assessors; hi w greatest difficulty is to get at that
property which goes unassessed. The property owners vvhoshiik
who refuse to list their property w ith the assessor are the class
which need attention. How to get at them 1 will try to explain lat
er on.
i nii okmh v Ktrr.K.
"It matters not what vour property is assessed at, whether 1:5,
1 , 1 .■ >r the whole of its true value. What is wanted is uniformity
of assessment. This rule should apply to all assessment districts
in the state; it should be a standard by which all property is gauged
one scale and one measure by which all the property is weighed and
measured, not a hall bushel measure for the town of A and a peck
measure for the town of B,
"Some of the inequities in assessment has been want of uni
formity bv assessors and Board of Review, and what is sought by
asse-sing property at full value is to remedy this want of uniform
ity, ii assessing property at full value is the standard and the unit
to gauge by, then each assessor and Board of Review is in posse.-
sion of a common rule, easily understood and susceptible of com
prehension. Why adopt a different ratio, when the law has fixed
this one? Furthermore any municipality fixing a different stand
ard and instructing their assessors to follow the same and if fol
lowed. would invalidate every tax deed, besides render the whole
assessment null and void.
A COMMON M'ND.
"Taxes are common funds to which all must contribute pro
portionately in accordance with what property we own or control,
and unless we have a common rule, by which we can determine
what proportion of this common fund we each must pay, then in
eqities, guesses, injustice and dissatisfaction will prevail, and it is
out of thi- rut we are trying to extricate ourselves.
"In Manitowoc county and I think in every other county in the
state, different ratios are resorted to. In assessing property we
should strive for uniformity of ratio, not so much what the ratio
ought to be. but one common to all the people ol this state, and why
not adopt the UK) per cent., ratio, that which is fixed by law and
and highly recommended and in fact urged, by our Tax commis
sioners?
"‘F. S.’ says that it is not expected that full value of property
will 1) assessed in the conny, for reason that thcaasessors met and
agreed to assess horses at SSP.oo. <)n May 15th the assessors of
Manitowoc county did meet and pass the following resolution, ‘Be
it resolved, that it is the sense of this meeting of assessors of Man
itowo oiinty, Wisconsin, that the assessment laws of this state
shall be complied with lulls and that to the best of our ability an
assessment shall be made in our respective towns, villages and cit
ies in said county for full value of all real and personal property
taxable therein.’
ASSESSMENT A'l I TI.I. VAI.BE.
".Now, if that resolution means anything, it means what it says
and that is assess all property real and personal for full value.
When they agree to assess horses throughout the county on an av
erage ol $50.00, they have agreed to do just about what is right un
der the law, to assess for full value. Horses in our county will not
average any more, that is all they are worth, a great many arc
vv n th much less and some more but in the whole thev will not av
erage any more, and that is what they intend to do to average them
at $50,00.
"Again ‘F. S.’ says that assessors ought to assess at an in
creased percentage, but not full, and gradually in a few years ar
rive at the point we are trying to make. If all the assessors in the
state could agree on any uniform ratio or percentage, good and
well. Its unitormity of assessment we are after. Why not agree
on the one proposed by law and the Tax commissioners and the
common understanding now full value? Why not be honest at
one time? Win put it off and complicate matters? It is the duty
of ever y good citizen to assist in enforcing the law and to encourage
the a-sessors and give them information on the subject and not de
ter them from the right path, ami it is the duty of every assessor
to obe > the sanctity ol his oath and assess at full value. He finds
fault with tin law assessing mortgages and notes and gives as an
illustration tin exchange by two neighbors of their property who
give poles for full value in c< inside ration I here ft ire and ta x said notes
hence double assessment and wrong. I hardly think 1 understand
‘F. S.'s’ pi 'position correctly, il we exchange our property, it is
an exchange and no note is necessary, except to pay' boot money,
and it there is any boot money it ought to be assessed. There is
■ amy wrong in assessing mortgages and notes. If an f wrong
at all. it is in assessing the real property of an owner in full, when
he owns but a part. The owner of mortgages, notes and bonds is
hardly ever hurt liv asses: meiits, il is the other fellow who catches
it.
DOI S NO I Ml AN HIGH IK TANKS.
"I Uglier assessments dues not mean higher taxes, tne rate will
be different, but your taxes will be about the same and it does not
follow, that it we raise our a -sessmeiit that onr taxes will he raised.
It i true that by raising onr assessment we are opening an avenue
‘ r bonding the city, but I am willing to trust that to the wisdom of
the representatives o| the city. T'. S.’cites instances of un-equal
taxation, hy comparing the assessments ol stores here and in Chi
cago. I'hev are not comparable at all, they are in different states,
under different laws ami governed by different circumstances, they
don t contribute to the same common fund that ours do, the com
parison would be different it taken Irom two or more cities in the
same slate. I don't know that Manitowoc stores have been assess
ed proportionately higher than elsewhere in the state; if they have
liven and it we adopt this uniformity of assessment, so much sought
for, it will reinedv the evil.
"T. S. calls our attention to a low rate tax. One that will
bring factories to the city. Why so? What is the difference in
paving a lax ol A per i ent., when assessed at $lO,OOO or 1 per cent.,
when assessed at $ .to,ooo. liis taxes are the same. I care not how
you figure if, it is the amount of money to be paid. Raising the
assessment will not raise the taxes, providing everybody does the
ameand why should he think that would he done. Wo have all
the i'“tiledy we want at home, by the County board to equalize
these matters, II it is not done hy (he towns and if it is not done
by the county the statt Board ol Review is there to correct the in
equities. These equalizing boards will have the yard stick—Full
\ able on their desk to measure these goods with, where thev never
bad them before under the old system.
A yn.KV ion s.
"It Chicago is paving a 5 percent., rale, tax, as ‘F. S.’ says it
is, u hy do factories go there, wh n w e are paying 40 per cent., less,
I hi- long and short of this factory question is this: That many
oth i paramount circumstances enter into the consideration of the
location of factories into a town. i axes arc but a minor thing.
Most all factories i ame to this town, when taxes were on the in
crease, The old and the SI,OOO man he alludes to. is the man I
want to protect. He and his associates hate always carried the
. --y..'. . v ;
FOND DU LAC CATHEDRAL.
burden of taxation. Usually its the other man who plays hide and
seek and evades the assessor. Usually a man with a limited amount
of property, at lease real estate, can be seen, and is seen and assess
ed, and if it is personal property, its usually known and felt and is
listed on the assessors roll; but larife amounts, and principally
when the character of it, is such that the assessors are not so fam
iliar with it and its extent. It usually does not pay its proportion
ate share. I claim that two principal evils exist in the assessment
of property, namely: First—That we are in great need of a uniform
rule to guage the value of property to be assessed at its full value
as defined heretofore. Second —Lots of property in the state fails
to be listed and not assessed. If assessors and Boards of Review
do their duty, property can be reached.
“The assessor has the right to examine any one under oath as
to his property to he assessed, and if he is refused any information
on the subject, then he uses his own good judgment and assesses
the property as he understands it, if that is not satisfactory to the
owner he has redress before the Board of Review, and he further
subjects himself to an action for perjury, in case of falsity of oath.
“Business people usually keep inventories of their business
and whv can’t that be resorted to for information, as to the value of
their business, allowing therefrom a proper percentage for wear
and tear, loss, odds and ends -and shelf worn goods? A uniform
,-ule we must have to assess property by, and all property which is
not exempt bv law must be assessed and in so doing no one will be
hurt, but justice done. “I- C-
IS NOW CONSECRATED.
Bishop Grafton Officiates at Fond
du Lac Cathedral.
IT IS THE CHIEF CNLKCII OF DIOCESE-
Ceremonies were Gorgeous and Two Bishops
Present Bishop Seymour of Springfield,
111, Preaches a Sermon Contending
for Catholic Ritual.
Amid gorgeous ceremonies the cathed
ral church of this Episcopal diocese was
consecrated at Fond du Lae on Tuesday
morning. Among those who took part
in the service was the Rev. Mr. Gray of
Manitowoc. The Fond du Lac cathed
ral is one of the really Iteauliful edifices
in this country. Bishop (.' ('.Grafton
has from time to time lavished a large
amount of money on the buildings, and
it is said that the sum is about
As is the custom at the consecration of
Episcopal church edifices the bishop at
tended by numerous presbyters, just pre
ceding the consecration services, knock
ed at the main entrance of the church
for admittance. He was robed in lull
canonicals, the color of his cope being
red. Tills was because the excercises
were within the octave of hitsnnduy.
As soon as the bishop rapped on the
(doors. Chief Warden Perry, who was on
the inside threw them ajar and the
bishops and clerics, choir and acolytes
entered the building, and the Service be
gan.
The jiroceseion marched nu the main
aisle to the chancel, and the hiahiew im
mediately took their jdaces. Bishop
Grafton was enthroned on the epistle
side of the alter and Bishop Seymour of
Springfield. 111, on the gospel side of the
altar. As soon as all had been seated
Warden Berry approached the ordinary
of the diocese and read a request that
the church S' consecrated. The bishop
then saiil the necessary prayers, and the
instrument of consecration was read by
the Hey. Mr. Rogers.
After the service of consecration was
concluded Bishop Grafton divested him
self of cope and donned the chasuble and
assisted by two priests he sang the holy
office of the Eucharist. During the cele
bration the altar was ablaze with can
dles and numerous flowers contributed
to the artistic effect.
Bishop Seymour of Springfield preach
ed the sermon. His discourse was an nr
gument for the preservation of ecclesias
tical ritual, such as is followed out in
the Fond du Lae cathedral, he paid a tri
bute to Bishops Brown and Grafton.
A FAST HICYCLK KiDElt
Will oft a n receive painful cuts, sprains
or bruine* from accidents Buckleus Ar
nicii Salve, will kill the pain ami heal
the injury. It 's the cyclist 'sfriend. Cures
ChalliiK. (’happeil Hands, Sore Lip*
Hums, Cleers and Piles Cure guaran
teed. only •’?>•. Trv it. Sold hv Hen
rv Hinrichs druggist mayßl
A LIFE AND DEATH FIGHT.
Mr. W. A. Hines of Manchester, la.,
writing of his almost miraculous escape
from death, says: “Exposure after mea
sli - induced seiious lung trouble, which
ended in Consumption. I had frequent
hemorrhages and coughed nightandday.
All my doctors said I must soon die.
Then 1 began to use Dr. King’s New Dis
covery which wholly cured me. Hun
dreds have used it on my advice and all
say it never fails to cure Throat, Chest
and Lung troubles.” Regular size 50c
and SI.OO. Trial bottles freest Henry
Hinrichs' Drug Store. june2B
A girl at Marion, Kan., died from a
wound on the hand made by a barb on
the back of a catfish.
Mr. W. S. Whedon, Cashier of the First
National Bank of Winterset, lowa, in a
recer.t letter gives some experience with
a carpenter i a his employ, that will be
of value to other mechanics. He says:
“I had a carpenter working for me who
was obliged to stop work for several days
on account of being troubled with diar-j
rhoea. 1 mentioned to hbn that I had'
been similarly troubled and that Cham- (
beilain’s Colic, Cholera and Diarrhoea!
Remedy had cured me. He bought a i
bottle of it from the druggist here and
formed me that one dose cured him, and
he is again at his work. For sale by
Henry Hinrichs druggist. june3B
Every woman who has a parrot that
swears and a hire and man that chews and j
drinks lias just as much less use for a |
husband.
“1 had stomach trouble twenty years
and gave up hope of being cured till I
began to use Kodol dyspepsia Cure. It!
has done me so much good I call it the I
savior of my life,” writes W. K. Wilkin- j
son, Albany, Tenn. It digests what you i
•at. Henry Hinrichs.
Opportunities for Boys or Girls.
The Publishers of The Manitowoc Pilot will give to any boy or girl in the city
or county an Acme Bicycle, which sells for S3O, for a list of Seventy-five cash
yearly subscribers to the paper. The wheel can be seen any time at the Mani
towoc Cycle Works, York Street.
RALPH PLUMB HONORED.
Another Manitowoc Boy Fleeted to Phi Beta
Kappa at Madison.
Ralph Plumb, who graduated with
the class of ’97 from the North aide high
school, was one of the seven members of
the Junior class at the State university
elected to the Phi Beta Kappa frater
nity. Tiie Phi Beta Kappa fraternity
has little in common with the so called
Greek letter societies, the sole qualifica
tion for membership being excellence in
class work. Mere success in student
politics or high attainments in single
branches of university work such as or
atory, debate or writing is not regarded
as sufficient qualification for admission
into the society unless accompanied by
equal success in the required work of
the university. The membership is
strictly limited and the standards for
admission are unusually exacting and
severe. Few honors at any college are
more eagerly sought for or highly prized
than admission to Phi Beta Kappa.
The chapter of Phi Betta Kappa at
Madison has been in existence only two '
years but each year a Manitowoc stn-'
dent has secured admission. William
C. Sicker of this city, now professor of
science at the South side high school at
Milwaukee, was elected last year.
“DeWitt’s Little Early Risers are the
finest pills 1 ever used.”—D. J. Moore
Millbrook, Ala. They quickly cure all
liver and bowel troubles. Henry Hin
richs.
AUER’S
SARSAPARILLA and
RED CLOVER
BLOOD PURIFIER.
Everyone should lessen the extra
work forced upon his system in
in the spring time by taking some
reliable blood-tonic. Hickness does
not need to be already present.
Von should purify your blood
every spring to get the excess mat
ter (occasioned by the heavy diet
of winter) out of your system.
Try our Blood Purifier, it is the
best, as shown by experience.
OSCAR A. ALTER,
Prescription druggist
IMPROVE THE LIBRARY
An Electric Sign Will be Short
ly Erected.
AN ASSISTANT WILL BE EMPLOYED.
The Circulation and Work incident to Run
ning the Institution is too Much for
One Person—The Rooms are
Very Largely Patronized.
At a meeting of the Library lx>ard
held last week, it was determined to
place an electric light sign, stretching
from the entrance of the library across
the pavement to the road way', so that
all may know where the public hooks
are kept. This action is thought advis
able. because so many persons who labor
by day, have with difficulty found the
building in their leisure hours. It is the
purpose of the Library board, as ex
pressed by President L. J. Nash, to bring
the books as near the public as possible.
With this thought in view the electric
sign was talked about, and within a
week or two this will be erected.
At the meeting it was shown by the
librarian, Miss von Briesen, that the
rooms are liberally patronized; that the
magazines and books are supplying a
long felt want, because night after night
the cozy apartments are comfortably
filled with eager young men and women
who read with avidity the best of cur
rent thought as expressed in the maga
zines.
The average number of books taken
out of the building a day is about 190,
which is a very high percentage, when
compared with other towns.
The Library board has now under ad
visement a suggestion for employing an
assistant librarian. If the circulation
keeps up. and it would seem that it will,
the services of an assistant will be ab
solutely necessary. The board, with the
assistance of Miss von Briesen,' may try
to pass through the summer without in
creasing the current expenses, but an
other salaried person must be chosen in
the fall.
The hoard is also adding to the num
ber of books as rapidly as possible.
RELIEF IN SIX HOURS.
Distressing Kidney and Bladder dis
eases relieved in six hours by the "New
Great South American Kidney Cure.”
This new remedy is a great surprise on
account of its exceeding promptness in
relieving qain in the bladder, kidneys,
back and every part of the urinary pas
sages in male or female. It relieves re
tention of water and pain in passing it
almost immediately. If you want quick
relief and cure this is your only semedy.
Sold by F. C. Buerstatte, Druggist, Mani
towoc, Wis. tf