Show assessment OF CITY PROPERTY wim WE observe that mr E JR clute the new city asses asse saor assor and collector desires the adoption in salt lake of a plan pursued by mr fell who holds a similar office in ogden it is presumed that it is the same that was spoken of by mayor scott on the night of his inauguration when he stated that he favored the plan of assessing by blocks there can be no doubt as to the value of a clearly defined system which will facilitate the important labors of the assessor and that will show bow whether his bis duties have been performed honestly and justly it would be of great worth to him aud and the public it would be a protection to both unless some plainly shaped method is adopted mr clutes head will rest on a thorny pillow A host bost of eagle eyes ill be directed toward him many of them in the heads of leading men of his own party to whom he was not an acceptable candidate for the asse worship we have made some inquiries regarding the fell system and at a cursory glance are inclined to endorse the view of the mayor and assessor respecting it it prescribes assessment on blocks by frontage and area the frontage embraces a decided denned depth from the street line the valuation of this portion of realty la is of course rated much higher than the land at its rear or which is located in the interior of the block inside the inner frontage line hence corners will be rated proportionately higher than property having a direct front line the system also requires on each block a gradation of assessment based upon a difference in advantages such as one side or corner bet being dg nearer the business centre etc the land in the middle of the block within the inner frontage line is rated as area an aej I 1 assessed accordi accordingly angly when blocks are equitably arranged after this system a person having ground for complaint that his property has been assessed proportionately higher than that of his neighbor can carry with him as proof when he appears before the board of equalization the plot containing retails and defining relative values on the other oilier hand should a taxpayer call around with a sharp stick in his hand to interview the assessor on a question of that kind if the litter latter has done the right thing by the property holder he can point triumphantly u incha antly antly to the draft boythe oythe A the assessment plan by which he had been governed another argument in favor of the adoption of a well defined and properly understood plan of assessment lies in the fact that the present city government propose judging from expressions from that quarter to largely I 1 increase the taxation it has heretofore been uncommonly light A sudden transition from easy burdens to an impo imposition sitio n of heavy drains upon the pock pockets eta or the people id is sure to cause more of less irritation this renders it all the more necessary for the officials I 1 to be able to show that while the people are called upon to contribute much more abundantly to the public funds the process of acquisition to the coffers of the municipal corporation is not by resorting to unjust discrimination between individuals and classes of tb the community citizens will much more willingly do an increased part toward augmenting the means of making public improvements when fairly treated than when they have reason to believe that claw class and individual distinctions are made any plan that will prove a check upon officers in whose hands is the important duty of placing a valuation upon the property of the people and will at the same time justify him when lie he is acting right cannot fail to be of great value walue to salt lake especially under existing circumstances and in conditions chinh the future may developed dev elope if mr fells method covers that ground effectually we see no objection to its adoption what we hibbe been able to learn of it by asking a few questions we lean in favor of its being acted upon but will be able to speak more definitely when an opportunity port unity is afforded for a more ample examination |