MARK TWAIN PROTESTS.
One of Those Who Think Their Property Is Assessed Too Highly.
TARRYTOWN, N. Y., Aug. 19. - This was grievance day in the towns of Mount Pleasant and Greenburg. Unlike former years, there were very few objections to the assessments. This was due to the fact that I both towns the valuations remained practically the same as last year.
Mark Twain was one of those protesting. He had Henry C. Griffin to represent him. When Mr. Clemens purchased his home here, he paid $47,000 for it. The village Assessors fixed its taxable value at $70,000. There was no protest because he did not know of the assessment until too late to enter objection. The town Assessors were more moderate, and placed the value at $50,000. Mr. Griffin asked that this be reduced to $45,000, which he asserted was a fair valuation.
The City of New York asked that an assessment for $151,000 be entirely stricken off as being improper and illegal.
Mrs. George P. Rowell wanted a cut of $5,000 from her assessed real estate of $35,000.
The Western Union Telegraph Company asked that its valuation of $22,000 be cut exactly in half.
In Mount Pleasant the Rockefellers entered no protest as their properties were assessed at the figures fixed by the courts a few years ago after a long fight with the town Board of Assessors.
No decisions were announced, as the boards did not consider the objections,
simply receiving and filing them.
