Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-08-30

For the Spectator.

Messrs. Edit0rs.-It is not generally known
how much injustice ani wrong is done in ou
annual assessment of taxes, and you would b
astonished at the rapid increase, which is thi
year about three fold. Tbs fault lies in both TIT
Commissioner and the people; in the Commits
sioner, in that he does not make every mar
give in his list of taxable property on oath; anc
in the people, through ignorance in some anC
cupdity in others. Some persons fail to give il
true number of tithables, having slave men ane
women, through ignorance of the fact that they
are taxed alike, woman as much as q man.
| In such cases the Commissioner should give them
to understand that it is not enough that they
give 10 the slave men, having slave women al
so. Then there are others who fail to render 8
true account of their tthables, who, l 6noao, do
Enoao better, and these l class as acting through
cupidlty. / know one intelligent gentleman,
with large, fine farm and much stock, who
gave in to the Commissioner taoo tithsbles, while
| know that he has six.
I know of widow lady with large farm,
and other property, who gave in one tithable,
while she has three.
Another gentleman, of equal intelligence with
the other persons, gave in three, who has 5SuS.
Another gave in one who has taoo, if not three,
and others did likewise.
Then can count 20 or % tithables within
five miles, including the farmers spoken of a.
bove, but excluding their delinquent tithables,
that were not taxed at all. This is the Commits
sioners fault, suppose. But if it Is not the
Commissioners fault, then some better and more
lust means of assessment should be employed.
For as it is, the burden rests on those who are
willing, and do act honestly in this matter, while
many, very many, escape with partial tax or
none at all,
These are grave charges ! know, but ! TESTIFY
efthat do I know, and the Commissioner books
will bear me out, aud every one may satisfy him
self by taking them and looking around him
with little thought. Law is based on equity,
and the man who pays his just quota OF tax,
very justly claims that his neighbor shall do the
same,
Some remedy should be discovered for the
long lists of delinquents that our Sheriffs return
every year or two, amounting in the aggregate
to large amount, Our County Court at its
June term, taking the list of tithables for last
year as basis in assessing the county levy, re-
duced the county levy from 1886 to $1,95 on
the same number Of tithables, and they expect
the aum total to pay the current expenses for
the present year. Now here are 20 or % titha-
bles within my knowledge that were not as
sessed, and consequently will not pay any tax,
while there are great many who have been
taxed that will pay nothing, thereby throwing
the burden on the shoulders of those, who are SO
unfortunate as (being assessed) to have property
out of which the Sheriff can make the tax
This should not be so. "Right wrongs no man. "
Can none of our wise legislators devise means
of relief for the more worthy part of the Com
munity2 The fact is, no man should be allowed
to pote ip any election, who has not paid or will
not pay his taxea.
have given above few plain facts for the
information of the public, which only need lit
tie thought and peep at the Commissioners
books to confirm them. ] do not charge all on
the Commissioners, though l so frequently refer
to their books, for they may be, and are often,
incorrectly informed by the people. So take
the book and look at the lists of your acquant-
ances A, and @, the amount of whose titha.
ables at least you know, and see If they have
given In the proper number. frequent and
general examination in this way would do much
good. JUSTICE.
August 81, 1869.
mean that these farmers live within the fine
iles in which are 20 25 other persons not taxed.