The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-07-28
sDAY MORNING, JULY 2s, 1869.
PAYING THE TALES.
TO THE EDrroR OF Tph NEW,

| PAYING THE TAIES.
| TO THE EDITOR OF TIE NEWS.
A good deal Of dissatisfactijn exists about
the action Of the State Boards. Equalization,
III increasing the assessments made by the
county Assessors. No doubt there is sbun-
cant cause for 1t. in many instances for even
admlttiug that in any oouaty the general aver
| age value may be too low, thsrs NAV exist
particular instances where individuals have
placed the very highest estimate upon their
uRepy; e Ten snd; OF course, greaHintustlce would
pc embraced in additional valte fxed by the
ssate Board OF Equalization, Intended to ex-
0use only those whose propertymay have been
mistakes should be rectlfied, il any have been
made. x taxes are to be paid ut all. the bur
Gen sn9old fall equally upon every citizen.
10 70 o1e mas, or wall claim right to escape his
~ any mere quibble or legal subtiety. WoAt
ne uasres 70 know Is, vkother his property
mas besn fairly assessed, and the d1Aivnlty
ba the vaae q 80 we
az shnse who live III the counties where located;
and they a1e naturally dissatisfied when they
nent Of such an incompetent tribunal.
Inc power OF correction ouRt Shoe Exist some
where. and the Legislature Ts conferred it
upon the Board OF Equali2atio. q Being strang-
"a.
rison of the returns in the several Counties.
and such information as they may be able to
OBTAIN as to particular localities. or course
TINS information is superficial, and cannot be
enNrely satisfactory to themselves or any one
else. But, unless the County Assessors are
to be omnipotent In their spheres, there ought
to pc some controlling power. as much to re-
dereatlm tss. It ls duo to the citizen that no
mere subordinate SHOULD be allowed TO WELD a
TOO OF IRON over those whom the oh ance OF his
n sppointment has placed in his power, and
him to commit the grossest iniustIce.
70 such case has as yet occurred,
but. in. the, nature OF things, they
may % expected, and. therefore. ou8Lt
Done BY establishing supervisory board. and
TINS is what has been done, by vesting the
power 10 the State Board Of Equahgst,on. In
the instances complained OF thers may exist
inst Cause Of complaint against it's action. as
there frequently does in the exercise Of the
human 1udgmsDt by other oficlals. But go
tar h there 10 nothing to show that that board
nas aoied IN bad faitn or with any evil purpose.
Gonietred GO upon it to effect . proposed object.
Ene citizen is entitled to equality in the bur.
dens imposed upon HIM, and this board was
there has been error. the State Auditor aS; has
solved the whole difaculty by opening his Once
10 appeals. and inviting eli who feel them
selves injured to make application there.
Hhalea baube to divert public ~a atteotion e0 i6e
lsom their complaints. by having prospect
OF rehef-a promise made to the ear and
Dsoken 70 the hearts hope deferred, that may
pointed; but there is magic in s.tryins. and i
oehoovss I'll who are convinced that ine esti-
mates made by the County Assessors are sufi-
gently high, TO take the State Auditor at bis
Tbs Is dlspassionate view 81 sutss: ia snb,ec.
put may Pc the only practicable one. II is bet
ter to look ct the matter In its true light, ana
%isa nth sha ns.,oa i Msh the and
themselves the door opsssd 10 ~ tem len atsa tSe
6ssS ''..s .ssessss s ssA.S !, SON they have 1
heard. ct all, therefore, who justly complain,
offer the proof Of IL to the State Auditor. in
the manner he has directed. II that effort
should be barren Of results, and the increased
decision, then, what next? II reslstance
Is expected through the courts, then with
part Of the Board Of EQUALIZATION, IL is not
them BY the Legislature viii be interfered
with. For they have Jurisdiction to decide
It, tke e, came e that jury has 70 decide ques-
ton OF TACT, aud although their decision may
in the case that would sustain It, it ls their
privilege to decide it. upon their own estimate
o. 9as soca evidence; The judge might have deci
ded dinerently, but he is obliged to respect
province Just 30 with tue Board OF Equaiixa-
ton, their decision will be Anal unless .scor.
rupIion" can be traced to their proceedings.
other resistance is revolutionary, and depends
for its success upon the relative strength ef
d!ssatisfied individuals. and the whole power
OF the State and Federal governments. With
such Q prospect before us. any, effort in that
direction will be utterly hopeless. and there
fore It will be best to take no steps that may
have to be retraced with disadvantage.
views are respectfully offered for consideration
and reflection. and not without that particular
interest in the subject which the writer, as
one Of che chief sufferers. is compelled to feel
they may lead TO something practical, and
save his fellow sufferers from the counsels of
irrlsated feelings. rather than from their own
understandings. ..FAors."