The Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1869-1872, 1870-07-02
County Assessors, their isbors and compen,a-
ton.
BELMONT. jane 20. 1870

okLAOSI, June -, loiV.
EprroRs ISDErESDEST:-H Having received an
! assault, or ~ordy castigation. for having, in
common with others. expressed thy opinion
as to the manner Of assessing properly and
| taking the United States census il makes me
feel like calling the attention Of the tax payers
throughout the State to the subject. 49, .
1 hold that the law creating County Assess
| ors contemplates that four months WIS., ample
and sufficient time in " mich to complete the
assessment Of any of the smaller counties. or
those OF asmall population. sach Sye, Lin
| coin and Churchill, but in case OF large popu-
lation II might be necessary to havs one
| or more duplicates, and then to guard against
! fraud il gives the Commissioners the power TO
district the eoanties and fix the number Of
days IN which to do the work, but il has be-
come n common practice for Assessors to ap-
point several deputies and consume all the
time allowed by law from the first OF April to
the first Monday of August, and charge for
each day Of the time, while often the deputies
are not really engaged two hours per day. A
sort of custom is adopted of calling = days
work any day that may have been engaged ia
any way, il only AN hour. do not say that
all men will do this, but do say that many
have done II and others may attempt to do IL
again.
Iapprehend that the law contemrlates that
each person is to do faithful work, and then
1t Is the duty of the officer to swear to the
correctness of the bill, not only that the
amount charged is correct. but that the time
was well put in. There is another matter I
wish to call the attention of the tax payers TO-
as we'll as the Commissioners as important in
the matter Of allowing pay for doing the
work. A United States census is heng taken.
and III Nye, as perhaps in other Counties the
County Assessors are appointed TO take the
census. This of course takes some time per-
haps as much as it ought to require in assess
ing, and for which the county will have 10
that il for each Iuy Ia A.. =.
gagged IN the work of both, the county will
have 10 pay ten dollars per day; while no
doubt the claim against the United States
Government will be for each day ten dollars,
Il think this is the allowance) hence il will be
seen that the taking of the CENSUS 10y the Assess
oTs. In place of being saving To the State
or county, will canse greater cost ~ both
than Il done by separate persons. Nye coun-
~ has three deputies, which, with the princi-
pal, makes four persons, assessing the proper
ty and taking the census. Now If one person
can do the work, and he ought, in four
months, four persons ought To do il in one
month; and yet, though nearly three months
of the time Is gone. and about two months
with the officers in the field. expect the work
Is not half completed. As said all the time,
or each day, may not be charged for, still il be
comes necessary for the people TO look into
the matter and see that no fraud is perpetrat-
ed. The taxes are high and often oppressive
and no special lenienCy is shown in collec-
tlons. have known suits commenced in
three days after the books were placed in the
attorneys hands. and costs added: and this
when the principal was only two or three dol
Lars. making principal and cost from forty TO
eighty dollars in each case. when u line 10 the
taxpayer would have been all TINT WAS neccs.
sIry; and all because the law permits il TO Ice
done. Taxpayers should look after these
matters.
Before election, candidates talk smooth aud
are very pleasant will kiss the children, smile
on the lady of tie house. hold the calf for the
milk Tnnid, and pet the poodle tut so soon AS
the rlcctionis over, smiles and caress.s ARE
changed Tor stern business. and no mercy is
shown to the men, women, children or pood.
les. CIr,zyS