The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1871-03-04

fkxEs.
We would beg leave to eallthe atteu-
ton Of the Legislature to the incoayen-
fence To which Tax PAYERS are nut. in
being compelled to trasellong distances
in the County 70 pay Taxes, and recon-.
mend that a law be passed compelling
the Treasurer to VISIT the various Town
ships, or at other convenient points for
collecting Taxes.
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
In regard TO the Comfy Commission,
er's Office, the Grand Jury report that
they examined the Books of the New
Board who have only been in Office a
few Months, and found that they had
proper vouchers fof the orders they mad
given on the County Treasurer, n largo
number Of which we're to assessors. The
Jury is Informed that there are "a AS.
SCISSORS appointed to assess the property
Of this County, each one of whom for a
little over n months work, draws from
$3.50 TO $500, being an expense to the
County yearly of about $4,000, for sim
ply doing what under the old Tax Law,
was done by the County Treasurer, as a
part of his regular business, aud which
could in the opinion of the Grand Jury,
be still done by the County Treasurer,
without such an cost to slie
County, as during a lafge portion of the
year he has nothing else to do. In addi-
ton to the enormous expense entailed up
on the County By che appointment of these
"A Assessors, many of whom are ignorant
and entirely incompetent for the duties
of the Office, the Grand Jury have seen
that the Assessments orthe valuations of
property made by these "a Assessors,
are based upon no rule but the wild i'm
agiuation Of the different Assessors. and
when all the Assessments are brought
into the County Auditors Office, the
County Board of Equalization BY way
of r~emedying all ineongruities raise the
Tax on every ones property which has
@.ready been put at 5times its value
400 per Observation-Disclosures ogAa
Constitution Of the State which says,
in Art. III 80, sAllsTaxes upon proper
ty real or personal, shall be laid upon
the actual value Of the property Taxed,
as the same shall be ascertained by an
Assessment nrsde for the purpose OF lay
ing such Tax
From every portion of the County, is
heard the universal groan of the people
under the burden of this heavy Taxation,
and this fictitious value put upon prop
erty by the County Auditor and his as
s%istants. The Grand Jury cannot in
this report, go into details, but many Ia
stances have beer brought to their mo-
tice, where parties have bought land,
both at private and at public sales. cay
for $1,000, and the County Auditor tks
next day values it for Taxation at 3, A,
and five thousand dollars.
Their object Is plata, the last
Board of County Commissioners couduc-
ted the public business in such reckless
style, that u prope, valuation Of proper
ty, would not raise Taxes enough to
meet the draft on the County
Treasurer caused by their extravaganza,
hence the Taxes are raised by the Coun-
ty Board of Equalization, TO meet this
large demand. The Grand jury would
recommend that this expensive aud in-
efficient system Of Assessment of proper
ty, be brought to the attention of tho
Legislature Nth the request that the
number of Assessors be reduced, or that
the duty. be imposed 90 the County Audi
tor OF treasurer. anu thereby save the
enormous expenditure of the Public
Money.
The Grand Jury have not had sufi-
cient time to mako u thorough s%xauninu-
ton OF the Books OF the County Officers,
especially Tire hast Board Of County Com
niissloners. But from what We have
heard and seen, wo are induced to ask
your Honor to appointa COMMITTEES of,
say five of this Grand Jury, who shall
make n thorough examination of the
Books aud into the workings of the suid
County Officers, u make their report
TO your Honor at the May Term of this
Honorable Court.
JOHN f. RILEY,