Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1873-08-29
Reported for the Journal.
TAXPAYERS Meeting.
SOUTH WASHINGTON,
Aup- Odd 1873.

over, and by far the most enthusiastic.
we ever attended, was held here to-
day, to protest against the arbitrary
and illegal action of the Board of
County Commissioners in increasing
the assessments of the lands IN certain
townships.
Mr.. M. c. Collins, of Columbia
Township. was called to the chair,
and DIR. W. T. Emmett, of Rocky Point
Township, was appointed Secretary.
The Chairman called upon DR.. S. S.
Satchwell, Chairman of the Taxpayers
Executive Committee, for Il report of
the progress Of the movement.
DIR. Satchwell then proceeded to adj
dress the meeting, detailing ut consid-
cradle length the causes of these meet
ings and the grounds of complaint.
These meetings had been called with
out distinction of party or color, and
he was glad to see SO many of both
parties and colOrs present. 1t was in
deed a gratifying outpouring of COM
planning and protesting taxpayers.
They We're here as taxpayers, with no
personal or party ends to subserve, no
office to seek, but for the common
good of the county. A desire to see
the elfare of New Hanover promoted,
her population increased and her
wealth added.
He was not prepared to say what re-
lief had been granted by the Board to
those who had submitted complaints.
He had inquired but as yet had not
received information. But at best the
remedy proposed was inadequate; twas
too slow and expensive. The complaints
were too general and widespread for the
Commissioners, in the time allotted, to
attend to all the individual cases, if,
indeed, all could get the opportunity,
or were able to bear the expense of fl
ling their complaints in person.
DR.. S. then read carefullyprepared
table showing the relative population
and amount of taxes paid in 1869 in ten
counties of the State, taken at random
from different sections. The difference
was much greater this year. In Bruins
wick the tax i'll 1869 was 2! per cent; :
Catawba, 3-5; Wayne, l IT; Neck
lenburg, 4-5; Duplin, l 50; Bun
combe, IA Craven. 2 -; Wake,
2 IA New Hanover, %. The tax
paid by New Hanover was then $500
more than paid by Wake, while there
was one million dollars more of taxable
property in Wake than in New Han
over. A comparison with other conn
| ties showed eveh more startling dis
| elimination. DIR. S. then reviewed the
figures as published in the Wilmington
Star, showing that the taxes of 1878
were not Sill more than in 1872, but
about $1,000, the increase Of assess
ments being over 81 900, 900.
The manner. IN arhich the BO0r6 81
| Commissioners had increased these
assessments acus then scothiRgly re-
ric,ced, and the figures showing the
rate of increase were produced. In
Holly township, the increase was from
$51 900 to $97, 900; in Rocky Point,
from $50, 900 to 1921 900; i'll Holden,
| from 800 to $50, 1000 i'll Lincoln,
from S59,OO to 1872, 600 in Union,
from $67, 900 to S15S, 900, and in Gas
well from So, 900 to $16S, 900 while in
| Harnett it was decreased from $50
600 to S166,O 600 and III Grant from
S153, 900 to S14S, 900. In the City OF
Wilmington the increase had been 1G
per cent. He sympathized with the
people of Wilmington, as he knew that
her municipal government was very cX-
pensive, and her people bleed freely, but
that was no good reason why Others
also be treated unjustly; her liberal
and patriotic citizens made no such de
mand. 1t was not right III n prosper
ors and growing city, where all prop
erty was continually improving III
value, to add but 1G per cent to the
assessments, while in the country tht
increase had been from 80 to $50 per
cent.
The whole proceedings of tn. Boart!
of County Commissioners i'll tins mat
ter was thoroughly reviewed-thc cost
at which it had been donc-tae entire
want of records to show authority. This
portion of the speech was listened IL
most attentively, and the cXpoSnr,
made created much feeling among the
people.
The relief from these unjust dis
ordinations were pointed out and
remedies suggested. y new county
was one of them. and there was N
universal shout of approval. DIR. s,
concluded his speech hy IN earnest and
eloquent appeal to his hearers to stand
firmly mp to their legal rights.
Upon motion of Mr. c. t. Walker
of Columbia township. DIR. Satchwcl
was requested to prepare his report
for publication i'll the Wilmington
| JOURNAL.
Duncan Holmes was next called tC
the stand, who made a fierce and sen,
| sible attack upon the injustice and
| oppression of the action Of the Board
He expressed his sympathy with the
working class, and protested against
a policy on the part of those in power
that made the poor and Ovcrburlenet
people of New Hanover pay as much
! taxes as six counties containing So
many more people, and so much more
property. There was something rot
ten in Denmark. Those who assessed
these taxes, and those employed by
them, were not in sympathy with tin,
laboring class who fell most seriously
those burdens There was no encour-
agement for the poor man t., &c.
quire property. It would be some
little consolation to know where al
this money went to after it was raised.
He was Republican, but he did not
intend to protect or support dishonest
men of either party 1t was good fol
Republicans and Democrats to meet
and consult together. 1t was time
that honest men should be promoted.
We had been too long bled to sustain
bad men in office. He explained how
these men had gone among the negroes
and caioled and petted them in order
to fill their pockets, These men, like
Flack, Rice and Shoemaker, were not
Republicans or Democrats-they were
nothing and id little of that. They
were after what money there was III it
Thus far their political principles ex.
tended. He referred to the 81, 4Nt
paid by the County Commissioners to
have this reassessment done. He said
that the interest of the whites and
blacks were identical. and bad govern
ment affected both alike. IT was time
good and honest North Carolinians,
white and black, should take charge OF
their government and run it in the in,
terest of honest men.
The first taxes he paid was nine dol
lars. Where had it gone? He went
to Raleigh and saw the Legislature in
session. It was railroads here, there
and everywhere, and under the pre-
tence of building railroads. Littlefeld,
Swepson, Andy Jones, Abbott and
French got his nine dollars and good