Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1873-08-15
rather than increased in price, and yet

hese townships, the taxes have been
oubled, and in not few instances
rebled and even quadrupledi in amount.
yer that of last year, and without any
God reasons so far as we can see.
AND WHEREAS, The Constitution of
he State, Article 9Th, Section 1st, de-
lares that the capitation or poll tax
shall be equal on each to the tax on
valued at three hundred dol
ars in cash., and that this State and
county capitation tax combined shall
never exceed two dollars on the head.
It is also declared in the Constitution,
Article 9Th, Sec. It'll, that the county
axes levied by the Commissioners
shall be levied in like manner with
jhe State taxes, and shall never exceed
5he double of the State tax, except for
1 special purpose and with the special
of the General Assembly"
And vet, in the face of these provis-
ions. the Sheriff of the county, under
the direction of the authoritative man. |
date of the County Board of Commits |
sioners, with the authority of the Leg
that the State taxes, amount |
ing to about fifty cents and one-third
on the one hundred dollars worth of
are not to be erceUed by the |
county tarcs more than dOw6ic, calls,
as the idaO cOn,71cls hinatO do, upon tax
PAYERS for the enormous sums laid down
i'll his tax books and, in addition to
this crushing burden of a general
character, is bound, as matters now
stand, to ask many taxpayers in each
Of said eight or nine townships for the
payment of taxes, double, and, in not
q few instances, treble, and sometimes
quadruDle, in amount over taxes paid
last year on the same property. We
can see nothing in the laws and Con-
stitution of the State, in the revenue
enactments of the Legislature, or in
the public demands of the county, or
condition of the people of the county,
to call for, or Justify, the extraordinary
tax assessments Of this year.
AND WHEREAS, The Revenue laws of
the present Legislature require the
Board of County Commissioners to
meet on the third Monday IN May
last, to receive the tax lists, hear COM
plants, &C., and to continue i'll session
for three days, at least, and also pro
vides that complaints of taxpayers
shall be heard, not alone after their
taxes have been paid to the Sheriff, but
even after that officer has settled with
the Auditor of the State (see Sec.
IS of the Machinery act), and yet,
| not only has no notice been given, as the
| law directs, of this meeting of the
Board, so far as we can find, but several
| weeks afterwards, and by a public
notice bearing date lime 18Th, 1873, it
| was stated by the chairman that such
| a meeting 7rOuld be held on the 10Th
Goth and Dist of June, and that no
complaint thereafter made would be
entertained by the Board. This meet
| ing, held not to arouse a groundless
| claim against the Commissioners, but
| to subserve the ends of law and justice
and to promote the prosperity OF the
whole county, cannot but condemn
this disregard of law and the rights OF
our over-burdened taxpayers without
regard to party or color; therefore
Resolred, That we object to and de
nounce the present system of assess
ments adopted by our Board of County
Commissioners, and especially remon
strate against the unfairness and inc
quality so prevalent in each of sale
eight or nine Townships, and will ex
haust all the means at eur command t.
effect proper reduction of taxes, ant
to prevent unfair and Unequal col
lectiOns.
Resolved, That we respectfully cal
make public statement of the name
in which these Objectionable assess
ments were made, by whose authorit,
it was done, and for what purpose, a.
much dissatisfaction still exists in til,
various townships referred to, notwith
standing the promise of the Board Oh
hot
Thursday night would hear in writing
written complaints from taxpayers
If any gentleman of the Board is no
ing in acts of the Board herein alluded
to, he will disclaim it or not. accord
ing to his own discretion. 1t is bu
Just to the Board and to the public
that the people should know how an,
by whom the assessments We're made
as well as the amount of expenditure
made in preparing the textbooks nov
in the hands of the Sheriff.
R,sOlccd, That while no one object
ed, as far as we know to the action O
the Board, in heretofore examining
through a committee, into the book
and official records of our Cour
House officials, we, at the same time
suggest to the Board to open wild
their own doors and books as to thei
own assessments, expenditures, appro
priatiOns, &c.
ResOlUed, That We respectfully as
them to appoint specific days an,
hours convenient to all parties TO
hearing complaints in writing of tax
payers who consider themselves over
taxed to the end that just grievance
i'll the way Of taxation may be re
dressed.
RcsolrCd, That m Executive Com
mittee of nine be appointed by tn
Chairman of this meeting to act TO
complaining taxpayers in the absenc
of public meetings, to appear them
selves or by attorney before the Boar,
of County Commissioners or other an
thorities, to make known their griev
ances in the way of taxes of those TN
able to attend, and to call taxpayers
meetings, whenever in their opinion
necessary. and without distinction O
color or party.
Speeches in favor of the above pre-
alnble and resolutions and in advocac
of n change and reform in count
affairs were made by Messrs. Everett
Smith, w. w. Larkins, John Bell, an
others. The harmony and unanimit
of feeling which prevailed indicate,
an earnestness of work which promise
much good.
The Chairman appointed the follow
ing Executive Committee: DIR. Satch
well, DIR. Simpson, G. NJ. Galloway
Bruce Williams, John Bell, Jane
GARRISON, d. L. Durham, Will J. Biv
ms. George Bordeaux.
On motion, the Chairman of tn
meeting was requested to prepare til
proceedings of the meeting for pub
ication, to sign the same, and to sen,
them for publication TO the Whining
J ton papers.
The meeting then adjourned to NEE
at Point Caswell, at II O'Clock on Sat
urday next.
OWEN ALDERMAN,
August 9th, 1873. Chairman.
The Lilliputian infant, to whom wa
awarded the prize at the recent Call
fornia baby show, has been leased b.
sh shrewd owman of San francisco
: who intends to exhibit it Throughout