The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1881-07-30
FAIR ASSESSMENTS.

1
.Hessrs. Editors:-When l commenced to
combat this customary manner OF assessment,
expected to be msrepresented and perhaps
abused counted the cost resolved to see II
corrected, knowing that | had the law ana
justice on my side. BY the request of o mum
Der OF citizens as well as in accordance with
my own desire TO see the thing understood,
desire to offer few remarks which will ena
BILE everyone to see the exact position of at
fairs. Mr. Richardson says my statement was
and provisions, admitting that he did throw
out property. lie says wanted to assess pc
ta,oes, meat, canned fruits, &c, ana that he
took the State Board of Equalization tor his
guide IN assessing. | supposed he did take
something, and perhaps that is the reason he
did not assess according to law.
He says came to u meeting of the board
to make complaint but did not make one
and then scrapes up slime and throws it be
cause did complain. will not follow friend
RS remarks, as they arc more BETTING boy
than a man. II said he assessed too low, the
county board says the same.
But in order to illustrate Mr.. Richardson's
manner of assessing, as well as that of others
for years back, in this matter of feed, as he
calls it, let us suppose he comes to Mr.. A., and
after passing down the list until he comes to
item &C. Uhc parties being duly sworn of
course, he asks, How much grain (or corn
have you got to sell ?" Mr. A. states about 800
bushels, having 1000 perhaps. All right :;
down go 500 at l5c. or $l2O He goes over to
Mr. b.: How much corn have you to sell y"
He answers, "None; l feed all my corn.
have about 1000 bushels" "All right; don't
assess what man wants to feed" He goes
over to Mr. c.: How much corn have you to
sell?' None; was Obliged to sell what lit
tie had in the winter to pay my debts and
buy my bread; 50 have scarcely any to feed
my team with" "Well, | don't assess what
you have to ieeI. ! throw on, all a man says
he will feed" Didn't you assess Mr. b. any
corn? ?" NO; he has stock to eat it ALL" "But
you assess NJ. AS corn and all my property
why not throw out for me and Mr. A. as we'll
IL l'I w. ID. tu favor tUt uluU lldL mas
the most property Mr.. BIS corn Is worth
more than my property all told, Is it justice
to tax all my property and not my neIghbor's
simply because he is able to keep stock and
am too poor" Thus it IS he gees oyer the
town, laying the burden on the poor and IA
voring the stock raiser.
Mr. Bazore's attention was called to the
matter and he admitted the injustice of it, but
Jailed to correct it. Mr.. Richardson was
urged to correct It, but said it was customary
to assess that way if 1t was unlawful, and re-
fused to comply with the requirements of the
law He says he has returned his books and
will have to submit to it. will only say to
HIM that the county board does not have to
deal with man for swearing falsely to my
detrment and every other poor mans IN town.
Two or three thousand bushels of corn may
escape assessment by this feed business by
one man, but we don't propose to bear it al
ways, and would say to Mr.. Richardson, or
any other assessor be careful how you swear
in the future. FARRELL.