The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-04-29
what Is the Value Of Auditor Aliens
Official Statements?
To the Editor Of the Dispatch

10 tHt INNO ~ b' D"INfN"'
In a dispute now going on as to the re-
sponsibility for stopping the public schools
Auditor Allen is introduced by the wing
10 confirm certain assertions made by Itself
and Mr.. Superintendent Farr, and to show
the condition Of affairs as disclosed by his
the Auditor'sl Office
Without regard to the merits OF that dis
pute space is asked for certain extracts from
the testimony in the contested-election ease
of Massey rs. Wise to show how far Ills
statements can be relied on rs to anything
official. There is no purpose 10 con-
tradict the Auditors testimony: he saves
one the pain and disrespect OF that by con-
tradicting himself; nor any attempt to
show his profound ignorance OF what takes
place in his Office: he displays that him.
self; nor yet an accusation that he has
grossly violated the law for as if to make
the misdemeanOr glazing he cites chapter,
section, and page 0f the law he defies.
That law expressly provides that the de-
lmquent lists shall be examined, compared,
| and certified before being sent out JOr COL
lection. And no legal lists can be put in
the hands of collectors before they are eX-
amined. compared, and credited to the
treasurers; for until they are 80 credited
! the treasures uIt lt>DOiSiDiC III W
tax.
With the understanding that such is the
law read the following testimony read
and admit that some men can ride both
sides of a sapling-if you will only give
them a little time
he PROCESSES TO HAVE OBSERVED THE LAW.
Extracts from 5. Brown Aliens deposit
ton given February Il and IL, 1888:
Answer ). appointed collectors Of de-
linquent taxes under act OF Assembly APP
proved April /, 1870. (See chapter 60, Sec
ton 20, page 321: "a certified copy OF the
first and third lists heretofore returned
shall be placed by the Auditor" &c.)
o. | appointed collectors in all the cities
and counties.
10. In four cases in counties from which
no delinquent lists had been received.
II. Cannot refer to any statute author
izing such appointments.
II. The law makes trcasurers reSponSl-
BILE for all taxes not returned delinquent.
13. | thought it right to give the people
of those counties chose from which no de-
linqucnt lists had been receiyed) an oppor-
tunity to pay their taxes and thus qualify
themselves to vote.
IL pas my uniform custom TO furnish
every collector appointed by me a certified
copu of the delinquent lists, and | have no
reason to doubt that Il was done in every
case except the four that | mentioned from
which there were no delinquent lists.
These lists were all printed : :
and certified from my office TO the collectors
I appointed.
i think enclosed to Mr.. Smelling q certi-
fed copy of the delinquent list with his
commission and bond, just as 1 had done
in all other eases where the delinquent lists
were in.
Mr.. Hall. collector for the city OF Rich.
mond, receipted for and executed bond in
double the amount OF the whole delin-
quent list returned 10 me from the city OF
Richmond, but / had other copies OF the
same sort. Any one OF them might have
been given to Smelling.
HE coNFEssEs HAT HE VIOLATED THE LAW.
Extracts giving substance OF Aliens de.
position given on the 9th OF April, 1888:
The Enough Settlement Book" now in
your possession is the book In which dc.
Observation-Disclosures entered. When
delinquent returns are made to me they
must first be examined by the clerks In my
office, who compare them with the commits
sioner's books.
These lists are examined, compared, and
entered as soon as il can be done.
All OF them are sent out for collection
before they rere examined, compared, and
entered
Question : Then do / understand you t.
say that you sent out TO your tax-collect0rs
delinquent lists for collection which no.
had neUer examined, certified, or allowed al
credits 10 the ~treasurers, and which vol
did not know to be correct?
Answer: Certainly; you understand m,
correctly. The delinquent lists returned Il
my Office are never correct, for many rea'
sons. One Of these Is, parties may have
died and are returned delinquent; Others
may have removed out Of the State, and
may be returned delinquent.
/ would not certify any delinquent list a
BE- correct which ! have not examined ani
found to b correct; o have ] ever donl
|!1k %, hoNefer' aay 70 the eoIle>torp ~