Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1884-07-26

the capacity of nobody knows what, and
on the bare affidavit Of the said secrcta-
ry, they eat down the number Of cattle
from 10000 to 1000 head, outside Of the
Grimes outfit, which the company
bought four or FIVE months ago. We
wish to refer the reader and also the
members of the board TO section 2S of
the Revised Statutes under the head Of
Revenue, and after reading said section
then ask yourselves this question. Could
the board reduce the assessment from
10000 to 1000 head or are their powers
limited? This was done on the one
lone affidavit when at the same time the
assessor, Mr.. Feay, said to them: "If yon
question my good faith in this matter,
can and will bring you ample evidence
that the Shcidley Cattle company have
more cattle than have assessed them
And yet, in the face Of the Statute say
ing that the board cannot materially
alter the assessment, and in the face OF
the fact that other evidence was offered,
this august body to whom is submitted
this vital question of taxation cut the
assessment AS above mentioned.
CsuRPATioN OF POWER
The delinquent tax from the above
company for the year 1884, amounts to
the sum Of S., 10000, and OH the same
day the board ordered the treasurer Of
Custer county not TO make levy on
said company for the same, on the
ground that the Sheidley Cattle compa-
ny were not corporation until after
| April LIST. 1883. Would the above fact
excuse them from paying the tax on
their property? The reader will sec by
| reference to sections and 9, Revised
Statutes under Revenue, that it makes
no difference whether the corporation
existed or not. Now where do the com
missioners get their authority to COM
mard the treasurer? DO they get it
| from the Statutes? No. They never
did and never will and they have no.
got that power, il is Il simple usurpation
of power and if they will show one line
Of law in favor Of such proposition we
| will apologize. The Statute makes it
the treasurers duty to collect delinquent
taxes and vests in him the power of the
| county to mike such collection. and no
man or court can stop him from making
| such collection.
THE COUNTY OFT $4,000.
What is the suit Of all this? The
result is that Custer county is out about
$4,000 in cold cash. Is the board so
!enient with all who come before it?
No. They have been known to talk all
day without a motion on So bill and
that too supported with an affidavit to
its correctness and then not allow.
thus demonstrating the old maxim.
penny wise and pound foolish"
THE SCHOOLS OF BATTLE RIVER AND BUF
FALo GAP.
We make the assertion that the school
townships outside Of Custer have no,
$50 in their possession, they cannot
keep up school for their children, and
the unfortunate feature Of the matter is
that they are almost wholly dependant on
taxes from those large stock owners to
support their schools.
THE PROCEEDINGS IRREGULAR.
Where is the record to appeal from
There has been but two motions made
during the sessions of the board for at
least a year and one of those was 10.
seconded. This system of county gov
crnment can lead to but one conclusion
and that is this, that if persisted in Gus
ter county is ruined and an unsafe place
for the merchant and the rancher, and
in fact all average property owners, for
the reason that on them must fall the
expense of keeping up the county while
rich and wealthy corporations grow
more rich and wealthy and do not pay
one cent and at the same time demand,
and get protection Of the county when
their rights are infringed upon. We
call the attention to the prosecution Ol
those Battle River boys which cost the
county more money than they have
ever got out of large herds by way o
taxation, and came to naught.
Custer county is in debt $4,000 and
for a long time has made no public i'm
provement.
Now we do not ask the readers Of thi'
article to take the facts recited herein
without inquiry, but 60 to the records o
the board and to the records Of the
clerk of the District court and satisf,
yourselves that these things are true
and further satisfy yourselves that thi
article is not written through any feel
ing of hatred to the officers mentioned
within. More when the time comes.
A TAXPAYER.