The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-03-13
ALDERMEN as JUDGES.
The Council Hearisg Appeals from
AssessE3

AssessE3 ents.
The city council sat as a court de nOrO
in three hours session last night, hearing
appeals from the assessments on stock in
trade as fixed by the assess nent committee
judge A. T. Adams was present as ad-
visory counsel for the city. in the absence
of City Attorney s. B. Adams in Atlanta.
and the decision Of Judge Adams
that the council, in passing upon
the appeals must do 50 uDOn the direct
and circumstantial evidence coming before
the couEcil sitting as a court. and not
| from any extrane0us Information it might
| have obtained outside Of the evidence.
| tended 20 weaken the 7sition Of the assess
ment committee, as it IN ierstOOd that it
| was in possession of Information 70 justify
! il in increasi & some Of the returns Of the
/ appellants.
THE CASES HEARD.
The first case called was that 4 Hexter &
| kOhn, ard a communication from them
was read bv Clerk Rebarer withdra wing
/ their appeal.
/ D. J. Morrison's appeal was next taken
/ up. He appeared with Attorney Wilson a.
counsel, and witnesses were examined on
both sides, and after argument by his coun-
sci his assessment was reduced from Sl2, 900
/ 70 $4,000. Before the council adjourned
an effort was made by Mr.. Wilson to reopen
the case. but 70 no effect.
The appeal Of COllat Bros was next con-
sidered, and after hearing testimony the
| council voted down a motion to let their
return of s., 900 stand, but afterward it was
reconsldered and the return was accepted.
The appeal of NJ. Sternberg 81 Bro. Jared
equally as well He had returned $IS, 900;
the treasurer's Office raised it TO SIS 600 and
the assessment committee fixed il at S23 900.
Mr.. Sternberg made q statement under
oath showing that after the holidays he hal
expressed back TO New York a stock Of
diamonds, and after a rigid cross-examina-
ton Of Mr. Sternberg his return was &C
cepted.
THE COMMITTEES ACTION APPROVED.
The amount fixed by the assessment COM
mittee Of D. p Myerson's stock in trade
was allowed to stand. He had returned
$500: the treasurer's oftice had raised this
to 10000, and the assessment committee
reduced it 70 5000.
Nathan Brothers appeal was next taken
up. Ar. Nathans returned 81 700, the
treasurer raised it to 5000. and the assess
ment committee fixed it at $4,000. Mr.. S.
Nathan was examined under oath, and on
Alderman Baiey's motion the assessment
was fixed at 81, 800.
The return Ct Henry Solomon & Co. was
first voted down after Mr.. Solomon was ex-
amined under oath, and the sum fixed by
the assessment committee was approved,
but Mr.. Solomon again addressed the coun-
Gil, claiming that anticipating that
stock in trade would be taxed at
the same rate as real estate, he had pur-
posely let his stock 90 down to reduce his
taxes, whereupon, on motion Of Alderman
Nichols, reconsideration was had, and
Mr.. SolomOn's return was accepted He
had returned so, 900, the treasurer's office
had raised it to $50, 600 and the assessment
committee fixed 1t at $50, 600.
ASSESSMENT ON BUGGIEs.
Solomon Cohen's return Of $4,000 was
allowed to stand, on motion Of Alderman
Cam, after hearing Mr.. Cohen's statement
and that Of wheelwright whom he intro
duced in evidence. The treasurer's office
had raised him to $40, 900 and the assessment
committee had fixed it at So, 900.
Hymes Bros. & Co.'S return of $500,
which had been doubled by the assessment
committee, was allowed TO stand. 1t appears
that the senior member of the firm was
absent in New York, and hence had not
answered two summonses to appear before
the assessment committee, which led to the
Increase in the assessment.
Mr.. Schroeder, a grocer at River and
reynolds street, was examined under OATH
He had returned $500, was raised to 81 900,
aud after hearing council fixed his assess
ment at $3.50.
MARSHAL WADE EXPLAINS.
Julius Perlinskis appeal led to very full
expla alton by City Marshal Wade as to
the manner in which, as acting city receiver
of tax returns, he had increased the returns.
City Marshal Wade said that all the in
creases he had made would have
stood if it were possible to
before the council But it is, he said deli
cate thing for them to appear and give the
information to council under oath which
they had in many cases given outside He
said that he had obeyed the ordinance, and
under his oath and conscience made the in
creases to the best of his Judgment, and he
said that only thirty-two appeals have been
made, which he construed as evidence that
his judgment had not been far wrong.
HOW THE CHANGES WE'RE MADE.
The explanation was brought out by an
| inquiry as TO what basis he had for raising
| Perlinsky's return from $4,000 to $1,000,
the assessment committee having fixed it at
| $1,000. Perlinsky admitted carrying $1,000
| insurance, but admitted under oath that
| his stock was of q cheap sort, and that if it
| burned he would be well paid for it at half
Of the amount of his insurance. The couu-
| Gil, after hearing his statement, on motion
of Alderman Bailey, fixed his assessment at
| $500.
The return of Cornwel & Chapman.
s., 500, on motion of Mr.. Carson, chair
man of the assessment committee, was
| allowed to stand.
The last appeal acted upon was that of G.
| Davis e. Son They returned "a, 900. the
treasurer's Office put it up to 5000, and
| the assessment committee fixed it at SO 900,
but when the matter was called up Alder
man Carson said that after conference
with the firm they had agreed upon 1900,
! which sum was fixed by the council.
On motion of Alderman Meyers the
council at IL o'clock. took a recess, subject
| to the call of the mayor.