Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1890-03-13
4 SPECTACLE.


fair and full returns of their property for
taxation, and to that end has clothed that
officer with ample powers to enforce that
provision of the law. If he is vigilant
and determined, and appreciates the
duties he has taken upon himself, there
is no occasion for the creation of another
officer at cost of one-fifth the taxes so
collected: and, instead of creating another
officer to relieve incompetent or inefficient
Auditors. the Legislature should have
thrown additional safeguards around the
election of Auditors, and have provided
simple and summary means of removing
them from office.
Two or three years ago the Legislature
in its wisdom created an additional officer
for the express purpose of relieving our
high-priced Auditors of that disagreeable
duty, but was careful not to disturb in
the least their liberal pay, and to-day the
duties of that officer are costing the tax
payers of the county in the neighborhood
of 5000 year, possibly more. This in
cludes the pay of the sO-called Tax In
quisitor.
For year or such matter we have
enjoyed that luxury in this county. Just
how much the Treasury has received from
that source can not accurately state. 1t
is considerable; but the point is the pe0-
pie are paying for the sercice thrice. They
are paying the so-called Tax Inquisitor
for doing what they have already paid the
Auditor for doing.
But, to come to that scene in the Court
room.
The assistant so kindly allowed the
Auditor by the Legislature, concluding
that Hon. Ross J. Alexander was much
wealthier man than his return for taxa
ton made appear, dived into the records
at Kansas City, Mo-, among other places,
and concluded, in the first place. that Mr..
Alexander should be charged with the
modest sum of S750,OOO, and upon that it
was proposed to levy about $4,000. That
would have given the assistant about
1920 as his share of the swag. Mr..
Alexander appeared before the Auditor
when requested to do so, pronounced the
demand made upon him absurd, and re-
quested permission to examine the eX-
hibit filed with the Auditor by his aSSiS-
tant. This was refused, but after time
the worthy Auditor and his assistants
1.-THE Tax Inquisitor and counSeD conclud
ed Mr.. Alexander was not worth quite
three-quarterS of million, and a finding
was made charging him with about 5,00C
taxes. The collection of that was en-
Joined, and it was hearing of that in
junction which occupied the attention of
the Common Pleas Friday
During the hearing it was made to ap-
pear that the only evidence the Auditor
had of Mr.. Alexanders alleged liability
was a schedule memoranda of mortgages
bonds, and other credits which appeared
of record at Kansas City as belonging to
Mr. Alexander. Following that schedule
Mr.. Alexander filed with the Auditor his
own affidavit, denying all knowledge or
any interest whatever in such credits, and
affidavitS of Mr.. Mason and of Gen. Frank
Askew, of Kansas City, supporting his
affidavit. STILL the Auditor persisted in
charging Mr. Alexander with the tax
and hence the injunction proceeding.
Mr.. Alexander and his wife each went
upon the stand and testified that they
had no interest whatever in the credits
charged against them by the Tax InquiS-
itor. Auditor Barrett, in cross -examina-
ton at the hands of Mr.. Heinlein, OF
counsel for Mr. Alexander, admitted that
he had no information other than that fur
nished by the Tax Inquisitor's schedule
and that he had undertaken to charge Mr.,
Alexander with about 5000 on the tax
duplicate upon that unsupported and un-
sworn statement, and in defiance of the
affidavits of Mr.. Alexander and of Mr..
Mason and General Askew.
In deciding the application, the Court
commented severely upon the action OF
the Auditor, denOuncing it as arbitrary
and wholly without warrant of law. In
such proceeding the Auditor is required
to act judicially, and must be governed
by the testimony before him. The Tax
| Inquisitor had presented none whatever
and without word from Mr.. Alexander
in this proceeding the finding would have
to be against the Auditor.
The Injunction was made perpetual
and taxpayers will enjoy the fun of pay
ing the costs.
| have no sympathy with men who un-
dertake to evade their fair share of taxa
ton: but there can be no excuse for this
monumental blunder. Nor have | any
sympathy with the sentiment that under,
takes to shift the responsibility upon Mr.
Bowman, the Tax Inquisitor. He is a
stranger here, and seems to be fair man
That is the testimony of all persons who
have had any dealings with him. He has
shown no disposition to OppreSS any
one. But not SO the Auditor. The latter
must have known that Mr.. Alexander is
not worth, all told, the one-tenth part OF
$750,OO0, and yet, in defiance of his atlida
Wit and of the other affidavits named, anC
with no other competent proof before
him, as remarked by the Court, he arbi-
trarily charged him with taxes in a very
large sum, compelling him to appeal t(
the Courts for protection, give bond, EN-
ploy counsel, and expend time and money
to protect himself against attempted
official oppression. Beaten and severel!
censured for his arbitrary course, the
Auditor will cody draw his warrant
upon the Treasury to pay the costs in
Cured through his stupidity, or what
| ever if NAV have been SPFCT ATOR