The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1890-03-07
y existing in the taxation Of property.

ity existing in the taxation OF property.
1t has been charged that q custom has
prevailed in this county whereby persons
whose property was returned by the
assessor for taxation, would file affida-
Wits before the board Of county commits
lsioners OF the county containing state
ments upon which the board would fre-
quently act without further evidence or
fuller investigation respecting the matter
contained in the affidavits, and without
any effort on their part to ascertain the
truthfulness Of said statements, by the
summoning and examining OF other per-
sons as witnesses, to testify respecting
the matters stated in said affidavit. II
these matters are true, they are wholly
unwarranted under the law, and such
officers in discharging their duties either
act lgnorantly or corruptly."
Itwas also charged that the investiga-
ton shouldnot be confined to persons
who have made false affidavits to secure
reduction OF taxes, but also to those
persons whose duty it was to furnish the
assessor OF county Or city list OF prop
|erty OF (which they were owrefSand where
such list is false or not complete and
such returns have been sworn to, then
such persons are also guilty of crime.
The investigation should also include the
assessors or persons charged by law with
making full, fair and legal assessment of
property subject to taxation; and es-
pecially SO with respect to the perform
ance OF the duties OF the city assessor of
Rapid City for the year 1889, and ascer-
tain by your investigation whether the
charges which have been openly made
from time to time respecting the unfair
and unequal return OF his assessment is
true or otherwise.
| The jury's attention was called to the
question OF providing for the county's
poor, and they were desired to investi-
gate the subject with a view OF determin-
ing some suitable plan for the establish
ment of a poor farm.
Asregards their duty in the examnu.
ton OF county officers and offices, the
Judge said:
"The duty is sometimes considered d
mere formality, and their duties a,s
considered well performed il they cal
upon the respective officers; talk
pleasantly and agreeably for a few
minutes and bidding the officer an affec.
tionate good day, return to the grand
| Jury room and report that every thing is
i'll applc-pie order. There is no sen timent
in the discharge OF official duties. You
are either guided by the law and your
oath as jurors and officers, in the en-
forcement OF your duty, or else the duty
is not discharged at all. If have not
the moral courage to observe the con-
dition ofyour oath, and perform your
duties as defined by law, then you should
say so; and, assigning that as a reason,
| ask to be excused from the performances
OF the duties OF grand jurors. But if, on
the other hand, you believe that you
have the requisite manhood and possess
| the stamina and qualifications to dis.
charge your duties according to law ant
your oath of office, as the court believe.
you have, then you will go at this matter
in Systematic manner"
On every hand we hear the charge
highly spoken OF. all expressing them
selves to the effect that it was the most
complete and able charge ever delivered
in bennington county.