The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-03-13
Assessor Walkers Deputy Blamed
for Many OF tho ASSESS
ment Errors.
Tho New Board Of Appraisers to
Meet and Value Real
Estate.
Mr.. WaIksr'sr Statsmsnt-A Seventeen
Year-Old Bride Appeals to the
Commissioners for Aid.

S~o4sy ~ " OAASS
afternoon. Frank l.. Curris, the deputy
C. Humbert, who had charge Of the steam
motor line last summer and a we'll known
young republican Of this city. appointed to
the position. In their resolution adopted
yesterday the commissioners condemn the
the methods employed in making up the
assessment lists Of last year and recon-
mend greater care for the ensuing year.
Mr.. Walker ssked for two deputies, but for
the present the commissioners considered
one enough. The resolution, which ives
spread upon the minutes, reads Thus:
Resolved, That whereas we have spent an
unusual amount Of time in hearing the
complaints of taxpayers of this county
upon and concerning the question of as
sessment of 1880, and
Whereas, We have in a large majority of
instances found the complaints we'll found
cd and nave in innumerable instances, ag-
gregating in our opinion over 100
special cases, granted relisf aside from the
general real estate reduction of 20 per cent,
and
Whereas, by the reports of the treasurer
we are notified and our attention is called
to the fact that approximately 1872 cases
came under his observation upon which
taxable property properly ~agRreRating
$514, 1870 is omitted from the rolls, both
original and supplemental, and upon which
fundamentally of the treasurer and like
wise by the same report that apppEoxi-
mately 21O other cases representing a still
larger sum-, to-wit, $613.WO were duplicated
and enormously assessed, also two other
reports by the county treasurer showing 202
cases of the unlawful assessing Of poor
and road taxes, and 101 cases Of omissions
of 800 errors at this date unexplained.
Whereas. We have repeatedly asked the
said assessor and his deputy to explain or
excuse the errors, omissions and mistakes
by them caused and made, and
Whereas, the county commissioners had
urgently requested as fnll an assessment
list as possible before or during the sitting
of the board of equalization of the roll of
1880 and the taxpayers were urging the
same that they might have the benefit of
the Judgment of the said board, and
Whereas, the lists were unusually delayed
and not completed and which was mainly
due to incompetency of the said deputy as
fore us but failed to make
what in our opinion constituted any valid
excuse or explanation of the very apparent,
and in our opinion, real delinquenoies,
errors and omissions, and
Whereas. According to the best informa-
ton and knowledge that We can obtain,
and our earnest conviction and honest
belief being that said assessment created
mn unusual and unnecessary large number
Of errors. omissions and mistakes, and was
carelessly and unfaithfully done and per-
formed, we therefore feel called upon to
criticise, censure and condemn the methods
employed and the results obtained by the
assessors Office in the question of the
assessing of the property of Lewis and
Clarke county for the year 1880; and We
further feel particularly aRgrieved by the
action of Frank Currie, the deputy
assessor, appointed and by us con-
is incompetent and disqualliea for the posi.
ton he occupies and holds, and that he has
failed and neglected to we'll and faithfully
perform the duties of deputy assessor; il
appearing to our satisfaction that very
many of the errors, mistakes and omissions
complained of are chargeable to said deputy;
and believeing that the efficiency of the ser
and that the public good requires his re-
moval; we do, therefore, remove him from
the office OF deputy assessor of the county
of Lewis and Discriminating hereby to
exercise the right and power vested, or by
us assumed to be vested, by section 9O6,
page 1884. of the compiled statutes
Of Montana-hereby Yevokine with
drawing and annulling our previous con-
firmation of the appointment of said dep
uty, and hereby declaring the office OF
deputy assessor of Lewis and Clarke coun-
ty vacant, 80 far as the present incumbent
is concerned, there having been, in oul
opinion, no justification or reason for the
course of action pursued by the said dep
uty during his ipcumbency of said office;
and he having been given full and ample
opportunity to explain, excuse or justify
the same.
We recommend greater care and atten-
ton to be given BY the assessor to the dis
charge of the duties of his office during the
ensuing year.