The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-08-04
PREPARING TO HEAR TAX-PAYERs.
The Commissioners Have Short Session and
Will Begin Business in Few Days.

The State Board OF Tax Commissioners
created by the last Legislature met for the
first time at o'clock yesterday morning In
the Office of the Auditor of State. The
board is composed of the following men,
bers, all of whom were present: Governor
Hovey, chairman; Claude Matthews, Score
tary of State; j. o. Henderson, Auditor of
State; /. n. Walker and Josiah Gwin. CON-
missioners. Joseph L. Tanning, deputy Au-
ditor of State, Is the secretary or the board.
Attorney general Smith was not there, bat
could be seen frOthing IN the corridor like
q bottle of spoiled ginger-beer as to what
he proposed TO do when they railroads and
other corporations came before the board.
lie gives out that he has prepared himself
10 hight for a higher assessment. n In bis
opinion at least S1O0. 900 goo should be- added
TO the tax duplicates of the State.
The board decided upon hearing appeals
of individuals and counties first. This
work will be taken I'D next Monday and
order of business, will come the equaliza-
ton of property. Beginning on the 10th,
railroads and corporations will have a
hearing. A motion prevailed that the score
tary notify all railroad companies and
other corporations that they will be re-
quired to furnish written briefs and that
they would be allowed limited time to
make oral statements of fact. This has
DteH uODo tHat tiulc may DO o3feQ bnu Ill
be given chance to be heard. Each COM
pany will be notified of the time of hearing
and the business be expedited much as
possible. as the board can be In session
only forty days.
The following letter accompanies the
blanks that have been sent to the county
auditors over the State:
Sufficient Individual complaints have been
made, taken together with personal investtga-
tons made by us, TO convince this board that
prudence and exact justice demand that We
assessments made against the corporations or
tie state. Accordingly, We have prepared and
herewith 1nclOse blank forms, largely selfeN-
planatory. which we request that you promptly
OUT. giving answer To each interroGatory
with conscientious caro-. and accuracy. 1t Is in
cfted by said blanks. the property OF ali corpora
t3ns OF importance and conceded wealth in
your county. We leave with your discretion the
osntsslon or only such companies as are unini-
pSrtant, and concerning the return OF whose
property there Is no question.
As rule, IL IL important that all banks,
sfreet-railway, telephone, telegraph, gas, water
works, coal and large manufacturing companies
OF every character be included In the list. Also,
such railroad property IS Is passed upon by local
boards
Several counties have not yes returned
and the chief reason for the adjourDme
or the board. after a session of only an hour.
was TO enable these counties to come for
ward with their papers. Another reason
was that Governor Hovey and Commission
or Walker had arranged TO be absent at
Detroit, In attendance upon the Grand
Army encampment, though O quorum
wonld still have remained in their absence
had the county work been ready.