Evening journal., 1892-02-24

here IS the cleal est recognition In the
set OF 1881 Of the powers Of the assessor
L. Is frightful. monstrous pI proposition
that II there we're 90 600 fictitious names,
there l. no human remedy. II should
not be tolerated fcr an instant.
Does me Levy Court ask anything
more than he law allowsf To do any
thing but to strike of names for the
placing on Of III Oh there are heavy pen
Alties providedi We only want TO take of
Fictitious, duplical 81 those already on the
list, and those on the lists in the wrong
districts These la't-named have the right
to appear before the Levy Court and be
placed on Whs h y belong
How would we q rid OF the fictitious
namesi / have not heard a Lawful suR-
gestioa. The newspapers seem to be
trying most Of the cases nowadays One
Of them suggested plan that the matter
could be remedied after the damage bad
been done, by striking names from the
collectors duplicates A fictitious person
can't die very well. The name must stay
there under the general assessment for
four years. / can't believe that your
honors will put the construction on the
Legislation for which the other side con
tends
''The effects and consequences should
be given their due weight in constituting
law. Think In what q lamentable
plight the financial interests Of the
county would be placed. The Levy Court
is the revisory and superior body. Il Is
to FIX the tax rate
"a number Of these late acts passed by
the Legislature require true assessment
THAT Is very serious matter. Under
our constitution the duties OF the Levy
Court, while directly relating 20 the fiscal
concerns Of the county. Indirectly relates
to the elective franchise A fraud per-
petrated by the assessor can be cor
rected
1t was A. 45 o'clock when Mr.. Bradford
stopped arguing.
sPAUANCE FOLLOWS BRADFORD.
As soon as Mr. Bradford sat down,
William G. Spruance his colleague, took
the floor After referring to the thir-
tenth paragraph Of the answer, he said !;
ITIsA PLEASANT THING.
1--WE have gotten rid Of many % the
allegations OF the bill aud answer We
are rid Of sll past and all Threatened
wrongs Of putting names on. We have
made a plain statement Of facts that the
Levy Court never illegally placed names
thereon, although two names were put
on. They were ordered on by one mem
Der only and were on advice Of their at
/ torney stricken off. The question OF put
ting on names is eliminated. The ques-
ton Of fraud has also been eliminated
We have declared that we will exercise
the power which we claim in regard 10
he striking of Of names only according
to law. Therefore your honor must take
it as true that this Levy Court intends TO
act only according to law Nor is care
lessueEs to re inferred. TIE reputation
Of an officer in the past is to be taken as
bis repu tation in the future.
Fraud and carelessness are thus
eliminated and The question comes to the
plain point, has the Levy Court the right
to strike names from the lists. II Is
pleasant to come before the court this
way, thoroughly understanding each
other and arguing on a plain legal point.
"rhe Levy Court has been called q body
Of limited jurisd ctlon. The assess has
no more power he has no more right tC
add a fictitious name than he has to cut
his wife's head.
AssFssobs ARE NOT SAINTS,
"All Of the assessors are not saints, as
the other side would make believe.
There have been some rascally assessors
in the past. These laws we're made fol
them. This county is not Ia tie hands
Of the assessors, for the Levy Court has
a supervising power which is necessary
and proper The result to the fscs
affairs Of the county has already beer
shown.
"There is law for this The Legisla
ture, repenting of its folly Of 1878
remedied the matter In 1881. The RICH
Is given to the Levy court to examine
correct and revise the assessment. Cor
rect means 10 correct in every way In
which it needs correction. Not to cor
rect names particularly does It mean
out to correct the lists. II Il had meant
otherwise it would have said so.
"In section IS Of the Ia y of 1873 can b.
found where the Levy Court has a righl
to FIX the assessment according to righl
aud justice II the Levy Court has thii
right It certainly has the right to drop
name The Levy Court has the right K
finally settle the assessment lists. They
have the right to purge them OF fraud
The Levy Court has a right to examin'
the returns made by the assessors
What is the use Of them making an ex
animation II the Levy Court must take
the assessors return No court hal
Jurisdiction In this matter except thu
Levy Court itself. Il would be grossly
unjust to antlsipate fraud or mistake OF
their part.
"The fictitious gang will not appear n
March personally. They won't be there
II will be dangerous TO bring vouchers
They were created in the brains OF tn
assessor and his colleagues. Let tn
Levy Court handle them aud they will b
dead
''Lst me thank those on the othe
side for the way In which the
speak Of the elective franchise. Hand
somely done They say 1t is a right.
, heard 1t was privilege. II is q right
, and no one has a right to impair II
! Elective franchise is right and shout
, be guarded, and anything which impair
, II should be strangled by any court Q
, jus ice il comes before.
"If had been counsel for the Lev
Court would have advised them to hav
struck of the names. / would also hav
told them that they must be men, an
II they were indicted their actisn
striking of the names would have been
: move In the line Of good government,
, The law Of 1878 was an invitation to pa
, the assessment list and the lists weE
| padded
THE Legislature Of 1881 intended {
amend the act Of 1873 so as to remedy th
evil Of padding the assessment lists.
. It had not intended to remedy the evil n
amendment would have been offered
4 mi A.