The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-11-04
THE RINGS EXTRAVAGANZA
Remarkably Heavy Extra Charges of
One of Boss Taggart's Henchmen.
Assessor VOLTS "Perquisites' Illustrate the
Ways of the Tax-Eater-A Salary of
$500 Swells Into $2,725.

AS much as any officers in a county the
commissioners are responsible for the
proper exp enditure' of money. If they are
careless or simply good fellows DESTROYS of
helping their friends. they allow all sorts
of bills which should not be allowed. In
this county expenses have increased very
much during the past few years. Taking
the Office of Mr.. Taggart ss Q basis, county
expenditures for official services have in
creased nearly So per cent. during the past
five years of the Democratic re gime.
George Wolf has been assessor of Center
township. which includes the city of In
disnapolis, the past two years. His bills
for services 60 to the County Commission
ers for approval. Therefore, all the charges
of that official which they approve that are
irregular they are responsible for.
The salary of Mr.. Wolf is $500 year.
otherwise. it is fixed by law so that he
should receive no other CONDENSATION for
his services
From August, 1890. to August. 1892. Mr..
Wolf should have received $1,000 for his
in the auditors office snow that he was
paid S.. 450.60 or 81. 725. so q year, instead of
81, 500. Here are some of the charges made
by Mr.. Wolf and allowed by the County
Commissioners and paid:
Keeping transfers on plats, from August.
Services assis ting Board of Review -. 300
Work on plats outside Center township. $500
Work on plats, lands and lots outside
Appraisins and assessing forfeited lots. 1890
Delivering election outfits. 5000
Delivering and collecting election outfits 194. 90
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS $4,000
Men who are familiar with the laws rela-
tive to the duties of assessors say that his
services in making plats for Center town.
ship are q part OF his duties, and that when
he devotes his time to making plats for
other townships he should not draw q
salary as assessor OF Center township.
Then he was allowed $244 for distributing
and collecting election outiits. The fact
drawing 10 q day as assessor would indicate
that there are no other Democrats in Gen.
ter township wanting job But the law
settles the whole subject. Chapter lag of the
laws of 1891 provides that townships con-
tanning population of over as 900 as shown
By the last census shall each receive the
sum of 800 per annum. which shall be
deemed to be payment in full for all serv-
ices of whatever klno he may perform as
trustee or assessor"
Again the charges of Mr.. Wolf are some
what remarkable for carriages and horses.
as follows:
June 10, 1891, miscellaneous buggy hire. S252.35
Aug %, 1891, horse and buggy, SO days 5000
June II. 1897. livery hire for deputies 36s.75
Total. ...---------.----!.---...-- S91l.6O
There may be some warrant for paying
S77l.60 in two years for horse hire In assess
ing the property in so compact a township
as this. but the people W ho are now having
their attention called to the work OF this
assessor in their increased taxes on small
properties would like to see IL. They also
remember OF this Assessor Wolf that he re-
sisted the effort of the business men of In
dianapolis to have the appraisal of the
property in Indianapolis reduced 10 per
cent, but acting under the orders of the
courthouse ring, he fought it so persist
emily that it failed; and because it failed,
and because Auditor Taggarr added q, Co.,
790 to the appraisal of the State Board
of Equalization, the people of Indian
apolis are paying taxes on q valuation
of over $40. $4,000 in excess of the amount
it would have been had not TeXgart and
Wolf fought reduction.
One of the men who Is responsible for
allowing the remarkable charges of AS
SCISSOR Wolf is County Commissioner Hum
ter who is q candidate for reelection.