The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1894-02-21
TO RAISE ASSESSMENTS.
What is Expected of the State Tsa Asses
sors-The Natter Explained by the
ConptrolIer-GeneraI.
Especial to News and Courier. I

Especial to News and Courier.
COLUMBIA, February S-As is we'll
known the Comptroller-G General is try
ing hard to get good valuation on all
classes of property in the State, and
with that end in view is doing every
thing possible to facilitate the work. He
wants to get all property Oh an equal
basis. The recent circular seems not to
have been fully understood, and for the
benefit the many boards Of assessors
the following correspondence VS. to.
day given out and will be interesting to
the members of tn" various boards:
ST. LUKE'S, Newberrv County, Feb.
6, 1894 The Hon. w. II. Ellerbe
Comptroller er-General-Dear Sir: [ see
that you have sent out abstracts for the
township board of assessors. want to
know If the board will have to fill out
the blanks with the name of each tax
payer and add up the amount and then
turn them over 70 the auditor, or will
the auditor have to fill them out and
the board sign them? If the township
board has to fill out the blanks it will
take our board at least two weeks to do
it, and as the township board gets no
pay it is more time than | can give
without pay. Please let me know what
is the duty Of the board and obiige.
Iolrs truly,
r. r. G. HUNTER
The following was the reply:
Mr.. r. #. &. HUNTER. St. Luke's,
Dear Sir-Replying TO yours Of the 5th
lust l beg TO say that cannot fully
understand how or why it will take
two weeks to fill out these blanks. If
your board do their work thoroughly
they must of Deeessity examine each
separate item and piece Of property,
personal and real. returned in their
township or tax district, and as this is
done how easy for one member of the
board to enter the item Of property as
assessed under its proper head as as
sessed.
This done in line with name Of the
taxpayer and ycu will have your work
as you progress before you in an intelli-
gent and concrete form, which will en-
able or aid you in adjusting and fixing
the proper values upon the property Of
your township. If, however, your
board of assessors can do this work
better and with more accuracy in the
assessing of property without the aid of
the blanks then of course do not use
them. Our purpose was to aid these
boards, and tha' purpose to aid is based
upon actual experience and observa-
tious in this work Of the township
board Of assessors.
The auditor is not expected to have
anything to do with the work except
such aid as his position and iuforma-
tion can give. which aid, we are assured,
will he cheerfully rendered.
The Cornptroller-General seeks the
cooperation, aid and full sympathy Of
these boards of assessors il the proper
assessment and equalization Of the tax
able property of the State, and has
confidence in their intelligence, patrio-
tism and devotion to duty, right and
Justice to do their work in a most
thorough and satisfactory manner to
themselves and the interested pub
lie
With the hope that you may under
stand and appreciate the efforts of this
office and act in the matter as judg-
ment of your board indicates and the
public interests demands, I ana, yours
respectfully, w. H. ELLERBE,
General.