The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-09-20
THE TAX-LIsTS ARK TANGLED.
But Register Rogers Says Attorney
Jones is Responsible for IL.

But Register Rogers Says Attorney
Jones is Responsible for 1t.
Though the tax lists, which are being
made out and computed under the direc-
ton Of Register Of Deeds Rogers, are
not exactly hopelessly tangled, as has
been reported, still they are lore badly
tangled than has ever before been known
in this county, Astounding in mistakes,
erasures and changes. And besides,
they have not all yet been completed,
though it is provided by law that copy
of them shall be delivered to the sheriff
on or before the first Monday in Sep
TENDER.
When a number of the lists were sent
to the sheriffs Office Tuesday, that copies
might be made to send out to the depu-
ties in the various townships, it was
found that for some of the townships
the school tax was 81 "a on the poll and
the county tax Sc cents, while in other
townships the school tax was computed
at $1.36 on the poll and "A cents
for the county. Though one whole
township and part Of another had been
copied by the deputies before this mis-
take was discovered, the lists had to be
sent back TO the Register of Deeds and
the proper corrections made. 1t was
further found that in many eases those
who had failed to list were not marked
unlisted, and in no case were unlisted
persons charged up with double taxes, as
the law says they shall be When asked
about this latter divergence from the
general custom and failure to comply
with the law, Register Rogers said there
was no use TO compute double taxes as
the commissioners always excused all
who failed to list from paying more than
the regular tax He further added that
he had been authorized to do this by
County Attorney Armjstead Jones. He
likewise laid the responsibility for the
mistakes in the computation Of the
school and county taxes at Mr.. Jones's
door, saying that he at one time told
LIN they would be $1.34 and So cents
respectively, and at another that they
would be 1916 and 81 cents, and that
therefore he had told part of his clerks
to compute the list one way, and the
Others to calculate il another way; hence
their disagreement when sent to the
sheriffas office.
Whether Mr.. Jones is really RESPONSE
BILE for this muddle to the extent claimed
by Register Rogers could not be ascer-
tanned, as Mr. Jones is confined at his
home by sickness and reporter was
unable to see him. But, however this
may be, he certainly should not be
charged with further inaccuracies, which
appear in the lists. One instance will
suffice. a casual examination of the
list for st. Mary's township yesterday
revealed a mistake Of some $25 in the
taxes of Mr.. W. B. Wilder He was
charged up on the lists with s. o., when
it should have been about $50.
In addition to these things many Of
the original tax returns are computed in
pencil. These, it must be remembered,
are kept in the Office as permanent re
cords, and should by all means be
carefully written in order to avoid
changes or erasures Such has always
laen the custom since records Of this
/ have been kept. And it is not
J key that the Commissioners will ever
ase'pt the lists in this condition.
Bat this middle of the isis is hardly
10 be wondered at. Inquiry developed