The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-07-08

A board of equalization is a curious
affair. It brings to the surface condi-
lions which the average man would
not suppose existed. We pass along
the streets and read signs, Money to
Loan" and BLANK & Blank, Invest
ment Brokers'" and imagine the men
inside are rolling in wealth. But when
they come to the board to make state
ments concerning the amount of
money they pay taxes OF we learn
| they are poor; that they do not know
where the next meal is coming from
and have grave doubts of their abil-
| fly to get a bed. 1t is so sad, that we
feel boards of this kind ought TO be
abolished. They are a nuisance. They
tear down the castles which we ere
ate in our minds. They wreck our
hopes and anticipations.
The Salt Lake county board held an
other session yesterday afternoon at
which several poverty-stricken gentle
men appeared and asked for abate-
ments. The morning session was de-
voted principally TO attending to
widows, but in the afternoon there was
rush of property poor people who are
in grave circumstances. To name
them would be unfair and possibly
cause their creditors to come down on
them and force them into assignment.
The board did a whole lot of bust
ness yesterday afternoon. 1t talked to
several people. Some of them went
away annoyed. Take the case of NJ. J.
Cheesman, for instance. He came in
response to a summons compelling
him TO show cause why the assessment
of Walker Bros. should not be raised
from 100000 to twice that amount. He
was there the day before and was told
to go back and make a statement ac-
cording to the statute in such cases
made and provided. He did so to the
best of his knowledge and belief.
The board, however, did not think
the statement was in the manner and
form provided by law, SO the business
was referred to the county attorney,
who viii pass upon the same and make
a report today.
Frank McGurrin came back yester-
day He HAD with him a statement Of
his assets and liabilities, which he pre-
scented. Hall did not think it was the
right thing: that the several items
should be in a more detailed condition.
Mr. McGurrin flew behind the statute
for protection and declared the board
had no more right to go into his bust
ness matters than it had to ask Mr. /
Mccormick to come in and tell who
owed him and whom he owed. SO /
torney.
The personal valuation of NJ. H
Walker was reduced by $4,000. This /
was done at the instance Of Mr.. Chess /
man. It was a good stroke.
The following comprises tke list of /
the reductions and abatemenTs of the /
day, with the exception OF items be- /
low 900.
Anna Pratt. error in assessment, tax
aba ted Sc COO
Harry 5. Margetts. mortgage, $4,000,
stricken off.
W J. Haloran, personal property
abafed S720-
Ss50: real estate, s1.636; improvements,
81. 200.
same. abate real estate and improve
ments. $4,000.
Jenes a. Yates. atate $500.
Coates & Corun. abate s20AS.
Mary 4. r. Darlington. abate $500
Ester 4. SOrenson, abate $1,000.
II. II. Walker ct al, improvements
abated 5000
John J. Corum. strike of 81, 997..
II. T Cowburn. absse 500.
c. II. Toe. seste SLIPS and $3.50 and
s1514
H. 2. Scott. abate 1850.
AueTbach Bros, abate $4,000 on per-
sonal property.
Z. and s H. Auersach, abate
S17s0.
John Mcdonald. abate 81 los.
Y. 3 Wicks, abate 81 500.
Moses Hallet ct al. abate S3,117.
Margaret Moffit, abate 81, see
Western Investment company, abate
s.. 600.
Samuel Mcintyre. abate $500.
Mary =. Shurtliff. abate S11S5.
s. J. Kenyon. abate $3.50.
Jane Wheatley. mortgage, $500,
stricken off.
Niagara Mining & Smelling company
abate s., 500.
raniel Lunn ct ux. abate $500.
John Beck. abate 5000 on improve
rnc7-s.
T. H. Auerbach & Bro, abate s., $50
on personal property.
J. c. and Fannie Brooks, abate $500
and $4,000 and 8 .000
The Groesbeck company. abate $1,000
f. IT. and s. II. Ausrtacb. abate 500.
T. H. Auerbach, abate $3.50.
James Mccurrin. absle l5o0.
T. c. Armstrong, raise valuation from
nothing to $500.