The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-09-14

| fo,0UU, tax 34,UUO, TeSluellce Ol NILS. -
T. McAden $1,000, tax $500; residence
of Carey J. Hunter $1,000, tax $3.50;
residence Of A. W. Knox $4,000, tax
-, $780, residence of A. r. Hutchins
$3.50, tax $1,000; residence of Il. b.
PEBBLES $4,000, tax $1,000; store of A.
i. Stronach $4,000, tax $4,000; resi-
dence of w. H. Williamson $6,S00, tax
| $1,000.
Col Andrews affidavit was much to
| the same effect, dealing only with prop
erty he has from time to time sold.
Mr. Rountree for the Coast Line,
presented affidavits, from 26 counties,
and Maj Shaw for the Seaboard. pre-
sented, 81 from twelve counties.
All these affidavits set forth that it
was a general rule for assessors to value
personal property and real estate at
about two-thirds or three-fourths its
real value. A few of them gave speci-
fic instances of sales showing this.
Affidavits were read stating that in
BERTHE and Duplin counties, commission
ers had ordered assessment of standing
timber lands at only three-fourths of
real value, and in Rockingham county
John G. Staples swears this order was
made AS to all property. Mr.. Benton,
attorney for the Coast Line then intro
duced auditors reports for 1893, 1898
and 1898, calling attention to discre-
pancy in value of property in the State
as shown by the census report and
values fixed for taxation.
These he put in evidence as he did
also extracts from Governor Nance's
message to the Legislature in 1879, ana
Governor Jarvis in 1888, touching tax
values. Capt. Price put in evidence
statement sent out by Treasurer Worth
at the time he was advertising the first
bond issue to the effect that the real
and personal property of the State is
taxed at not more than two-thards OF
their real value.
This completed the railroads evidence
and court took recess till $3.50 O'clock
when Mr. Pou began reading the nearly
three thousand afiidavits of the commits
sion.
The affidavits of the assessors weTe
directed to showing, first thar they had
assessed all property at true value i'll
money; second, that there mad been no
such concert or agreement to underyalue
property for purpose of escaping coun-
tvs pro rata part of State taxation as
charged by railroads.
Affidavits Of county officials, sheriffs,
clerks, and registers were introduced To
corroborate assessors and SHOW that
valuations were full and fair. Affida
Wits Of county commissioners were in
troduced TO show, first that property is
assessed at full value and that as
board Of equalization they endeavored
to either raise or reduce assessments so
as to bring all property up 10 its true
value and equalize differences III yalua-
tion.
Affidavits of citizens generally We're
to show full valuation and in many in
stances overyaluation also to show
numerous voluntary and forced sales for
amounts greatly below tax valuation.
All evidence concerning valuation Of
railroad property was introduced to
show that. tested by the standard, APP
proved by the Supreme Court of the
United States, railroad property rs
greatly underyalued and relatively much
lower than individual property.
Evidence was introduced to show THAT
the commission accepted the railroads
valuation of rolling stock and that the
value placed upon this part of the prop
erty was extremely low, five engines
costing originally $4,000 to $4,000 are
valued by them at $4,000 to $4,000, no
engine on the Southern being
valued at over $1,000. The yalua-
tion placed by the roads ON their ears
was shown to be corresponding inw.
Hearing Of the case will be resumed
at 10 O'Clock tomorrow morning, ana
/ doubt if tomorrow night viii see The
end Of it.