The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-08-10
THE QUESTION OF ASSESSMENT AGAIN,

1 President OF the southern Midway, con-
| tanned the true statement rs to the as-
sessment Of property in North Carolina,
| three thousand tax assessors in the State
| were guilty OF conspiracy and perjury.
| Col. Andrews swore that they had "in-
tentionally, designedly, Systematically
and arbitrarily undervalued" the proper.
" assessed for taxation and that they
had valued it at not to exceed fifty to
sixty per cent "of the real value"
Against that affidavit. all the assessors
have made oath that they "have assess.
ed every tract and parcel of land or
other real and personal property ut its
TRUE VALUE IN MONEY" Which
ing a pecuniary interest for his corpora
ton, or three thousand officials who
have no pecuniary or other interest in
the matter?
1t is doubtless true that there is much
property in North Carolina that is under
valued and that there is much property
that is on the tax lists for "a larger sum
than it would bring. What does that
prove? Simply that tax assessors are
human and that their Judgment is not
infallible. One of the most difficult
tasks that any man can undertake is to
put a valuation upon property, partic-
ularly farming and manufacturing prop
erty. In the case of farm property,
much of which, it is alleged by the rail-
roads, is underyalued. the assessors are
sworn to put it on the tax-lists at its
true value in money" What is the
true value in money" of a tract of land
upon which its owner cannot borrow
money and from the rent of which he
cannot get two per cent. upon his in
yestment? With the low price of pro-
duets that has prevailed for several
years, it is a matter of common knowl-
edge that farmers cannot borrow money
on their lands and that the income from
farms is very small, in some cases moth
ing at all beyond what a mans labor
secures for a plain support. The asses
sors must look only at its true value in
money!" What is the value in money of
property which all banks and money
lenders decline as security for loans?
Why do bankers and others advertise
money to lend on city property and de-
cline to lend money at all on farms? Is
not the fact that this is true proof that
farms as a rule are more nearly taxed
on their true value in money" than
bonds and stocks valued ON the tax
books at so cents on the dollar when
they sell readily at from S1.10 to S1.2o!
As to factories, the difficulty of arriv-
ing at correct assessment is not, so
great as with the farms, but as to many
of them, particularly the new ones, it is
not easy to determine their true value
in money!" and il max be that IN some
counties they have been undervalued. If
, so, the remedy is to increase the yalua-
ton when the evidence of differentiation
/, is submitted
There is no decisions anywhere that
would warrant. overriding the action of
the Corporation Commission because of
instances here and there of uniervaina-
ton. AT the most, the courts have never
usurped such a stretch of authority. The
| furthest they have gone has been to
declare that where the other property
was assessed all over the State, by rel-
son of an understanding or agreement
between assessors, at a value below the
real value. the State board of assessors
copld not assess railroads at higher
| valuation. la the ease of Taylor VS..
| Louisville and Nashville Railroad, the
court said:
Equity will not relieve against an as
sessment merely because it happens to
| be at a higher rate than that of osher
property, that such inequalities, due to
mistake. to the falibility of human judg-
/ ment, or to other accidental causes, mist
! be horne. for the reason that absolute
| uniformity cannot be obtained; that III
| other words, what may be called 'spora-
| remedied by the chancellor. He can
only interfere when it is made clear that
| there is, with respect to certain species
! of property, systematic, intentional, and
| unlawful unNervaluations for taxation
| by the taxing officers, which necessarily
effect an unjust discrimination against
the species of property of which the COM
plainant is an owner The reason for
this discrimination is obvious. The 0c-
casional and accidental Determinations
are inevitable in every assessment, and
are likely to. continue, because not the
result of ansillegal purpose on the
part of any one. If equitable interior
ence in such cases could be invoked, the
| obstruction to the collection of taxes
would be so frequent as to be intolera.
| ble."
This line of reasoning will destroy the
affidavit of Col. Andrews and the other
railroad officials. Whatever of under
valuations exist in North Carolina, are
| due to accidental causes" and not the
result of any understanding or agree
ment. In support of this fact many in
| stances could be cited, and as conclusiv,
| of it is the oath of the three Thousand