Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-07-30

ING, WHEN THE ENTIRE NAT
TER WILL BE DISCUSSED-THE
FALLING OFF FROM LAST YEAR
IN THE NORTH DISTRICT ES-
TIMATED AT 100000 WHEN
THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN AN
INCREASE.
Yesterday morning City Assessor for
the district north of the creek, o. w.
Heiskell, called at the Office of the City
Collector and took away the books for
further work upon them. Mr.. Heiskell
had number of blanks which had not
been entered, and the evident purpose
was to make additional entries hereto
fore omitted.
During the examination of the incom-
plete books on Friday a large number
OF omissions were discovered, one being
SLOT 900 on the basis of 1898, and in
cluded in the number were several Of
the most prominent firms in the city,
the total shortage from an imperfect
comparison being over 100000, and it
is estimated to run as high as 100000,
whereas there should have been an in
crease of $250,000 or 100000, which
bring up the figures to about what was
announced in the Register of last Mon
day morning.
A rumor was current on Friday and
yesterday that Collector Hall was going
over the books and making corrections
and changes himself, on the plea that
he had to get out his bills right away.
Of course the Collector nor any other
official aside from the regular assessor,
has any right to make changes in the
books, unles especially authorized to
do so by proper authority, and with 3
view of learning the facts a reporter
called upon him Yesterday and asked
the direct question:
"Mr. Hall, have you made any change
in the books as returned by the asses
sor?"
Il have made no change" he replied.
What we did was to make a COMPARE
son with last years books, for the pur-
pose of finding out what was wrong.
We went over them partially, and dis
covered about 100000 of a shortage.
In my opinion it may reach $4,000 or
acid ffnro IN avn n
crease We found a number of very
serious omissions, one of them $107 900
as listed last year, but | don't think
it would be proper to mention names.
The trouble appears to be that blanks
were not returned, and that the work
was not completed. The books are not
complete as to assessment or footings,
and comparison is the only way to
ascertain what is wrong. Mr.. Heiskell
called here this morning and took the
books, and his clerk, Mr.. Campbell, is
copying them. AS far as the assess
ment goes it appears to be all right.
1t is simply incomplete. | suppose the
matter will come before the Board
Monday, and that where there are ON
issions a supplemental assessment will
be ordered"
An eX-assessor was seen, and said:
Il have no personal knowledge that
Mr.. Hall changed any figures, but /
know he was going over the books and
comparing them. He said he had to
get out his bills, and | remarked to
him that he was in a great hurry, but
that he had known of the situation gen
orally six months ago, when my aid was
asked for. | told him yesterday that
if he wanted the books Strengthened out
| would start at the north end OF the
city and make a personal canvas, and
that he could commence making out
bills Wednesday, and that | would
keep him going and guarantee that the
figures would be correct, and there
would be no kick-but / wanted to be
paid for it, I would not do the work
for nothing No one has right TO
change a figure in the books, except
the Board of Equalization and Appeals,
or some one duly authorized by Coun-
ell. No official can do it any more than
a citizen. and if it has been done or is
to be done a man would be very foolish
to pay his taxes. The assessor is the
proper person to make returns of pro-
perty and if his figures can be altered
there is no use in making an assess
ment. One set of books, with arbitrary
changes. would do from year to year.
Another point is that any expense in
cured ought to come out of the salary