The age-herald., 1899-08-25
Ward. Where is it?"

Ward. "where is it?'
 MT MeCrossin described the property.
 "How much has been expended on it?" asked MT. Cabaniss.
 About s12.Oo0,'' responded MT Van Hoose.
 You agreed to pay slO,oOO in stock. What was that stock worth?"
 Nothing" responded MT. Van Hoose ''There was none then"
 "Then you agreed to pay for land in stock that was worth nothing" quickly in- terrupted MT. Cabaniss. Don't put words into my mouth," im- pulsiyely ejaculated MT. Van Hoose. .You ask questions and I will answer them.' There was a litter throughout the room.
 "Al right MT. Van Hoose," responded MT Cabaniss smiling.
 What was this built for?" askd Captain Ward. "Is it literary inshtution?"
 Lets get at this" interrupted MT. Caba- miss. 'If this property is exempt from tax alton we don't want to tax it.
 Ut is not exempt" retorted Mir Van Hoose.
 What was your agreement about paying for the land?" asked Mi. Cabaniss.
 That when the building is finished Dr. Smith is to get sl000o in stock for the land he furnished
 Mr. MeCrossin was called up to testify as to the value of the land and improvements. He declared it worth s15.06a
 MT. Van Hoose then made a statement. in which he said that the Auditorium con- pany was not organized for personal gain. It was organized by progressive citizens to construct building for large entertain ments for the benefit of the town. He thought the city and the board of revenue should have built the building. but that couldn't be done under the law. No man in it expected to get anything from his investment He had called on MT. Weak ley to take a share of stock in the Audi torium, and MT. Weakley had refused to do so. The inference from the manner and words of MT. Van Hoose was that MT. Weakley was not public-spirited man.
 MT Weakley jumped to his feet imme- diately and replied:
 T said had other objects of charity I preferred to contribute to-
 T hope the board will remember that. retorted MT. Van Hoose, "and swear MT. Weakley on it.
 'I preferred to contribute to other char ities.' quickly retorted MT. Weakley, than to MT. Van Hoose, MT. Henry Gray and pr. smith,
 During this colloquy there was some ex- citement and much by-play, to the great amusement of the audience.
 Captain Ward interrupted to ask MT. Van Hoose what, in his opinion. the prop erty was worth on the 1st of last October.
 'One gentleman said he might pay % cents on the dollar for the stock" re- sponded MT. Van Hoose.
 fHow much stock was subscribed? Ten thousand dollars or eleven thous- and dollars What is the land worthy asked Captain Ward.
 What naked lands adjacent are worth l."
 What are the Improvements worth?"
 "Let us go into one question first" quick ly responded MT. Van Hoose, with show of spirit, "and settle that
 This created laugh, then MT. Van- Hoose went into discussion of the diffi- entities of getting title to the land from pr. Smith.
 That cuts no figure with us," said Cap- tain Ward.
 T am glad to hear you say that" re- sponded MT. Van Hoose 'It does with us'
 Another laugh fioated through the room. "'What was all the property worth last October" asked Captain Ward.
 What land and scrap material would be worth. We had no title and couldn't sell. And nobody wanted to buy" MT. Cabaniss here interrupted and stated that he would ask the board to make the assessment as low as it could, consistently. under that clause of the con- stitution which provides that private cor