The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1899-08-17
,'RETURNTNG PROPERTY FOR
TAKATION."

Recently an intelligent citizen G
Halifax county who pays taxes O.
| property that runs into thousand
multiplied several times over, said to u
That he believed nine-tenths OF tn,
people Of Halifax county who pa,
taxes on more than two thousans
dollars worth of property perjure them
themselves when they list their prop
erty.
The following from the Statesvllle
Landmark, under the above heading
so nearly expresses the same, we make
room for it as sort of comparison be-
tween practices there and here
In bis charge to the grand jury Tues
day Judge Robinson paid his respects
to those persons who fail to make a
true return of their property for taxa
ton. His honor could not have dis
cuased d more important matter. To
secure q proper return and assessment
Of all property liable for taxation is
one OF the problems Of the age. It is
amazing with what cheerfu!ness men.
otherwise good citizens, will commit
perjury when they make their tax re-
:urns. They seem to think, in fact
this impression prevails generally, that
1t they can escape paying taxes on a
portion OF their property they are gull
" of a little sharp practice-nothing
more.
The Chatham Record told recently
IF a man in Chatham county who re.
turned practically no property for tax
alton and short time thereafter swore
hat he was worth $4,000 in order t.
get credit with a Northern firm. A
lew days ago gentleman told The
Landmark that the stock of certain
cotton mill in Concord was worth
FLO on the market and was not to be
had at that price even. And yet be
said some Of the owners of this stock
returned it for taxation at $65. Irl
mother case called to Our attention !:
piece OF real estate sold for $4,000 O,
&c, 900 and the board of assessors asses
'ed it for taxation at $1,000. In still
another case the board of assessor,
assessed piece Of property at 100000
The owner wanted it assessed at $45.. |
wv. lire county commissioners, be-
ng appealed to, reduced the assessment;
0 1884, 600. In the two last cases
IS In ali cases OF real estate assessments
ne boards OF assessors and county com
nlssioners and not the owners of the !
are to blame. But the indi-
ldual is to blame when he keeps back
part or falls to put a proper value
n his personal property. If all prop
rty was assessed at talr market value
) 1t should be, the tax rate could he
'"ered and the burden of taxation
ould bear more equally. AS it is tht
>nsclentlous citizen puts a fair valua
on On Ills property and thus pays bis |
Ill proportion OF taxes, while he VIII,
not SO conscientious eyades the Law
ID does not pay his full proportion
ne citizen OF small means, general,
eaklng, pays more than his propor.
On he has little and what he has i.
'nerally given In at a liberal vaIna
'n. Sometimes his pride prompts
IN TO make good showing and his
operty Is valued higher really thai
should be. The wealthy man often
IS much property that no one Blu,
mself Is cognizant OF, and if he is dis
sed not to tell the tax lister about II n
need not do SO, and he often choo>.
not to do so. n
The subject is a knotty one and = /
nedy Tor it is not In sight, but il I'LL
parent to any casual observer tha,I /
der our present system the Record III
Angel must necessarily engage ex
help during the season when ta> /,
urns are being made. IL