The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-11-16
BEGINS HERE ON The 25TH
No Preooncerted Action by the Tax
Assessors Proved.
ALL SHOWED A WANT OF UNIFORMITY
Many Showed Instances Of differentiation and
Also Of Fair and liberalization Per-
sonaI Property Fairly and
TiuIY Assessed.
Truly Assessed.
Especial to News and Observer.

t9peclal 10 News and Observer
Wilmington, N. G., Nov. l5.--Exami-
nation OF the railroads witnesses was
resumed today with the same counsel
present. w. B. Hargett, of Jones
county, testified that he was assessor
eight years ago and is now county
commissioner, that property in Tucka-
hoe township is valued at about rs
per cent. On cross examination he
proved want OF uniformity in under
valuation and that personal property
- fairly valued. s. H. Gerorock, Of
onsiow county, testified to same thing
rs TO his township.
DR. w. j. Bullock, OF Beaufort coun-
tN, testified to 2-3 or u valuation as to
certain lands about which he had per
sonal knowledge. Eugene s. Martin,
Of Wilmington, testified to undcrNalua-
tion Of '33 1-3 to 80 per cent in the city
OF Wilmington. On cross examination
hc admitted that undervaluation was
not uniform. lie stated under oh ice
ton from the defendants counsel that
il was hearsay, that ne had heard
from several chairman of commission
crs in other counties OF Il similar rule
but had no personal knowledge OF a..
+. B. Stephens, of Southport, testi-
fled 10 undervaluation Of l-3 in his
township in Brunswick county and
gave Instances of sales of land at more
than the assessed value. On cross ex-
animation he said the prices had been
inflated by prospect of railroad
from Southport To the West which has
never come. Alexander Lee of pamli-
s4.k fis1fl fr
but on cross examination admitted a
limited knowledge of lands in his
county and want Of uniformity i'm un-
LIBERALIZATION and that personal prop
erty was assessed ut full value. ID. -.
Hooker, OF Pamlico. testified to a %
valuation, but on cross examination
admitted that he knew nothing Of the
assessment OF 1899 and confined his
testimony 10 n few tracts of which he
had personal knowledge.
A. II. paddison, Of New Hanover.
said he had been sheriff of Pender
many years ago. and knew of no un-
LIBERALIZATION in New Hanover lie
said i'm his township in Pender some
wears ago property was valued at 2-3.
He had no knowledge Of the assess
lnent of 90 except rs TO his own prop
ertyl
j. y. Moore. Of Pender county. testi-
fled to nmdervaluation Of 60 to 70 per
cent. On cross examination he confin-
cd his testimony to Il few tracts of
which he has personal knowledge. +.
T.. Bagley, of Wilmington, testified that
me- was assessor in 30 in Wilmington
township. that property was valued at
from go TO 75 per cent. On cross eN-
animation he confined his testimony 10
Wilmington township and admitted
there was no uniformity in undeIvaI-
lation. lie also testified to a reduc-
tion BY the county commissioners in
90 or 20 TO 50 per cent.
G. Mcqueen. president Of Murchison
National Bank, testified that the stock
Of his bank was assessed ut 52h per
cent per share. there having been paid
in $50 a share. lie did not state what
WAS the actual or market value.
The effect OF the testimony that has
been given in generally is that in GER
tain townships Of certain counties
there has been an underyaluation III
the opinion of the witnesses Of from 80
10 rs per cent OF true value. Most OF
the witnesses had personal knowledge
Of but a few individual tracts. Very
few of them were assessors. and none
of them proved any preconcertcd ac-
ton among all the assessors. III any
county. All showed "A want of unifor-
nifty. Many showed individual in
stances Of fair aud generalization, and
they generally agreed that personal
property was fairly and truly assessed.
Counsel for State are well satisfied
with result Of the Wilmington eNami-
nation.
Hearing has been adjourned to the
25th instant in Raleigh.