The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-05-09
WINGATE'S IRE AROUSED
HE REsENTs ALLEGED INTERFERE
ENCE OF COUNTY COUNCILS.
A Conference with Various County
Assessors Held at the state
house-The instructions.

State Tax Commissioner John c. Win
gate locked horns yesterday with the
county councils of Indiana at the meeting
of county assessors held in the room of
the State Board of Tax Commissioners in
the Statehouse. For the past week or ten
days Mr. Wingate has been holding what
are termed district meetings of county
assessors in the various districts in the
northern part Of the State. The object of
these gatherings is that the tax commits
sioner and the assessors may confer the
subject of listing and assessing property,
with view to securing more uniformity in
methods The meeting yesterday afternoon
was in the nature of a roundup" or final
session, at which all assessors might be
present who were unable TO attend any of
the previous meetings held in other dis
tricts.
Ten county assessors were present, as fol-
lows: j. r. Copeland, Morgan county: Will
S. Stewart, Delaware; Marion Eaton, Ma
rion; A. l.. Mack, Vermillion; G.. f. Nc
Daniel, Park; A. s. Campbell. Boone; Ben
Nagle, Hamilton; A. A. Cohee Hancock;
Thad. NJ Moore Madison; David NJ.
Wheatley, Upton; c. Hodgin, assessor for
Delaware township, Hamilton county I.
James II. Summers. assessor for Center
township, Delaware county.
In the discussion between Mr.. Wingate
and the assessors it developed that in d
number of counties the county councils
have seriously hampered the work of prop
erly and completely listing property by
limiting the time the assessors may occupy
in doing their work, also the number OF
deputies they may employ TO assist them,
and the appropriation for compensation for
. a 6annfiRS r 70 xxy.a-
much diSpleased TO learn of this course
adopted by county councils. You gentle
men must bear in mind that you re-
spOnSibie TO your bOndsmen and to your
constituents for the faithful and proper
discharge of your duties. said the tax
commissioner TO the assessors. land you
must not allow yourselves 10 be crippled
by any action taken by the county councils
The law says that you shall list property
in the right manner and that you may en-
ploy one or more deputies, according to
your needs. to assist you in the proper per-
Torrance of your duties.
Mr.. Wingate directed the county asses
sors to inform the assessors of their town
ships that IL is their duty TO list all prop
erty and to do 1t right. and that the County
Council has no authority TO in any instance
abridge the time in which the work may be
done or to hamper it's full performance by
restricting the number of deputies TO be
employed. The tax comm ssioner said that
the courts would undoubtedly reimburse
assessing officers for any loss 10 which they
might be subjected in this matter and oil
rected them 10 proceed with their work and
complete it. afterwards filing suit for any
difference that might be due them. Mr.
Wingate was very careful to warn asses
sors against employing more deputies than
shall be actually needed or hiring men that
are not efficient, or allowing deputies to
idle away time. In explaining his position
10 a Journal reporter Mr.. Wingate said that
he had been especially annoyed at learning
that on account of the restriction placed
by county councils upon assessors the lat
ter officers have, in many instances been
compelled to leave lists with property own
for them to fill out. THE law intends that
assessors shall be present in person when
lists are made out he said, but how can
they do this when they are limited in
timer
Mr. Wingate entertained the assessors at
luncheon at the Columbia Club yesterday
Late in the afternoon, at the conclusion of
the meeting, the commissioner and the as
SCISSORS called on Governor Durbin by
whom they were given a cordial welcome
The Governor made a brief talk on the sub
ject of taxation. laying particular empha-
sis on the Importance of placing all prop
erty on the duplicate and assessing ii at its
true cash value.