The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-08-20
ASSESSOR OF GRANITE COUNTY
MAKES ATTACK ON PROP.
ERTY APPRAISERS.
Alleges That the Members of the
Board of County Commissioners
Have Been, Without Authority
of Law, Cutting Down As
sessments and in Other
Ways Making Them
selves Obnoxious.

Helena, Aug 20.-Thomas F. Hynes.
assessor of Granite county has filed SEN
sational charges against the county board
of equalization, the members of which
he charges with malfeasance in office.
Assessor Hynes increased the assess
ment of his county s1,o764S1 over the as
sessment for 1900, making a large in
crease in the valuation of franchise.
The raise affected the Granite Noun
tain Bi-Metallic company more than any
other concern, and this company induced
the board Of county commissioners to
reduce the assessment.
Mr.. Hynes appeared before the state
beard of equalization today and pro-
tested against the action of the county
board.
Paul A. Fuzz of the Granite Mountain
Mi Metallic company, was also before
the board with an argument to offset the
plea of the assessor. The state board
decided it had no authority to change
the figures of the county board.
Assessor Hynes filed the following with
the board:
Whereas, The board of county COM
Missioners Of Granite county, sitting
as a board Of equalization, have reduced
the assessment Of Granite county as
made by me for the year 1901, in man
ner contrary to law and without due re-
gard to the cash values of the property
80 reduced, in the name of the Majority
of the taxpayers Of Granite county I
most respectfully request that the state
board Of equalization examine into the
facts regarding my assessment of this
county before accepting the figures given
%ho ~ to-,
and that committee be sent to Granite
county to investigate the following allie
cations.
"First--I charge the county commits
sioners with unfairness in reducing the
assessment of the Granite Mountain BIZ
Metallic company and it's associated
properties approximately 100000 from
my assessment and in reducing the total
assessment 1892 o4.
"Second-I charge the county COM
missioners with unfairness and mall
feasance in trying to prevent me from
examining witnesses who appeared be-
fore the board of equalization.
'Third-I charge the county commits
sioners with malfeasance in reducing the
assessment of property in this county
without viewing the same and examining
into the facts.
"Fourth-I charge the county commits
sioners with malfeasance in reducing the
assessment of George A. Carter, who had
gwen in his property at false valua-
ton.
"Fifth-There appeared in a newspaper
published in this state, prior to the meet
ing of the board of equalization, a state
ment of what the board would do in the
matter of reductions. the verificaton of
which leaves the deduction that the
board acted before the meeting and
should be investigated.
'Sixth-I charge the county commits
sioners with malfeasance in assessing
the Montana Water, Electric Powe,
and Mining company at valuation Of
$36, 742 when the international revenue
stamp upon the deed on record in this
county shows the value of $4,000.
seventh charge the county com.
misaioners with gross injustice in reduc-
ing the assessment of Fred Burr and the
Granite Ditch company from a valuation
of $4,000 as assesseby by me to valua
tlon of $1,000 and ask an investigation
into the value OF this property, believing
that this property is paying a revenue
- the owners in excess of 81 900 pei
month for water rents and power.
trusting that your honorable boart
viii give careful consideration to thu
facts herein set forth, l am respectful,
yours,
THOMAS F. HYNES,
Assessor of Granite County"