The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1902-06-05
ABOUT LISTING TAXES.
Instructions Sent Out to Tax Listers
by the Corporation Commission.

by the Corporation Commission.
Following instructions have boon
sent to tan listers BY tn, Corporation
Commission:
It is easy enough TO raise revenue
sufficient to defray the expenses OF
tho the government, bat to raise it in
such way that all property shall
bear its prOportiOnate part is deli
cate and difficult task. This cannot
be accomplished without you dis
charge your duties brayely, intelli-
gently and wisely. All property sub
lect to taxation must be placed on
the tax list at its true value in money.
II has been claimed that there is
rule in North Carolina among asses
sOr. and tax listers to Intentionally
undcryaIue property, and instead Of
putting it on the list at its true value
in money, to assess it twO-thirds or
thrsefOurth5 Of its value. This is
remarkable contention in view Of tho
tax laws that have existed in North
Carolina since the Constitution Of
1868; but if such rule ever did exist
in the State, or in any part Of it,
there can be no excuse for il in the
future
You arc differentiated from all
other officers in that while they are
only required to take one oath Of Of
flee, you are required to take two;
one before You begin your duties,
that You will discharge tham faith
fully, and another when you have fin
ishsd, that YOU have discharged them
faithfully and as the law required.
And this oath must be annexed to he
abstract Of taxable property in your
respective tow nships. In sdiition to
these Oaths. it is made q crime for
you to fail to dn certain things, as re-
quired by law, in the line Of these du-
ties. In this connection your atten-
ton is called to Section y Of the Ma
chinery Act, which impose, duties
and penalties on the taxpayer, and
which is as follows:
ANY person. firm or corporation
in this State owning or holding per
sOnal property Of any nature or de
scription, Individually or as agent,
trustee, guardian, administrator, ex-
ecutor, assignee or receiver, which
property is subject to assessment.
who shall Intentionally make false
statement 20 the assessor of his as
seGsment district, or to the board of
equalization thereof for the purpose
OF avoiding the payment Of the ust
and prOportiOnats taxes thereon,
shall forfeit tho sum of ten dollars for
every hundred dollars or ma iOr frac-
ton thereof so withheld from the
knowledge Of such assessor or board
of equalization. 1t is hereby made
the duty OF the sheriff Of any county,
upon complaint made to him by any
taxpayer Of the assessment district
in which it is alleged that property
has been 50 withheld from the knowl-
edge of the assessor or board OF equal
izatiOn, or not included in the said
statement, TO investigate the case
forthwith and bring an action in the
Superior Court in the nsmo OF the
State against the person 80 com
planned Of All forfeitures collected
under the provisions of this section
shall be paid into the county treas
ury."
What is market value" or true
value?" This is defined in Section 10
of the Machinery Act in language too
plain TO he mistaken, and is As fol-
lows:
The intent and purpose Of the tax
laws Of this State is to have all prop
erty and subjects Of taxation fairly
assessed at tho value which would be
realized thsrefrom by cash sale in
such manner as such property and
subjects are usually sold, but not by
forced sale thereof, and the words
market value or true value, =
when used in the tax laws, shall be
held and deemed to mean what tho
property and subjects would bring at
cash sale when sold in such manner
As such property and subjects are
usually sold
See to it then. that all property
which is required to be listed before
you shall be placed on the tax list at
its true value in money.