The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1902-12-13


jury" while the Gazette says it is Inter
esting and sensational"
When the body adjourned last March
it was agreed that the Committee on
County and Township Officers should in
vestigate the books and accounts Of the
several officers. The committees in
quiry elected commentator in behalf Of
some Of the officials and caused charges
Of dereliction of duty to others. Among
the latter is the County Assessor, and in
view of the fact that to him more than all
others Washoites look to fill their treas
ury, the finding Of the committee is Q
startling disclosure. } As summarized by
the Gazette il is as follows:
The Office is conducted in a very un-
satisfactory manner
There are no Books Of Record kept by
this office.
When called upon for books, the reply
was:
1--WE keep no books"
When asked for account of poll taxes,
the reply was:
"Go to the Auditor"
When'asked to account for money re-
allied, the reply was:
go tothe Treasurer"
When asked amount OF assessment
roll for 1901, the reply was:
"Dontknow; here is the list you fig
ure it up"
When asked amount Of reduction made
by Board, the reply was:
Don't no; ask the Auditor"
Information gathered taken from pri-
vate memorandum book of deputy:
Out of 1879 taxpayers in Washoe
county the Assessor finds only "4S per-
nj who had money!" only lib
pianos," only ''31 bicycles" only "16
people who had jewelry," only "6
watches valued at $780," in q county Of
over 5000 people.
Property owners really their own AS
SCISSORS, fixing possessions and valuation.
The resultant query of the Grand Jury
is;
"Did the Assessor do his duty in
1901 2"
The Grand Jury's concluding para
graphs with reference to the Assessors
office are:
In closing this part of our reportiit may
not be Inappropriate to include q part Of
Judge Hawley's decision after hearing
the contest in his Court at Carson City
last year in the case of the Southern Pa
cifc Railroad Company against the &C.
ton of the State Board of Assessors, dur
ing which trial the ann of assessing
was fully considered. We may also note
that the shortcomings of our several
County Assessors must have been ex-
ceedingly glazing to cause the language
of the Judge. Here it is:
rs. P. R. R. Co. We. State Board Of
Assessors:
"If I were to venture a suggestion on
this subject it would be to the effect that
uniformity in the assessment of the prop
erty can only be secured by the election
Of intelligent, impartial and honest men
to Office who will strictly adhere to the
provisions Of the constitution Of this State
and assess all property of every kind at
its true cost value. JUDGE HAwLEY."
Commenting on the foregoing the Ga
zette of December 8 says editorially:
While the late Grand Jury committee
was hunting bicycles and watches that
the Assessor neglected to tax it might
have put in a little time hunting for
Southern Pacific wheels" upon which
no tax is paid.
The company is spending $4,000, 900.
per mile on its road bed and its
rolling stock is not assessed for 5 per
cent Of its cash value. The Southern Pa
cifc is bonded for over 500, 900 per mile
and pays interest on 5000, 900, and yet il
pays taxes on but SIS 900 per mile In
Washoe and indeed in some counties but
$4,000. ~
The company is spending 5000, 900 or
1000, 900 in reconstructing a little over
600 miles Of road bed in Nevada. The
Grand Jury committee had not n word
to offer the "dear people" about that,
however. 1t spent its time counting BIZ
cycles and watches and hunting for cheap
John jewelry belonging to poor people
and censures the Assessor for not finding
and taxing them. In other words it
strained at q gnat and swallowed q
camel"