Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1902-05-29
Supervisor Cleary Writes.

/ To THE ASSESSORS AND THE PAYERS OF
GRANT COUNTY:
AS the work of the assessor pre-
! ceeds it is found that generally the as
SCISSORS and taxpay ers are complying
with the law. All good citizens are
in favor of having all the property of
the county, liable to taxation, assessed
at actual value as the law directs.
OF course there are exceptions.
There are always some people that
prefer that their neighbors shall pay
their taxes for them. In a few cases
the tax dodgers are still lodging and
have left the country, prompted 70
doubt by the same motives that
caused the exodus to Canada during
the Civil war to dodge the draft.
Still others who can't leave we have
with us yet, but persist in commit
ting perjury annually from force OF
i habit. All good citizens, including
assessors, of course, are requested to
report to the undersigned all cases
that they know Of or have got reason
to believe, where taxpayers have made
false statements to the assessor this
year in order to avoid paying just
taxes. The law on this point is as
follows. taken from Sec. 1056A, Rev.
| ST. Wis. 1898:
sAny person who shall Intentionally
make false statement to the assessor
of his assessment district or to the
Board Of Review thereof for the pur-
pose Of avoiding the pay ment Of the
just and proportional taxes thereon
shall forfeit the sum of ten dollars
for every hundred dollars or major
fraction thereof, SO withheld from the
knowledge OF such assessor or Board
Review. 1t is hereby made the duty
of the district attorney Of any county
upon complaint made to him by any
taxpayer of the assessment district in
which it is alleged that property has
been so withheld from the knowledge
of the assessor or Board of Review not
included in said statement, to inves-
tigate the case forthwith and bring an
action in the name of the state against
the person SO complained Of
1 will ask the aid Of all law-abiding
citizens in securing ust assessment
this year. 1 will investigate all cases
reported and assist tt district attor-
ney in looking up facts. The district
attorney has assured me that he will
vigorously prosecute all such cases
that appear to be well supported. l
am sure that he will do so.
l had hoped that it would be un-
necessary to appeal to the law and en-
force these several penalties. | am
now satisfied from an inspection of a
| few of such false statements made to
assessors by taxpayers that the en-
forcement of this law and these pen
alties is absolutely necessary.
There is no doubt that large con-.
tribution by way of penalties from
taxpayers can now be collected from
tax dodgers in this county, that will
60 far towards bui.ding our new court
house. In fact, should we enforce
penalties for false statements made in
past years we can build our new court
house without any county taxes at
all.
now wish to warn all taxpayers
that penalties for such false state
ments made, for this year at least,
will be imposed and no quarter given.
1t is indeed disagreeable duty for
public officers to prosecute such cases
but the honest taxpayers must be pro-
tected by having all property liable to
taxation listed and assessed. If the
parties persist in making false state
ments to the assessors they must face
trial for the recovery of ten dollars
on every hundred thus attempted to
be withheld from taxation. This law
was made for offenses of this charac-
ter.
| wish that all violations of the as
s4ssment laws or neglect of duty by
assessors be brought to my attention.
Dated Platteville, Wis, May "a, '02.
T. l.. CLEARY,
Supervisor of Assessments,
Grant Co., Wis.