The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-09-17


legal body and acted legally, that said
board of equalization should be recon
vened under the direction of this court
and compelled to discharge its duty III
respect to the equalization of assessments
of the real estate in said county.
And plaintiffs further allege, upon in
formation and belief, that the said City
of Raleigh and the authorities thereof
have just received from said board of
County Commissioners the said assess
ment, the law requiring said city to take
the assessment AS fixed by SAID county
and township authorities; and said city Is
now preparing to levy tax based upon
said invalid assessment.
Is. For second cause of action that
the said acting lst-takers and assessors
for said Raleigh township, in addition to
the fact that two of them were disquaIi-
| fed for their said offices, as aforesaid,
were not discreet and proper persons to
assess property, such as the law requires;
| that two of them had never bought Or
sold real property in said county and
none of them had such knowledge OF in
formation about the values of the vari-
Gus kinds of property In and about the
| city of Raleigh as would render them
competent to assess the same.
| II. That in valuing the residence prop
erty of the plaintiffs and of many Others
in similar circumstances, they did not
enter and examine the premises with
view to ascertain the character OF the
buildings or inquire of the owners of the
property as to such character or what It
cost them respectively, so as to determine
the value in money, and so they failed
to discharge this duty with reference to
said property.
IS. That the plaintiffs have reason t.
believe and do believe and allege that
the purpose of a majority of said acting
assessors was largely to increase the ag-
gregate valuation of the real property of
said Raleigh township. and IN effectlnS
that object they grossly Disseminated In
many instances in favor of personal
friends and those who were active and
have influence in local politics and
against women and residents of the
township owning real property therein
and other citizens who took little or no
part in local politics, or in elections, ex-
cept as voters. AS an illustration of such
discrimination, a house and lot on Hills
boro street, in Raleigh. for which one Of
which said favored clauses paid $4,000
within the past year, was assessed at
neighborhood, belonging to those not of
the favored classes. was valued at as
much as or more than it cost the owners
respectively.
10. That the list of assessments re
turned by said acting list-takers and as
SCISSORS shows many like determinations
which plaintiffs can point out if the court
will order the list to be produced, with
the valuations OF last year for investiga
ton as to such determinations.
20. That such determinations were not
accidental, but intentional. and therefore
unlawful and they would work a great
injustice and injury to the plaintiffs and
others like them not of the favored classes.
81. That the plaintiffs and others,
amounting to over one hundred IN num-
her, who made former complaint to the
said board of equalization of the excessive
valuation of their real property, did not
waive the illegalty of the az
sessments because of the disquaii-
fcaton and unlawful conduct which
plaintiffs are advised rendered said
assessments void, but it was expressly
stated before said Board of Equalization
by attorneys representing many OF theI
complainants that said waiver was not in
tended, but it was hoped that the board
would, by new and valid assessment, or
otherwise, remedy the injustice complain
ed of; and besides said compliments, who
plaintiffs are informed represented overI
81 100000 worth of property, there was a
large number who did not make complaint
in writing but who felt the injustice done
them and expressed the hope that on the
grounds urged in the written complaint
and by attorneys representing some OF
them, that the Board of Equalization or
the County Commissioners would remedy
the injustice by adopting some plan sug-
gested to and urged upon said Board Of
Equalization.
%. That when the list of assessments
for Raleigh township was first presented
on August 9Th, as hereinbefore alleged,
and many for the first time had an OPP
portunity to learn what had been the val
uation of their real property, it was man
fest from the complaints then presented
that it was the intention of said Board OF
Equalization sitting when the list was
presented to ratfy the assessments made
by said acting list-takers and assessors, |
without inquiry as to their justice and
that the influence of the members OF the
Board of County Commissioners (whose
appointees said acting llst-takers and as
SCISSORS were) was exerted toward that
end. Indeed, one of said commissioners,
as plaintiffs are informed and believe
shortly before said Board of Equalization
met, expressed it as his intention to vote
for ratification of said assessors without
exception; and some of the chairmen OF
the boards of assessors for other town
ships expressed their intention to support
said assessments on the ground that theyI
knew nothing of the value of property inI
Raleigh township; whereas, as plaintiffs
are advised and insist, it was their duty
to make diligent inquiry, so as to do JUS
tice to those complaining of injustice;
and that all complaints would have been
thus summarily disposed OF but tor the
indignant protests of attorneys and others
interested. who were then present.
%. That the adjournment to the 10Th of
August was in consequence OF such pro
test; but the conduct of the said Board of
Equalization in meeting in secret session
and passing upon the cases OF the com
plaintants in their absence and that of
Il AAl, .-l