The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-10-11


till until August 5th, but the date is put
at the second Monday in July, adjourned
| to August as books were not complete
and adjourned to meet August 10 to allow
inspection of books, containing valuation
of property in Raleigh township.
1t is admitted that Arthur was present
| at the meeting of the Board of Equaliza-
ton, but simply to aid Martin, hard of
| hearing, and to furnish information from
his notes concerning valuation of proper
| ty, this at the request of Chairman Green.
1t is denied he took leading part in the
discussion or voted, but that he simply
! stated what had been done by the assess
ors and that they thought that they had
put valuation at correct figure. 1t is
| denied that any one was refused the right
of complaint or was not heard when re-
quest was made, both written and oral
statements being made to the Board of
Equalization, both at the meeting and af-
| terward.
| 1t is denied that the Board of Equal
cation failed to consider and pass upon
| the assessment in Raleigh township in re-
spect to its want of uniformity with the
assessments in other townships, the truth
being that motion for general reduction
in Raleigh township was not seconded, the
| board being of the opinion that the val
uation and assessments were fair and uni
form throughout the county.
| AS to allegations relative to changes
made in valuation after the meeting of the
Board of Equalization on August 10, it is
admitted to be true with regard to two
changes, but that both changes have been
restored to the original figures, having first
been made by the consent and authority
of the chairman of the Board of Equaliza-
ton and the County Commissioners. There
were reductions in the value of the prop
erty of Mr.. Julius Lewis and Mr.. w. H.
| Hughes Any other changes are denied
and it is also denied that the two changes
/ admitted were made secretly or unlawful
| ly, but while the books were in the hands
of the Board of List Takers and Assess
ors, by direction of the Board of Equali
cation and were in all respects regular and
lawful, and that no changes have been
made since.
The increase in value of property is
stated to have been because the previous
values were at figures far below the true
value; that while the property of men of
small means was assessed at or near its
full value, many pieces of valuable prop
erty owned by the rich or well-to-do have
long escaped the payment of their fair
proportion of the taxes.
1t is denied that the assessment on Mar
tins property has been decreased, but that
clerical error made by the previous
board was responsible for an apparent de
crease of $1,000. 1t is denied that the as
SCISSORS failed to increase the assessment
on the property of Chairman A. H. Green,
of the Board Of County Commissioners,
but it is stated it was increased and that
this was then removed by the Board OF
Equalization because of the situation of
the property on the other side of the road.
The answer says that the truth is that
the assessment in force prior to 1903 was
below the true value of the property in
money throughout the county AMI espe-
cially so in Raleigh township and in the
city of Raleigh, where many pieces of
property of great value have always been
assessed for taxation far below their true
value. The per centage of increase in the
various townships is stated to have been
as follows:
Barton's Creek, .1275; Buck Horn,
by burning of big timber plan) Cedar
Ford, O666; Holly Springs, 100; House
Creek, .1134; Little River, 2115 Marks
Creek, .4079; Middle Creek, 1860; Neuse,
.23S7; New Light, 1874; Oak Grove, $685.
Panther Branch, 1926; st. Mary's, .2240
ST. Matthews, .2427; Swift Creek, .2c13:
Wake Forest, 1884; White Oak, .05S6;
Raleigh, .3109.
1t is denied that the increase in Mark 8
Greek has been due to railroad Improve
menus, but that this is because of its not
being listed heretofore at its true value
in money, and also to the growth and gen
eral improvement in the county.
1t is admitted that the Board of Assess
ors did not enter the premises of all par
ties whose property was assessed, but its
value was fixed after actual view of it
and upon such other information as they
could obtain 1t is again asserted that the
assessment is made in accordance with lew
and that heretofore the true money value
had not been jut on it, but that this has
now been done and that the property in
Raleigh township is not assessed beyond
it's true value.
All allegations of illegality in the COM
agraphs except as noted above. these ex-
ceptions being specifically named as being
not true and denied in paragraph three,
seven, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, fourteen,
fifteen, sixteen, eighteen, nineteen, TWEEN
ty (these three being stated as wholly
false and untrue). twenty-one, twenty-five,
twenty-three, twenty-four
In conclusion the defendants pray judg
ment that the action be dismissed, the re
straining order be vacated and set aside
and that they receive costs and such other
relief as may be just and to which they
may be entitled.
Attached to the answer was certifi-
cate showing that deed of land to Mr..
A. E. Glenn had been made on the End
day of April, 1903, by Mr.. and Mrs. John
c. Drewry, the execution of which was
acknowledged on June the first, filed for
registration on une the 5th, the re-
ceipts for three payments of $25 each be-
ing part of fifteen notes given in pay
ment for the land. The abstract of taxes
as returned by Mr.. Glenn is also attached.