The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-08-20
REDUCTION WAS
THE COMMON CRY
ForThree Hours Commission
ers Heard Complaints.
lLLEGALITY is CHARGED
taxpayers Say Messrs. c. D. Arthur and A.
{. Glenn are Not freeholders Of the
Couniy---aeturns Not Made
July 1st,

For over three solid hours yesterday
from twelve O'Clock until ten minutes afte
three. the Board of Equalization sat il
the county court room and heard com
plant after complaint and petition afte
petition from taxpayers, nearly all from
Raleigh township, asking that the assess
ment on their property be reduced. Some
property owners were there in person ant
some were represented by their attorneys
Altogether it was large gathering in the
court room.
The Board started out to hear and de
eide on each petition separately, but II
was soon seen that this plan would never
do, and on motion of Mr.. Johns it wa:
decided to hear all the complaints one
after another and then meet in executive
session and determine upon them without
interruption.
The ball was set rolling by complaint
from New Light township, Mr. w. F
Sanding appearing for Mrs. Sanderling
III. G. Sanding and Sanding Brothers
Mrs. Sanderin's property consisted of 2St
acres assessed at $1,000. 1t was asked that
this be reduced to $500. A horse belong
whereas it was claimed that it was worth
only $50. Sanding Brothers cotton gin
was also assessed too high, it was urged
Mr.. Sanding plead nightly before the
Board, giving the five minutes allowed by
the Board to each petition. He charged
enmity ON the part of the tax assessors
and violation of oath, and was so bitter
that the Board had to call him to order
The assessor was present, and after a
statement from him the Board voted to
make no change in these assessments, ex
cept to reduce the assessment on the
horse to $50.
Then the Raleigh complaints were
taken up.
A petition was read from Mrs. Lizzie
L. Belvin asking that her property be
reduced from $10,600 to $1,000. 1t was
assessed formerly at $4,000. One piece
at Polk and Elm streets, had been sold
to Mrs. Christopher. The home place
was assessed at $4,000, and the Avent
Perry place at 5000.
Tax-Assessor Martin stated that
the property was on the Hills
boro road opposite the Cameron
place, and they considered it one
OF the handsomest suburban places. The
property fronted on the road, and the
residence was a fine brick one.
Mr.. Hardin raised the point that the
property was not bringing any income, and
that it should not be rated az a piece of
property that was used to make income.
Mr.. w. n. Jones said that, while he
had no special interest in this piece of
property, he thought that the point raised
by Mr.. Hardin should be considered by
the board. If a person choose to i'm
prove and beautify place for resi-
dence, it ought not to taxed at the same
figure as if it was bringing an income. In
some cases the assessment of this kind
of property amounted to confiscation. II
did. seem to him that the assessors and
lst-takers had been keyed up to
In any case.
Mr.. Calling, County Attorney said that
the assessors had tried to follow the in
structions of the Tax Commission, to find
the real value in money, which it would
bring at sale In the usual way. He
did not consider that discussion of the
methods of assessing was in order be-
fore this board.
Mr.. R. H. Battle said that there was
one point he wished to make. The law
had not been complied with, either as to
the appointment of the assessors and list
takers, or as to the time of making re-
turns. 1t was required that the assessors
be free-holders of the county, and two
OF them were not free-holders. More