Williams news., 1906-05-12
WILL PAY ASSESSMENT
Arizona Sheep Growers Arc Be-
 ginning to Come Through

ginning to Come Through
 As sequel to the prompt and vigilant action of County Assessor Sullivan in seizing a large number of sheep and goats upon the refusal of their owners to pay taxes on the same, J. F. Daggs called yesterday at the assessors office and paid the taxes on his seized flock rather thaa submit to test of the. matter ia the courts.
 H. c. Hibben, of the firm of Hib- ben & Emmet, whose 1OOO goats were seized by the assessor, arrived here last evening from Flagstaff, but what action he will take in his firms case was not learned at late hour. Other sheep owners are ex- pected here within the next few days for the purpose of settling their accounts with the assessor, rather than incur the additional expense of seizure and mileage in cidental upon the assessor being compelled to resort to such legal measures.
 The energetic and praiseworthy action of the assessor in the dis charge of his duties at this time re- calls to mind the many discussions, which were aroused by the action of deputy assessor over a year ago, when he seized at Cordes 131,- 400 pounds of wool sheared at that point, which the owners claimed was exempt from taxation. The deputy assessors action was at that time upheld by the assessor and by the deputy district attorney and the district attorney.
 The sheep owners and wool men were compelled to give bonds for the paymentof the tax levied. agree ing that test case be made of the matter in the courts, all pal- ties concerned to accept the de- cision of the court without any fur ther litigation. Later in the sea. son w. H. Campbell, Joseph [. Roberts, H. Melburn and E. L. Pat terson, who owned collectively 36,- 400 pounds of the seized wool, paid the taxes assessed against their clip, but, up to the present date, none of the others, representing 95, 5000 pounds, have paid or offered to pay their share of the levy.
 It is also a significant fact that no action has ever been commenced for the collection of this delinquent tax either by the district attorney's or the the treasurer's offices, al- though over year has elapsed since the question was raised by the assessor, and which is disputed by many wool growers, whether an assessor can tax sheep and then tax the clip after being shorn from their backs?
 Those who have given the matter close study point out that the coun- ty has lost many thousands of dol lars in past years through the sub terfuges adopted by sheep owners to escape paying their just taxes and it was only last year that the first energetic and effective attempt was made by county assessor to bring this class of taxpayers into line. Nor can those whose flocks have been seized this year escape it District Attorney Talbot stands firmly behind the assessor and per- mits of no proceedings that savers of a compromise. The Journal Miner has every reason to believe that Mir. Talbot will fearlessly per form his duty.-Prescott Journal Miner.
 The two men who made satisfae- tory arrangements with the assessor whereby they secured possession of their seized property are H. G. Hib- ben and T. J. Coalter, both of Flag staff, Coconino county.
 Mir. Hibben satisfied the assessor al |