The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-08-26
LOWE TAX CASE
I UP FOR REVIEW
Mr.. Lowe Himself Defends
his Own Part in the
Transaction.
LEGALITY OF FEES PAID
GIL AND BY DECISION OF THE
HIGHER COURTS THAT THE
CITY WAS RIGHT.

| in addition to various state ments
made and communications printed,
the Palladium today presents a com
munication from Mr. Lowe himself. 1t
| follows:
Indianapolis, August "a, 1906.
To the Editor of the Richmond Pal
ladium.
VIII you kindly allow DE the use
of your columns in explanation of the
proceedings in what is Known az the
Morrison Case" 1 desire to explain
to the readers of your piper my atti-
tude in this matter and then let them
Judge from the records sand facts.
The facts that will be- borne out by
the records are as follows:
A contract was entered into by and
between the City of ERichmond and
w. f. Charters, whoIn l represented
at the time and with whom l am now
associated in the Accounting business,
on September 6, 1909, as will be
shown from the minetes of the coun-
Gil on page 153 and IVA, which pro-
ceedingS are set OUT as follows:
Transcript of reco9d of the Common
Council of the CitySof Richmond, In
diana lin matter of contract by and
between the said City of Richmond,
and w. F. Charters.
Be it remembereg that at the meet
ing of the Common Council of the
City of Richmond, Indiana, held in
the Council CHAMBER of said City,
Monday, SeptembeIt 9Th, 1904, said
meeting being a Regular session of
said Common Coupcil, the following
proceedings were hid, tO-wit:
Mr.. Norris now Presented the pro-
position of w. +. Charters, Tax Ad
juster, and moved that Council con-
slider this matter Eas Committee of
the Whole, Motidn prevailed. The
President then appointed Mr.. Norris
Chairman of the Committee of the
Whole, and Council then adjourned
to the Clerks Offiee for its consider
alton, after deliberating for some time
the Committee returned to the Coun-
Gil Chamber and tthe Chairman Mr.
Norris, reported that it was the sense
of the Committee lof the Whole that
the proposition al presented, by W.
f. Charters shoul4 be accepted Mr.
Norris then moved the adoption of
the report of the5 Committee of the
Whole and that rhe proposition of
Mr.. w. f. Chartets be accepted, and
the Mayor and Guy Clerk be author
lied to sign contract. Motion unan-
imously adopted. I
Found on page. 153 Minute record.
June Goth, 1904 toS March 5th, 1906.
Proposition and Contract of w. F.
Charters. Found Dn page 174 Minute
record June 20ths 1904 to March 9Th
1906.
In the matter EOf the employment
of w. F. Charters to make search
for moneys due On account of omit
ed taxes, the following proposition
is submitted:
To the honorable City Council Of
the City of Richmond, Indiana.
Gentlemen:
l propose to make a cateful and
diligent search of the records of
Wayne County and other Counties
and other States for personal property
subject to taxation in the City of
Richmond, Indiana that has escaped
taxation for any cause land report the
same if their be- any, to the proper
officers for assessment and taxation,
and to assist in the collection there
of, and for my services l will charge
sum of money equal to twenty per
cent of all sums reported by me and
so collected by the City Treasurer;
Said sum of money to be paid to me
upon the filing of the claims with
the City Council OF the City of Rich
mond, and their allowance of the
oil n
with said City Council in the sum of
Three Thousand Dollars (s3,000) for
full compliance with the provisions
above set forth.
(See contract on record page ia
of the Minutes of the Councill
That the public may know fully
concerning the present controversy
in regard to the Morrison Case" l
refer them to Minute Book, Oct. 4,
1897 to April "a, 1899, at page 90 I'M
der date of November Is, 1897, which
will show that the Council at that
time unanimously passed resolution
compromising the taxes due the city
from the shares of foreign stocks held
by said estate and heirs for the sum
of $4,000. In my investigations of the
records l found this item and on Jan
uary 81, 1905. | had the City Clerk
issue a notice to the proper parties
requiring them to show why the full
assessment should not be made
against them on said shares of stock.
The parties appeared and the case
was continued by agreement. About
this time a bill was introduced before
the Legislature and known as Senate
Bill No. $50. the provisions of which
were to exempt from taxation all
shares of foreign stocks-and which
passed the Senate and was then in
the House. I. personally spent six
weeks and at great expense caused
the bill to be defeated in the House
which, had it become a law, would
have defeated the claim Of your city
and it would have lost so. 0o0-less
our commissions of $4,000 which net
ted the city $4,000 that never would
have been secured but for the vigi-
lance of myself.
Mr.. Sylvester Meek, an attorney
Continued on Page Siy1