Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-04-20


of self-defense. The jury returned
verdict Of not guilty.
The court Of general sessions has
adjourned sine die.
COUNTY EQUALIZATION BOARD.
The county board of equalization
met In the Office Of the auditor yes
terday morning pursuant to last Fri
days adjournment to complete the
work of equalization so far as posi-
BILE and to elect county representa-
tive on the state board.
The meeting was called to order by
Mr.. ]. F. Ashe, the chairman, with
Mr.. Arthur Hart acting as secretary,
and upon the call of the roll the fol-
lowing members answered to their
names: j. w. Jackson, Bethel; ]. T.
Ashe, Bethesda; ]. E. Leech, Broad
River; ]. c. Blair, Bullock's Creek;
w. s. Leslie, Catawba; w. M. Car
others, Ebenezer; c. P. Blankenship,
Fort Mill; John M. Thomasson, Kings
Mountain; r. r. McCorkle, York; T.
l.. Johnston. Rock Hill; w. B. Moore,
Yorkville.
After several Individual cases had
been disposed of, the figures prepared
by Mr.. s. NJ. McNeel as to the total
number of acres returned and the
aggregate and average value of the
same in the various townships, which
are published elsewhere, were taken
under consideration and discussed un-
til the entire board had arrived at a
| pretty definite idea as to what was
the proper action under the circum-
stances.
1t was clear beyond question that
the town property in Rock Hill and
| Yorkville were returned at much
higher .proportionate valuation than
the country property, and there was
some little difference of opinion as to
whether 1t would be the better policy
to secure equalization by raising the
country property or lowering the
town property. The representatives
of the towns were inclined to raise
the country property as the best way
out of the quandary; but the town
ship representatives, no doubt feeling
that very good progress had been
made for one year, were doubtful as
to the advisability of going any fur
ther at this time and 1t was decided
to cut the town property down lit
tle-25 per cent in the cases Of both
Rock Hill and Yorkville.
| Bethel, Bethesda and Fort Mil
were grouped together on basis of
an average value Of 1915 per acre;
Ebenezer and Catawba were grouped
| together on a basis of an average val
ue of $40; Kings Mountain, Bull
locks Creek. Broad River and York
were grouped together on an average
value of $4.75 per acre, and elaborate
calculations were made to assist the
auditor in making these changes with
out reducing the returns OF the coun-
ty in the aggregate, except as to the
| 25 per cent reduction in the cases or
the towns of Rock Hill and Yorkville.
| When II came to the matter OF
electing a member of the state board
of equalization, the names Of Messrs.
]. f. Ashe, T. L. Johnston and w. b.
Moore were put in nomination. Mr..
Moore received three votes. on the
| first .kallot and Messrs. Johnston and
Ashe four each. On the second bal
lot, Mr.. Johnston received a majority
of the votes and his election was
made unanimous
Mr.. S. M McNeel having declined
to accept more substantial compensa-
ton for the large amount of work he
had done In connection with the add
ling up of the acreage and value fig
ures, finding averages and assisting
otherwise in the various calculations
that were necessary, the board ten
dered him Its appreciation Of his SER
vices In a vote Of thanks.
| The reporter was not present dur
| ing the meeting but was Informed
that Mr.. Johnston made a talk that
was quite an interesting feature OF
the proceedings He discussed the
tax question I'm various phases, espe-
cially as to the practicability and de-
STABILITY of securing the return OF
property for taxation on basis OF
actual values. In the first place he
thought the whole system OF assess
ment should be changed. This plan
which undertakes to make each in
| dividual swear that he is returning
his property at full value ought to be
abolished, and the responsibility Of
lying, IL lying Is to be done, should
be put on a board Of three men. 1t,
is better to have three men to per-
jure themselves than to seek to make
perjurers of the people OF a whole
county This was half serious and
half i'm jest He did not like the
perjury idea at all; but he thought
that 1t would be better to devise some
system whereby 1t will be possible to
/ compel the making Of returns on a
basis of actual values. This, Mr..
Johnston insisted, would devolye no
hardship on anybody. An increase
of the assessed valuation would re-
suit i'm reduced levies; otherwise we
have but little use for the ballot box.
1t Is true that a hundred per cent
assessment will more than double the
constitutional school tax; but 1t
would be impossible to do a better
thing for the country. Our schools
are now inefficient for the lack OF
competent teachers, proper school
buildings, conveniences, ETC., and the
defect cannot be cured without money.
Give us better common schools and
the five or six years at Winthrop and
Clemson can be reduced to three
years, giving students a longer time
at home with their parents and a
much easier time at college. He
mentioned as a fact that has not pre-
viously appeared in print that during
the ten years that Winthrop has been
established at Rock Hill, eleven stu
dents, he was not certain whether
all were graduates or not, had gone