The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1908-06-04
HE KICKS!
Hendersonville, N. c. May Is, 'OS
Editor French Broad Hustler:
Dear Sir,

O J ~
Editor French Broad Hustler:
Dear Sir,
note in your Issue a very SEN
sible article, under the heading
of who Knows?" signed by
M. C. Higgins. know nothing
of the writer, but he has hit the
nail on the head, and I think
others should help-to drive it
home. 1t is altogether reason
able to assume that, as the tax
able property of the county has
increased enormously in the past
ten years, largely owing tothe
influx of those who are practi-
calfy like myself non-residents)
taxes-instead of increasing
should have been very materially
reduced, as out side of Hender-
sonville itself, there has been
no such extensive public improve
ment as we find, for instance, in
Buncombe.
Every year, instead of any re-
duction, there is an increase in
taxation, but how this ever in
creasing sum is expended, by
whom, and for whose benefit, the
average citizen, even of an in
quisitive turn of mind, is not
permitted to discover, but we
have very distinct evidence, that
the officials, those who have the
handling of such funds, and the
management of county affairs,
are becoming rapidly enriched.
Some time last year you pub
lished a letter of mine in which
| very mildly suggested the adj
visibility of publishing annually
in the two county papers the Tax
lists; or at least the valuations
assessed on real estate, and giving
at some time the estimated acr-
cage of each holding. No doubt,
as regards acreage, there is some
Misrepresentation on the part of
owners of property; but that is
an additional reason why this Tax
report should be published. l did
not think it advisable to include
in such lists the valuationsous
personal property, not only be-
cause it would make the returns
too voluminous and complicated,
but because it would be impossible
to verify such property without
resorting to methods too sugges-
tive of the inquisition; but land
and buildings cannot be concealed
or made away with; and most of
us, without trespassing GU our
neighbor's privacy, can ascertain
pretty closely what sort of house
he lives in, and how much land
he owns and cultivates.
If such a Tax and Assessment
report made annually, and pub
lished in the two county papers,
even those of us who are non resi-
d ents, or the small farmers living
in remote parts of the county,
and who lack the means, if not
the time to make annual pilgri,
images ito that shrine of Honor,
ables and Honesty, the Court
House, would be able to scrut-
iniZe these tax reports, and Sc
discover whether they were being
under or over taxed.
There is another reason, anC
a very strong one, why the assess
ed value of all Real Estate, dwell
ings, lands, etc, should be so pub
lished; and it this; viz-the vol
mes of the property; but at usua-
lily, a very much lower figure.
Therefore the assessed value i;
really entirely arbitrary; and the
three Tax Assessors, unless check
ed by the certainty that thei
estimate could, and would be sub
jected to the eyes of the pub
lie, wyuld be land now are) in
position where they could, MOI
only impose the taxes unfairly
but even punish their enemies
and reward their friends. Futh
ermore, as the valuation is no
BASED on market value, but fxeC
arbitrarily by the Assessors, :
[ as a nonresident for instance
could not know, however willing
| might be to make honest return
what valuation to put on my prop
arty, unless through knowledge
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