Omaha daily bee., 1908-06-26
HARDIN AFTER COUNTY CASH
Presents Claim for Taxes Alleged to
Have Been Illegally Levied.
ACTS AS AGENT FOR THE OWNER
valuation was Not Reduced
I'm Accordance with an order
of the state Board Of
Review.


Alicgins that the county auditor failed
20 reduce the assessn ent on farm lands
in Kane township for the years 1898 and
1904 as directed by tho state board Of
Review. city Assessor w. d. Hardin yes
terday filed with the Board Of Supervisors
a claim for about 1880, the amount OF
taxes said 70 have been wrongfully col
Iscted Tho claim is made by Hardin as
agent" for tho property owners alleged
to have beon overtaxed.
In the communication accompanying the
claim, or, moro properly speaking, collec-
ton OF claims, Hardin recites that In 1898
and 1904 the State Board Of Review directed
the county, auditor TO reduce the assess
ment on all lands within the county
including lands in incorporated cities ana
towns not divided into lots OF ten acres
or less. 10 per cent. The auditor, Hardin
alleges, failed to comply with this order
at least so far as Kane township was con-
oerned and asks that the county now
refund the amount Of the tax illegally col
,ected with s per cent interest from date
OF collection.
The list of claims flied by Hardin. aggre-
gate about $500. The largest refunds
sought are for the taxes paid by the East
Omaha Land company. E. w. Nash. j. A.
Creighton. Leonard Everett, who owned
considerable land within the city limits
of Council Bluffs which is held for
Agricultural purposes only" In all there
are forty-two claims, ranging from a few
dollars to 500.
The whole matter was referred by the
board to County Attorney Hess, and 1t is
likely that the courts will be appealed TO
before the supervisors consent to giving
up any Of the county's cash to City Asses
sor Hardin.
Some months ago 1t was stated that
Hardin was securing assignments from
heavy taxpayers throughout Pottawat-
TAME county Of claims against the county
for some tax said to have been Illegally or
wrongfully assessed but at the time Har-
din declined 10 give out any Information,
II now develops that Hardin was under
the impression that the 10 per cent re-
ductlon ordered by tie State Board of Re-
view had not been made anywhere in the
county but subsequent investigation by
him disclosed the fact that only lands
within the limits of the city Of Council
Bluffs had not been given the benefit OF
the reduction.
County Auditor Cheyne, while not Civ
ing the list presented by Hardin for exam
ination expressed the belief that a num-
Der Of i0-acre plots we're included in the
lot and that these did not come under the
order issued by the state Board of Review
r. V. lines, who was county auditor II
1903, said that while he did not remember
all OF the circumstances he was of thu
opinion that It was decided at the time
that the 10 per cent reduction did not appl,
TO lands in Council Bluffs. Mr.. lines SAT-
as he remember the order was taken t.
apply to farm lands outside towns ant
cities only. ,
Contract for Plat Books.
The board entred into a contract wit
F. r.. Smith, son of Elmer e. Smith of tn
Abstract Title Guaranty company, an
County Surveyor ]. Harley Mayne, unde
the firm name Of Smith & Mayne to brir
up the county's plat books to date. Flo
this work Smith & Wayne are TO receiv
10 cents for description Of regularly platte
additions and 20 cents on all irregular de
scriptions, auditors subdivisions, counc
Bluffs original plat and all farm land'
The county Is to furnish all material
needed and the work is TO be completed 1
three years from date Of contract.
The contract Is a big one. and, as theI
are nearly 10000 descriptions, the majorit
of which will be in the 20 cents division
The Pottawattamie County Abstract CON
pany offered to do the work for 25 cent
a description for city lots and IS cents
description for farm lands, It to furnis
all material.
On the ground that the same jurisdictio
was lacking the board refused to comet
In the action OF the city council remittin
the taxes OF the Kretchmer Manufacturing
company and the Standard Manufacture
company. The taxes OF these firms hs
been cancelled by the city council under a
ordinance which authorizes the remissic
OF taxes OF new manufacturing concerI
and other industries located In the cit
for a period OF five years. such cancellatiC
OF taxes were intended as an inducement
manufactures and other industries to l
cate in Council Bluffs. The board, hoy
ever. secured a legal opinion to the effe
tina It had no power TO cancel such take
even by merely concurring in the actiC
OF the city council
In his report, H. ]. Chambers. aotir
clerk OF the district court, reported tn.
personal fees remaining unclaimed. amour
ing to S26o.O had been turned over by
v. Battey. April IL, and later turned over
the county treasurer.
County Treasurer Mitchell reported ma
ing collected from January l 70 June
fees amounting to Si,S49.&. These fees a
part Of the parquisites Of the office.
After disposing OF 4 quantity Of routt
business, the board adjourned to July n
Marriage Licenses.
licenses TO wed were issued ycsterdt