The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-08-31
He Makes the Claim That He
Must Be Paid Full Commis-
sion in all cases that Were
Pending Yesterday.
COUNTY AUDITOR C0E
TAKES Different VIEW
Says He viii Resist Payment
to Tax Ferret on all Cases
Assessed After Yesterday
Lowe win Not Talk.

A an outcome OF the reputation OF
che tax ferret system and tax ferret
Washington Il. Lowe Tuesday by the
board Of county commissioners. 1t Is
probable a legal battel will ensue be-
tween Lowe and the county.
Lowe refuses to discuss his plans.
but his actions indicate that 80 far as
he 10 concerned he has not severed
his relations with tho county. 1t 10
understood he claims he has a right to
q commission on all tax when paid ON
ssquestered property which 10 now
pending payment AZ q result OF his
Investigation.
The county ofYicials we're OF the
opinion that upon the revocation OF
the contract with Lowe his relations
with the county would be severed In
stanter. Lowe maintains. 1t 10 said.
that the canceling Of the contract does
not effect the work In which he was
engaged up TO Tuesday. The con-
test over this issue 10 likely TO In
volvs the county in legal dispute BE-
fore any settlement 10 made.
Under the contract which Lowe had
with the county he was to receive 80
per cent commission on all paid In
tax on ssqusstered property which he
discovered. For this he was to turn
the taxing evidence over 70 the coun-
". He was not 70 receive his COM
m1ssion until the tax had been paid
60 the county treasurer.
Evidence Was Authentic.
loves system Of operation was to
obtain evidence OF alleged seQuester.
Ing Of property against taxpayers Of
the county and then to notify them
through the county assessor. J. c.
Fulghum. to appear before him. From
the time these notices were served un-
ell the time when the settlement was
affected. II Il was found that loves
evidence was authentic. several days
and even weeks In some cases would
Olapse.
Through the assistance of two dep
uties. Lowe has obtained much evil
dence In the last few weeks and 1t is
understood that he has q large num-
Der OF cases pending settlement. He
claims that ~ he has obtained evil
dehce against tax payers in these
pending cases and the notices have
been served on the tax payers. the
revoking Of his contract does not noli-
fy his relations in these cases but
only effects his work dating from yes
terday. That 10. the ferret Is said to
admit that he has no further rela-
tions with the county In any cases In
which he has not sent out notices to
the tax payers.
ces ef Different Opinion.
County Auditor Demas Coo dis
agrees with Lowe and he declared
today he would refuse to issue any
warrants to Lowe for a commission on
these pending cases until the court
had ruled on the matter. In Mr.. oCe's
opinion the revocation Of the contract
with Lowe ended the ferret's relations
with the county. whether cases were
pending or not. Il IL likely that on
the payment OF taxes on these pending
claims. Lowe will file q bill with the
county commissioners. claiming his
commission Of thirty percent. Should
the commissioners allow this the
county auditor will not issue warrants
on the county treasurer until the
court rules on the matter.
The action OF the commissioners in
eevering relations with Lowe and re-
pudiating the system seems to meet
With popular favor. There were a
number Of instances where complaints
were made because tax payers were
subjected to annoyance when 1t Is said
Lowe had no real or true evidence
against them. Furthermore the fact
that the county treasury benefited on
y 70 . very small degree as 4 result
Of the ferret's work led many to be.
lieve the system to be an Improbable
venture.