The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1913-09-18
Lee County Tax Returns Show
Steady Gain for Present Year
LEE COUNTY, SHOWS SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE DESPITE THE
FACT THAT SUCH A LARGE NUMBER OF COUNTIES IN
THE STATE SHOW DECREAsE.-$5o,417 IS
GAIN SHOWN.
GAIN SHOWN

A complete report Of the tax re-
turns Of Lee county for the current
year which have just been completed
by Receiver Of Tax Returns Goode
Price shows that Lee county has
made good increase in its tax re-
turns for the year, though many
other counties Of the state have ac-
tually shown decreased returns,
many Of them larger counties than
Lee. Credit for the accomplishment
of this very desirable and very com
mendable record for Lee county is
due in large measure to the efficient
and aggressive management given
to the duties Of his Office by Tax
Receiver Goode Price.
An analysis Of the tax returns of
the county shows that the record
made by Lee county is an excep-
tionally good one, "a better one than
the mere figures indicate. Accord
ing to the latest returns, the total
returns Of white taxpayers in the
county show 1872 white polls and
1927 negroes, making a total Of
2,259. 1t is noticeable in the ana :
ysis os the returns that the greatest
increase is among thenegroes, which
amounts to $50, 0i0, while the in
crease in the tax returns Of whites
is only ST., 407. The total proper
ty values OF 1912 according to tax
returns we're 50, 1913, $50, while for
the present year this total is So,
174,377.
So creditable was the showing
made by Lee county that Comptrol-
Ter General Wright acknowledged
with thanks the tax digest as made
out by Tax Receiver Goods Price
In his letter the Comptroller-Gene-
raj says: Il thank you for your
excellent digest and creditable in
crease in values, as well as many
improvements oyer other books"
This is indeed high commentator
from this worthy state official, who
was grAtiied by the excellent show
ing made by Lee county, as he
frankly shows in his letter.
With the heartier cooperation OF
the white people Of the county the
the tax returns could have beer
made much more creditable anc
much nearer the true values. In
some particulars tire white taxpay-
ars have failed to do their duty III
returning their own property and in
aiding in giving in the property Of
their colored tenants. This is a pha-
co Of the tax return work that al
WAYS gives the tax receivers much
trouble. Special stress is laid upon
the fact that property owners are
required by law to give the names
Of their employees, while it is the
drtg Of every justice Of the peace to
finnish to tile tax receiver a list Of
names Of every taxpayers in his dis
trict. The justices Of the peace fail
81 entirely in cooperating with the
tax receiver in this particular in di-
ract defiance Of the law, while hany
employers failed through careless
noss or otherwise to give the names
Of their employees.
# IS also pointed out that many
,,ronerty holders who have negro
tonants failed to give in the proper
~ Of these tenants, or if they gave
y snch property they failed to give
tin at market value. The law re
onires that every landlord give in
tbe property Of each tenant at the
,orket value. Some wealthy white
property owners, it is said, have
f,iIedto regard as property notes
and such papers which are legally
rronerty and are expected to be 50
rof,rned, and have refused to pay
. taxes 5pon these.notes. As the Ia"
,ouires that every taxpayertake an
y to return his property Justly
Aruthfully, those who fail to re-
IN notes and similar collateral