Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1916-06-09
.TEWKSBURY QUITS;
FOUND MANY LIARS
Morris Woman Refuses to Admit
Assessor Who Repels Broom
Attack on Porch

in custody of Carl Buckentin at the
court house may be legally flied.
Assessor O. F. Tewksbury has quit
his job and surrendered his books to
County Auditor Wollthan who will
place them before the equalization
board.
Mr.. Tewksbury has finished his
work.. According to his best judge
ment and beief he found many liars
in his travels.
Assessors always have many anus
ing experiences and Mr.. Tewksbury
had lots of them this spring. The
most thrilling came with the women.
AS the city of Morris does not furn-
ish its assessor with free trading
stamps for distribution, good at any
of the stores, Mr.. Tewksbury's task
became doubly hard at times. He
knows that free trading stamps are
dear to the feminine heart and if he
had carried a few of them he feels
reasonably sure that the city treasury
would soon have been enriched to the
extent Of nobody knows how much.
1t may have saved him a great shock
when one woman in the city attempt
ed to sweep him off the rear porch
with broom after refusing him ad-
mittance.
One thing which struck Mr.. Tewks-
bury as a remarkable coincidence was
the readiness and apparent honesty
among the poorer people of the city
when it came to listing all their word
" possessions subject to the tax Law s.
Household goods and articles of fam
lily wearing apparel, some used many
years, were listed at their purchase
price. In these homes he was accord
ed welcome and shown courtesies
he found nowhere else. His questions
were answered promptly and some
times it appeared the heigh Of in
justice to accept their statements.
Among the well-to-do it was differ
ent and among the wealthy the con-
trast was striking. Mr.. Tewksbury
mentioned no names in telling of
his experiences, but undoubtedly
feels like doing so under certain con-
ditions. One man in town whose per-
sonal property is so displayed that
everybody may see, told the assessor
his stocks were worth less than SO, :
600. Competent judges declare a
conservative estimate would reach
$50, 900. Another listed his automo-
bile at $4O0 while he is declining an
offer Of twice that figure. Another
man possesses, a car which he has had
three or four years but which has
never before found its description on
the assessor 8 books. It was discov
cred in time to go in on this year. s
tax assessment and the owner will un-
doubtedly be surprised when he comes
to settle his taxes. Those who claim
to know say there will be some vigor-
Gus protesting when the equalization
board meets. Likewise an unfolding
of secrets regarding personal proper
ty. Many of the assessors of the
county who surrender their books this
week relate similar experiences to
those met by Mr.. Tewksbury..
While the task of assessing had its
serious side there were many amusing
incidents more excruciatingly funny
than any related in the joke books.
His most unique experience came
when he approached the rear door
of an east side residence and met
the lady of the house, a tall, hand
some and robust figure who evident
ly does not harbor fancy for asses
sors, especially during housekeeping
time. She met the assessor at the
door and after learning his mission
declared it was "nobody's business
what we have - and ordered him
off the porch. All pleadings were
vain and the assessor sat down on
a roll of rugs with the declaration
ne would stay there. till he got the
| information he was after. A raised
broom in the woman's hands failed tc
frighten him and after considerable
parleying in which he managed adroit-
| ly to get line on the personal pro-
perty in the house, Mr.. TeWksbury
left. The matter was Strengthened
later but if the assessments are toe
high the parties interested will have
a chance to explain to the equalizers.
Little affairs of this kind were mum
erous, and | didn't mind them any,
said Mr.. Tewksbury. Women usually
prefer to let their husbands or some
male member of the household list the
property but this woman didn't see il
that way And you can't blame her
at that. =