Jasper County Democrat, Volume 2, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 June 1899 — Marshall Don't Like the Poor. [ARTICLE]

Marshall Don't Like the Poor.

' The party who is supposed to make out the bills for padded legale and overcharges at the Apologist office, devotes considerable space in his “valuable sheet” to what be designates the 'poverty of Tax Democrat man. This is nothing new for republicans of his stripe. Themselves living off the misfortunes of their neighbors to a great extent, they have no use for a poor man—except at, election time. However, there are several statements in the article es this wholesale dealer in padded legalswhich we wish to briefly call attention to. ; The writer bought the Remington Press about four years ago for SI,OOO, and owned same a little more than three years. During the time we owned the plant it was assessed at J S4OO, which is within SBS of as much as the assessment last year of a certain republican newspaper office of Rensselaer which was valued by the proprietor at three times what we Slid for the Remington office. On arch 25,1898, we bargained for the sale of the Remington office, but the deal was not consumated and money and notes turned over until April 7, 1898, and we retained our key to said office until this time ana were therefore in possession of same. (The record of instruments recorded with the county recorder will bear out this statement.) On April 11 we were assessed by W. O. Roadifer, who had previously assessed our successor. They had given in the office to him to him for assessment, although it really should have been assessed to us. We gave in what other property we possessed, but did not give in the notes received from this sale, because they did not come into our possession nor was the deal consumated until April 7. It will thus be seen that Jasper county nor no one else lost anything, as the office was assessed to other parties. Last fall, unquestionably for revenge alone, the county officer who deceives his constituents by omitting n $4,000 loan from his annual report for two years, and who corrects errors of record by cutting out and destroying the pages—a most unheard of proceeding, by the way —summoned us to appear and show cause why we should not be assessed with the notes and money received on April 7! We answered this summons in person and by attorney, showing that we were in possession of the office on April 1, and gave the facts as above set forth. We also showed that we had debts covering much of the receipts from the sale, and presented a letter from our successors, confirming the above statement.

In spite of this showing the auditor put $1,350 on the tax duplicate against us, in addition to the assessment previously made by the assessor. This was done apparently for the sole reason that he could thus get a whack of revenge for our exposures of some of the shady transactions of his office, for he knew we must either pay it or go into court to get our rights, either one of which would cost us considerable and which we should not by all laws of right or equity be compelled to pay. It but shows the contemptible methods employed, however, by the gang who are making n life or death struggle to keep their hands in the pockets of the taxpayers of Jasper county. As to our assessment this year, we will venture to say that The Democrat is assessed at much more in proportion to the actual amount invested than any other printing office in Jasper county.