Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 August 1919 — COURT HOUSE NEWS IN BRIEF [ARTICLE]

COURT HOUSE NEWS IN BRIEF

Interesting Paragraphs From the Various Departments OF JASPER COUNTY CAPITOL Legal News Epitomized —Together With Other Notes Gathered by Us From the Various County Offices. P. D. Wells of Morocco was a business visitor Ln the city Wednesday and Thursday. The White circuit court will convene next Monday and the Jasper circuit court will convene one week from Monday. Former County Treasurer A. A. Fell of Carpenter township was in Rensselaer Wednesday. He stated that Mrs. Fell, who has been suffering from cancer for several years, was able to be up and about the house most of the time. Marriage licenses issued: Aug. 28, Gabriel Musch of Demotte, aged 48 Sept. 23 last, farmer, and Dora Dexter, also of Demotte, aged 47 Nov. 5 last, housekeeper. Third marriage far each, previous marriages dissolved by death in December, 1918, and February, 1917. respectively. Married in the clerk’s office by Squire 9. C. Irwin.

Auditor Hammond has been notified by the state board of tax commissioners that the latter has ordered an increase of 10% on all lands, lots and improvements in Jasper county and in Rensselaer; an Increase of 20% on all lots, lands and improvements in the town of Remington; an increase of 40% on all personal property in Milroy and Gillam townships and Rensselaer and Remington, and an increase of 30% on all personal property in all other townships and towns in Jasper'county. As our 1919 assessment, as originally made by the township assessors, was about three times as much as the assessment in 1918, because of the new tax law, the action of the state board in increasing these figures one-third will make the total valuation in the county about $50,000,000, against $15,000,000 in 1918. Oh, no, our taxes won’t be any higher under this new Republican tax law—like the old lady kept tavern, they won’t. And how about the taxpayer who honestly gave in his property at its full cash value? How does he enjoy having it raised 30% and 40% above the actual cash value? And, also, how do the township assessors, who were on the ground, saw the property, knew its value and assessed it at Its true cash value, like this “slam” from the state tax board? Of course Jasper county is not alone, as the board raised the assessments in every county in the state. But when the taxpayer goes to. the treasurer’s office to .pay his taxes next year there will be a “holler” that may even reach Indianapolis.