BE (Cont'd from fropt page)
P*2. ?>
iQMl bill pawed. There was
vSMa&arable delay in getting- the bill
through, and 1 was in Ualeigh three
, fhwa while the Legislature was in
^Kr^pNwUM. On each occasion 1 talked
Hay:''.With M'^mbers of the Legislature rela
^EjP'tShre to our bill and urged Its upprovmI
by tbe Committee having it for
Wbaaidaration. 1 wrote letters when
BScR home to the Committee mem'here
explaining tbe bill and our need
4or it. the reason we needed it, the
q3.:.; tact that it had been approved by
HB&. the Attorney General and the Bond
BW"? Attorneys of New York. 1 telephoned
Bmy*1'' to Raleigh several times about it and
gi|y! was constantly utter its passage. When
ft finally <1 id pass the Legislature i
wrote to the Secretary of State and
secured certified copies, one of which
ftfefr.'.. was sent to the Bond Attorneys in
^v' New York so they could see just what
was enucted into law. Tlien we
ft?';; seeded with the calling of the eloopfi
tion, the passing of the bond orders,
Ry, advertising the same, calling for a
t; , aew registration of those desiring to
aote in the election. 1 met wit if th?i
'V . aegistrars and explained the law tc
them with reference to the new registration,
again met with the Medical
Society and explained the new law *n
them. 1 presented the various matter!
Id the Commissioners to be passed by
?, them and. fin?lly_we bad tbe election
i' en July. 7. 1945. 1 was called upon
y various groups to explain the plan
for the hospitals, talked to several la
an effort to get the public to undsretand
the set up. The election was
exceedingly favorable and immediate
afterward I helped eanvase the e?
feetion and presented the Board of
?n? wfiiee asas' ie<ess^4?e*?emmi**m>ew?st?w>eeri.
data to be approved, to sho# the
aeeults of the election. The results
aud the entire proceedings from be
gdnning to end were copied into the
minutes of the Board of Commissioners
and two certified copies there of
were sent to the Bond Attorneys. In
August of 1945, after the election, it
era* decided by the Commissioners
that it would be wise for Mr. Olee A.
Bridges. Chairman of the Board, and
ine to go to Washington and New
York relative to the matter, first to
ndenvor in Washington to get Fed
ral aid for the hospitals as it was
becoming evident that the bond mon y
would not tie sufficient to build as
first planned due to increased costs
f labor and mnterints: second, to
thlk with the Federal Works Administration
relative to financial help in
making the plans for the hospitals?
and third, to talk with bankers in
Kew York :tncl the Bond Attorneys
there relative to the proper time to
offer the bonds for sale on the marlet.
We did to to Washington and
fip* New York, secured the assistance of
|r\ Senator Clyde It. Jloey. talked with
various officials about Federal Aid
and talked at length with the officials
at the Federal Works Administra
tion ami in particular with Mr. Cham
g?,t . berlain there. We had the mntter ex
plained to us, secured application
Hanks for the Federal Aid and then
vent on to New York. We contacted
he Bond Attorney there and bankers
relative to the sale of the bonda, bekeenly
interested in saving foi
P;/ the county as much as possible, real
feing that the saving of 1 percent interest
for 20 years on 1400,000.00
gS1: wonlil amount to a savings of 180.fey
. 000.00 over the period of time. Incldentally,
it should be remembered
gsfc- that when the bonds wero later sold
that the county here secured the lowf
' est Interest rate in its istorv, nr.d interest
rate of 1.038 percent and the
KS?: lowest rati1 of any countv In the state
, ao far a? 1 have the information. No
?re k-'ows ,iust what savings weTO
' made for the'eounty bv our work in
H?*' this regard, naturally the existing
K bond sale conditions had a lot to do
Eki with it.Nhut we do feel that a lot was
saved for the county. Incidentally.
hS'-'"- when the old No. 6 Township hospital
|S,vbonda were sold two years ago the
gk': interest rate was 6 percent. Before
KrS the bonds were aoTd in 1046 T made
wrettian annlliiof lAli A fVlA Tafl^tl On*
WUkkVu ^pii\?iwvu *v vmw
ornment. C'ommisslon for the Mile of
ne. giving comprehensive data ret
H, i ?tlve to the county, its property vat
Sr.* nation, rntes of taxation, .bonded indebtedness,
etc, and sent this commission
certified copies of each pro?&?.
eeedings passed by the Oommission%
era, election results and every single
Kjiphase of the entire election proceedfinally,
in order to get the
matter through in in Raleigh, had to
make n trip there to talk with the
efficials, explained the matter to
them and then secured the approval
s&b,. of the commission, which under fko
las is necessary hefore any local unit
asay sell bonds in North Carolina.
I then prepared the data for a bond
prospectus to be printed and distribu
ted over the country to all bond buy
houses being articularly careful
to see that each secured a copy so as
to make the competition as keen a#
possible ami thus insure the low rate
E&;' of interest. When the bonds were sold
8?|> T secured bids for the printing of the
Eft bonds, having specimen copies sent
fer*$>:fcara to as to select the one the Coning.
miss loners finally approved, taking
fell ', the low bid on these. The bonds were
|Kv printed, sent to me by express to bo
by thh Chainaen of the Board
BEmjfST Oil?Issloaers and the CleA to
Board. I supervised this, holding
S&v40|ieh of the 400 bonds for each signsKym*
of the Chairman and the Clerk
0 fpitfB *? eoaaty eeol o. each
Hdm, eheektag each to bo sure it was
MMhbtly done aad then mailed the
to tho Loeal Govsroment
_ ' ' -. " s-V'-ii*
<.
1
cured the bonds, mailed tb?m to the,
purchaser and ssut check to the Coma j
ty Treasurer for the hood money.)
Since that time 1 riled application*1
for Federal Aid with the Federal
Works- Administration and am stili <
working upon this, receiving new ap- '
plication blanks this week from Wash '
I ington. The Congress recently passed
a luw allowing aid to hospitals for I
i construction, the amount to be one- I
third of the amount the county puts !
into it. Thus, if this aid can be so- !
cured we should receive $-UO.oUU.UO in |
Federal Aid for our hospitals and
that is what 1 uw now working upou
and expect to continue until received.
! if possible to receive it.
, I In 1945 after the bond -election had
j carried and the money was assured
[ the trustees for the hospitals were
I appointed by the Boaril of Commission
j ers. 1 wrote to each of them about
' this, had tlieui cull ami personally
1 , prepared their official oatn. They
1 met in the Courthouse for their first
meeting and 1 appeared bcore them,
' explained the new law to them and
. endeavored to help thcui in gettiug
themselves organized. Previously I
had met with the oTT hoard of the
1 Shelby Hospital several times, helping
them to correctly pass the data
tie.essary to transfer the hospital
property to the county. 1 later met \
I with the new board Trustees at ttrt
Shelby Hospital and in every posst- '
ble way endeavored to be of assist- I
I j auce in the complicated tusk of get- 1
j ting them set up and ready to funct-1
II ion. The Kxecutive Committee of the :
| trustee* fur Kings Mountain wished
I to secure an option on the Plonk prol
pertv in Kings Mountain for the sit*
j of their hospital and in the late sumI
mer of IMS began worh on this,.
i cheeking the title back on the land,
correcting certain phases of the till*
so a* to (nske It correct., <tr*w ?e
and later drew deeds for the Plonk
I heirs. Mr. Williams and the Kings |
j Mountain Bonded Warehouse to sign
i so as to convey the property to the
i county for the site of the hospital is
i Kings Mountain. I prepared deeds for
1 the Plonk heirs and the county to '
j sign so as to provide a new street ;
i by this property and this strip of j
land was conveyed to the City of ,
Kings Mountain for a new street. I |
i handled that entire matter to the sat- >
isfaction of the hospital trustees, the j
I county and everyone else so far as I
' ever heard.
After the boud money was finally
j icceived in the Spring of 11U6, havj
ing been woriiiug upon the matter
I since the Fall of l!>44, having made
several trips relative to same and
! expended untold time on the matter
. i then and not until then placed my I
{bill with the'Commissioners. 1 felt
jihat a fee to me of o.OOU.OO. which |
! was 1 1-4 percent of the amount in!
s olved, was fair aud entirely fair to
j the county. Nothing comparable to
I lltiu Itn.l I.dOii hanillitd its Vws f'rmntb
I before. Architects are paid 5 percent
I of the amount they estimate the pro'
jeot will cost and nobflW Tfowls a
! bout their fee and 1 don't either. 1
| had done a good job, not one siio
had been made from the preparation
I oi the bill to the sale of the bonds,
j The Commissioners at first thought
I my bill was high, so 1 withdrew it
i entirely anil stated to them that 1
I would leave the amount entirely ,to
J them, that they could pay me what
( they thought wife, taking into conaid ,
eration the time and efforts 1 had
put on the matter. On May 6, 1948,
they decided to pay me this amount
if 1 would pay the fees and expenses
of Masslich and Mitchell, the New
i York Bond Attorneys, and,, thif being
entirely satisfactory with me, I
| was paid ar.d promptly paid Masslic.n
land Mitchell the sum of g60!i.88. Thv*
| ' -* ' ?>!*-cd for mv work on this hospital
matter slightly over 1 percent
| and 1 still contend that this is fair
and entirely fair to the county.
With reference to the tax matters
handled by me as county attorney,
let me first make it plain that I
have been working upon the dellnI
quent taxes for nearly three years,
i When 1 became county attffrn'ey the
1 fact that there were large numbers of
| tax suits upon the docket and unpaid
tax sale certificates ontstanding had
already been called to the attention
of the Commissioners. They did not
consider this a healthy condition. If
the great majority of the property
owners of the county pay their taxes
and some do not it does not seem to
I r>e rair to toe county or to mine
who do pay to leave the unpaid ones
alone and the Commissioners decided
that all should be made to settle up
j promptly. Mr. Charles Billing, County
Auditor, and I spent every working
day of two weeks in the tax office
checking the tax sale certificates and
locating tTie tax receipts. Formerly
the tax receipts were pulled from the
; books when tax sale certificates were
i'sU," : 'this is not dccc iny more but
the tax receipts are left in the books
until paid') and a list was made by
me of all outstanding tax sale certificates.
At that time the coui)ty was
paving its attorney for collection of
delinquent taxes the exact amoBnt of
the penalty, interest, etc., added to
the tax certificate over and above
the original amount of the taxes,
which original amount was reftThed
by the eoun'tyi Former county attorneys
had written and written the tax
delinquents writing thoee whose nam'
ee wete shown on the certificate*.
Thoee remaining were thoee who it
waa evident, would have to be forced
by suit or the absolute* knowledge
that suit would bo entered ualees paid
promptly. Under the laws of North
Carolina la tax foreclosure suite it te,
uan'heary tejaah* aS pdrsbaa^or ear
'HE jmrab 0omrrlnt' HtjiuLD i
order to do this U U iniwty to { am
check into the title of tke load to od
aecure the aeeeeeary . iiforwUiat. re
Soy ? too sale certificate la la tka Ul
name of John Doe. It ia neceesary to pi
check first of oil the deed d r dee da bt
to John Doe on the records ir order jo
to secure o legal description of the lii
property itself. Then all 'deeds given ed
by John Doe have to be checked to I
see if anyone has secured the land ot in
any part of it. John Doe has to l>e CI
checked to see if he has given any di
mortgage or deeds of trust on the re
land, he has to be checked to see if at
there are any judgments of record at
against him. If he has sold the laig) in
or any part of it. then that party re
liu. lug an interest in the lund baa to n(
lie checked as to deeds, deeSs ox Fruat pi
mortgages and judgments. From this w
information secured it can then be do b<
tprmined who owns the land or any
interest in it, and if this party or the fi
parties do not then pay suit could bo 9C
entered. After working on the tuxei j-.|
for severnl months and realizing th? hi
tremendous amount of work neces- a,
sary to get the necessary information e,
in order to really clear up the tax
sale certificates, I informed the Com- ?j
missioners that I simply could not do
such work for the amount of the pen
alties. interest, etc., on the tax sale
[ certificates and that if they secured
anyone to really do the Job of clearing
up the certificates they would
have to pay for it. They inquired
what I had in mind for checking tho
same and 1 told them $25.00 for tho?e i r
I cheeked. with the penalties. inter
eat. etc., on nil to b? pnid me. For
hecking a title for a farm loan thru '
the Federal Land Bank the average *
fee. I think, le about $80.00. The "
work la not exactly the east bat J?
comparable. They discussed the mat- '
ter and decided that the tax aituatlea
should be cleared up. Both Mr. Waab "
iMn ilfl Uf ?miw.,ewi>nimtHiwl
are merchants and they atated at n
thai time that la their buaineaaea they J*
made people pay them or they pro- 1
< ceded with anlts, that , they had
found aurh waa good business. It was
felt by the Board of Commissioner*
that if people were allowed to get by t|,
without paying their taxes it woTTM )R
grow into a very bad situntion, that .a
it would be known by others that te
these certain people bad not pai<tjjn
and others would therefore naturally | e]
not pay theirs, while if aTl were made | jfl
to pay others would know about it j ^
and the delinquent list would grow 0E
-tiii.-iHer as the time wenf along. Ac- Q
ordingly. they instructed me to pro to
<-ed and this I did. jj
I wish to make it entirely clear ot
hnt it was not agreed that I should th
be paid for tax suits, but for check- th
ing into the matter to get information <.s
so as to proceed. In everv single tii
rse I could possibly do rfJTT did not pa
bring suit in court, but only in those -]
where it was necessary" to get the tax- ,u
e? paid. It was much better to settle nr
without suit if possible, as It saved it
the tax payer the court costs. In a if
large number of cases, after checking pC
into the matter and finding just Ri,
who had an interest in the "property, ha
I contacted the proper party and they w<
naiH with ttia nhanlnte Assurance that (
if they aid not do so promptly suit jg
would be entered in court. This was op
n mean and distasteful job, no one p]
likes to pay taxes, especially those ta
who find out later that they owe ar
taxes and in many instances did not tr,
know about it until I checked the . tfc
If
.MS *
x ^Kfw
i'.^r ^,. -'
j*"'
.
ilWr mad sach work ia' iM Mktlit-11
t to mako friends. I r?It tod thin, ri
all sod that many pooplo woald not <
to mo aa woU for handling aad
lahins vigorously these tax matters,
it did fool tUfditaPfRdl it was a
b that should bo dooo, that tho do- 1
aquent tax situation should bo eloar j
I up and I proceeded to do it.
am happy to report that, as 7 saia 1
, the outset, the tax situation in
leveland County is in the best conition
of any county I know. There
mains through the 1944 taxes (194>
e just being advertised now) only
>out twelve tax cases outstanding in
the county records, one of these
presents land for which I can find
> deed recorded, cannot locate the
rifjerty at all, two represent estates
hicb I checked and find are now
jing cleared up and payment has
?en promised, in two suit* have been
led and the others represent perms
either listing the property or
living tliq property since then who, 1
?ve been informed, are in service
nd against whom suit should not be
nterod at present. Thus, so far as
...i.. .:li> ji.? .ui:. a s ? _
llinIIiiiv puBsiuiv litc Iieiiinjuriu 11\ \
tuat'on in Cleveland County has
ecn cleared up.
I would also like to make it enrely
clear that T have haudleed no
oney belonging to the county. A:
le outset when I began this tax
ork I made it plain that T would
nder no circumstance* take any tax
sceipts to my office, that if a tax
H'cipt left the tax office the tax
illector should have his money beirehand.
This has been followed
rlctly. If, upon checking and findig
some person du* the taxes, some
arson sent me a check or money orer
1 gave the same promptly to the
ix collector, secured the receipt aad
ailed it to tho person paying. I aeri.h'
n? rJiW.r^i' *g.'f-rJiTar. uVs JCw
v states, persons nwny from homo
orkinx in defense jobs, othorn who
id moved away bnt hi>l purcWseX
ropcrty here upon which taxes were
IF.
Of nil the thinfs said about me in
lis instance, no person has said I was
t.x nor can any pen-on truthfully
ly this. Determined to clear this mat
t of delinquent taxes up nnd wishg
to get through with it T will work
cceedinglv hard. It wan a full time
ib and I spent full time upon it.
he Courthouse Janitor can tell anyle
wishing the information that for
long period of time I secured a key
the office of the Register of
eeds on Saturday afternoons, when
hers were out of their offices and
e Courthouse was closed, in order
at I might work upon these tax
ses. It is not' easy working over
me, mental work at a continuous
ice is hard hut beint? determined to
par the matter up I did keep at --it < i
itil this was done. If I have made .1
iv mistake in this matter I feel that j'
is in working so bard on it, that 1
I had let the matters drag over .1
riod of six or seven years, working 1
Dwly on the rases, no one would
ive objected as the money paid me
Duld have been spread out. What
the difference? In the long run it
certtinly better to get it cleared
1 as quickly as possible. Many peo- 1
e who have not been paying their 1
xes for years until forced to do so
e now paying without giving any
ouble, knowing full well that if |
ey do not they will have to pay
I
La
IP Here i
I MEN
DAVI
, new a:
Sa
Finest In 1
Fe
'< N , V. . ; V i '? .
... t
*kw I get after them aad than that ^
It will c?*t them mora If salt U am- ^
tered. - ti
w
Something has baaa said about the d
fact that la seats Instances the tan 6
certificates represented small amounts n<
due the county and that ou those par- ei
ticular tax certificates It cost the la
county more than it received in m
retura. In several instances this was a?
true. However, it was a queifioh of t<
policy to follow. Should a person own tl
ing a small amount be allowed to get tc
by without paying his taxes? Should ?t
it be said to him "It will cost the m
county more to collect yourtaxes thau 01
the amount of the taxes so the coun- cl
:v will just forget you owe them?" ra
Or should everyone be treated ex- w
actly ulike and made to pay irres- t<
pective of the amount due? It took 01
just as much time to check into the H
tecords to find who owned uny interest
in the small lot, whether there a
were deeds made conveying ar.y in it
tercst in it, nny deeds of trust, mort- a
gages or Judgments against those hav e<
ing any interest therein, ns it did a- o;
gainst the larger property owners, g
The Federal Government does not re- ii
gnrd the cost when any sum is due 1
it but proceeds to collect. The Com f<
missioncrs, as business men, thought 0<
all should be made to pay and being h
so instructed 1 proceeded against all k
aike. Certainly there was nothing dla tl
ouesi anoui inia poncy. in tne long 1(
ran, by this action; those owing taxes r<
will pay better in the future and all p
should -pay their part.- Von wonhht t 1.
like yonr neighbor to go without pay p.
ing his taxes upon KTs lot. however ei
small, when yoe had to pay yours. b
I hare been greatly hert by the talk (X
and publicity given thla matter, es- a
perlally by the action of the Bar Ae- a
soeiatioa la taking action and firing ei
publicity to 1| in local and State pa- h
Wwuit rfifrii M'ttf mici'uu,
explain to them. It did not erea extend
me the courtesy of getting my
side of the matter or of talking t? 1
me about it. Something else is behind w
this matter other than the fees paid d
me. I wish to make it clear that so d
far as I am concerned I welcome u
snv investigation the bar association *<
or anyone else wishes to make; I have
a record of the tax sale eertiftt%te?
turned over to me and I will be glad
to cooperate in every possible way. ^
The publicity has not been entirely ^
fair, only one side of the picture has ^
'?een given and in several statements tj
have been made before the true facts
were determined. Tt ITTfcsy for a pa A
per to print anything sensational. ^
easy to so picture a matter as to
looE badly or it can. if it desired, pi.ture
it in an entirely light. A per- ^
son's character should not be lightly
smeared, it is something a person en
deavors for years to build up and can
so easily be harmed. I have lived in
this community for over twenty years,
have endeavored to be a christian
gentleman, a civic minded citUen and
In slwsvs do mv nnrt in nil phases n
of the community life. 1 have proba- |j
bly made plenty of mistakes, but who
has not? I can honestly say that I b<
have at all times endeavored to do m
the right thing, to be honest and fair,
friendly with my fellow man.' I still n
>ny that in this matter I have done i
bo wrong, my conscience la entirely
clear and I have nothing to hide. w
Maybe It might be well for the
jublic to understand just what a law m
yer has to do In order to make a liv w
irge Shipm<
all Merchs
Arriving D<
ire a few of the fine apparel
now arriving daily at SA
S?suits, sweaters, pajama
sport shirts, luggage, Knox
accessories, and excellent self
> cravats.
re invited to visit us and lool
rrivals now being shown.
unders &
.V$,,r> * s t.
? ; i -f v'
A v * jiv.;*
[en's Wear Ladie
aturing Itstionally Advertises
^' "?S! ' *' , . : ^v-Y'/S
.
M ?t hi* profcwiom. Viral of *11 %m
n to att?ad college. I ittaaM
ake Foraat Collage for fire j?ar%
orking there to pa7 ay way throwl
for four of thoao year*. After getag
a lieenaa to practice law it take*
sarly irk yean to leata by erperlice
just how to do it, and about that
ngth of time to 1 tart really to
ake a livteg. A lawyer has to epend
iveral thouand dollar* for law book*
> continue from year to year to buy
?es?. Hi* knowledge and hi* ability
1 get what a client want* done is bis
ock in trade, and it hi* time. '7?a
ust get good fee* as the year* go by,
r be bad rather have been a raer
lent, automobile dealers, real estate
lan, or havo some other trade. Just
hv lawyers, however, should object
) nnotber making good fees is a new
ne. 1 've never beard of it before,
ave vool
As to whether I have been paid
ny excessive fees for my legal work
s n question of opinion. I could take
charge made by any person or con?rn
from their books and in my
piniou it might be an excessive char
e, in the opinion of the person raak
lg it the charge would be reasonable,
know of a doctor who recently per*
jrmed an operation and charged $1,10.00
for about two hours work. Ho
ml vnrVc.l Innv mt his Ttrofession.
new how to ilo the Job right, and
&e patient .eoovered. I know of a
>cal lawyer who. I am told, recently
rcelved #35,000.00 for legal service*
erformed in one ea'??. I know of a
*al lawyer-w her 1 -am told, for a
eriod of yeara received ten (10 perBnt)
percent of all farm loana made
v him, receiving #500.00 for #5,'
)0.00 loan on a farm aad eo on. Did
ay of the lawyer* object to that
ad. demand an investigation T No on*
?n truthfully aay that I have over
andlad aav moaey for whieh I did
awdiw.1 - .
Finally, I would like to repeat that
have handled no county moaey,
na employed to do legal work and
id it.T waa paid for it. I have not
one wrong. I think my friend* win
nderatand; the others will not want
> understand.
Yours very truly,
HEN BY B. EDWARDS.
The foregoing statement of Henry
i. Edwards. County Attorney. haa
een read to us, we approve and enorse
the same, and the facts consined
therein are true and correct to
lie best of our knowledge and belief
Ir. Ma* Wnshburn is in New York.
Ie was contacted by Mr. Bridges ovr
the telephone and Mr. Bridges was
athorized by him to put his signsire
to this statement.
O A. BRIDGES,
Max Washburn,
D. D. Lattimore.
County Commissioners of Cleveland
uounxy.
In a personal statement concerning
le matter, Board Chairman Gleo Aridges
said Wednesday:
"I admit to making mistakes, pro
ably in county affairs as well as in
y personal and business .affairs.
"I have dona nothing crooked and
othing to be ashamed of. As 'far as
am personally concerned, the 'county
?oks are open to any eitisen who
ishes to investigate them.
"If any of you who xOTd this dffR't
ake any mistakes, come to see me. 1
ant to shake hands with yfcTT"
ents of
indise
lily
needs FOR *
TJNDERS ft
a, topcoats,
hats, belts,
rctions of exk
over these
Davis
1 !
h
i Always Welcome
1 Merchandise - j ?
|