Board of Police of Holmes County v. Henry Morton
Board of Police of Holmes County v. Henry Morton
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the court.
The appellee was elected assessor of taxes for the county of Holmes, at the general election in November, 1847. The assessment roll of taxes for the use of the county for the year 1848, amounted to $5,271.’ On this amount, the assessor claimed five per cent, commission for his services. The board of police refused to allow that sum, but allowed him three per cent, on the amount. From this judgment he appealed to the circuit court; and a judgment was there rendered in his favor, awarding the amount of five per cent., as claimed by him. From the judgment of the circuit court, the board of police has appealed to this court.
By the eleventh section of the revenue law, passed in 1841, it is provided that the assessor shall “ receive a compensation of-five per cent, on the amount of his assessment roll for the use of the State, provided the same shall not exceed four hundred dollars, nor be less than one hundred dollars, and the same compensation on his settlement with the county treasurer, for the assessment for the use of the county.” By the provisions of this statute, it is very clear that the assessor was entitled to the five per cent., as claimed by him.
In the year 1846 the revenue law was changed and amended; and by the tenth section of that statute, it was enacted, that the assessors should be “ entitled, on a settlement of his account with the auditor, to receive a compensation for his services of three per cent, upon the amount of his assessment roll for the use of the State,” &c. Hutch. Code, 186.
The act of 1846 is entirely silent in relation to the assessors’
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.