The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1866-03-14

State Taxes.
We give below some Of the provisions Of the State
tax law, as collated by Looker-on,n of the New
Orleans Times The actions Of the present legislature
in adopting amendments which in no way affect the
tax payer who has not paid his taxes, any further
than emitting the costs and interest would lead Us
to believe that no material change is contemplated at
present We had hoped otherwise, as are already
taxed to death but it seems there is no escape for the
wicked As will be seen, the law is very stringent
in its provisions and excessive in its charges We
see no escape from it through the acts Of the present
legislature as they have endorsed it in the act that
regulated the tax on gross sales, well as in the
amendments before spoken Of These amendments
refund the costs and interest those who have paid
the taxes for the years 1861, 62 63, '64, 65; omit
them to those who have yet to pay.
The first extracts we find in the condensed report
are the licenses:
Dealers in meat, fruit, vegetable, coffee eating
RAJ AVA shocmaars taors BARRIERS mimen
bleeders, blaCksmiths Observation-Disclosures. 10
Proprietors Of printing offices OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. Is
Retail dealers and traders in sprituous liquors,
storage, warehouse and carriage keepers con
tractors, sub-contractOrs NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. Is
SawmilI sash, blind, or cstern manufactory.... 20
pTOpl1et0rS OF picture galleries, nOtalleS public,
pension and prize money agents. keepers of
tanneries, soap and candle manufacturers, re
tail grocers, confectioners Observation-Disclosures. IS
Contractors employing over ten hands, Iessees of
market revenues, foundry and machine shop
propretors steTedores, ship steamboat
agents, cotton press, cotton picEery, private
hospital keepers :;;......--.. ~
Attorneys and councillors at law civil engineers,
physicians, dentists, apothecary or druggist
unde1takers, sugar or molasses refners, beer
house keepers, billiard table keepers, pistol
rrn1lp nh SSID JDp
chant brokers, auctiOneers. ...............- 80
Brewers, restaurants cofieehousc, baLroom, caba
ret, adjusters of averages, Wholesale
chants, fortune teers, astrologers, theatres
circus, amphtheatres, lnenageries, express
companies Observation-Disclosures. 100
Pawnbrokers, money lenders, race course keep
ers, junk shops cock pits. go
Distilery proprietOrs, exchange dealers money
brokers. -:-.-.............. .........-. 250
Unincorporated companies that not chartered
under the State 1000
Banker, banking agencies Observation-Disclosures. 1000
The following is the clause Of the law relating to
gross sales and receipts
There shall be assessed and collected the sum Of
onefourth of per cent the annual gross sales
or receipts Of each and every person pursuing any
trade profession occupation, whose annual receipts
exceed the sum of one thousand dollars.
An ad palo1em tax Of one-fourth of one per cent.
is also laid upon houses and lands horses and CATTLE
carriages shares Of stock money at interest," cotton
a dollar for every four hundred pounds fifty cents
for every hogshead Of sugar; twenty cents for every
barrel of molasses.
It shall be the duty Of all persons conducting
any kind of business before mentioned to make a
written statement Of the total amount of his her or
their gross sales and receipts during the time for which
such statement is to be made Each and every asses
sor in order to aid him in ascertainng the taxable
property within his parish or assessment district, is
authorised and required to interrogate upon oath Or
affirmation, in every instance each and every tax
paving nhabtant of his parish or assessment district
! in the following particulars, viz
! /. The amount Of goods, wares and merchandise
sold by him, either principal or agent, during the
year ending on the Goth day of June, and including
the last six months of the preceding year. except the
/ year 1864.
4 2 All the objects Of taxation described by law,
liable to taxation in his possession under his con
troll in any manner and each person is required to
furnish the assessor with exact list OF such objects
Of taxation in his possession by whatever title he may
hold the same which lists the assessors shall deposit
j with the assessment roll.
Sec 10. BE it FURTHER enacted, DEL That the oath or
affirmation shall be in the following words q J. \ B.
do solemnly swear, affirm that the foregoing list by
me made out and signed, contains correct statement
Of all the objects Of taxation fixed by law whether
movable or immovable corpOreal or incorpOreal, Of
which am possessed either in my own right or as an
executor, tutor, curator, trustee administrator or
agent for others and that the capital of every kind
DY me eDplOYpu III GIaue Goes IOJ exceed the sum
OF - dollars, according to the assessment list which
has been exhibited to ME. So help me God"
"Looker-on" humorously takes off the exhorbtant
tax business in the following quaint Style The net
work Of provisions follows the taxable man even into
the private affairs Of his domici He dimes off from
State United States and internally taxed table, Tolls
in his rocking chair before taxed coal fire. smokes
bis taxed tobacco from taxed pipe, and filings away
the burnt end Of a taxed match. Every dollar that
he touches in the way Of trade is taxed as soon as
drops in bis till. He has no power to take it out
again without paying the fourth per centum.
'Does he tell looker-on my business is poor?'
II that iooker-on is an assessor, like the ghost Of
Hamlet, he cries out, swear it. Oaths once a week,
and oaths once a month, oaths quarterly, hourly and
daily You can scarcely step into State or govern
ment office, scarcely sell dollars worth Of goods,
import it. export it. bond it, transmit it, ship it. trans
fer, convey buy, SELL barter exchange it. but what
there is present man, staring at you from wicket
repeating the words, solemnly swear, sc. All our
governments seem to fear for the word Of business
men, the binding law has no confidence in his integ
riy and unlike the magma charta principle presumes
that ever man who would render account of his trans
actions viii render false estimate, unless fettercd by
an oath. Where the necessity Of making Louisiana
revenue bill? Shade of Mercury Do you want a
law more searching than this? Can you desire it more
enormous? Do you want heavier burden?"
CoyFIscArED PRoPERTY-The Louisville Journal
says those who have anticipated large revenue from
the sales of confscated property at the south will be
surprised to learn that the proceeds since the close