The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1871-02-16

Message Concerning fIae Tax mmd
School LAWS
When the Legislature assembled in
January, THE CLARION stated that It's
first duty would be to repeal or essentially
modify several of the leading acts which
it had passed at the previous session, and
among the rest which needed the prompt
application of the scalpel, were the Rev.
enue and Common School laws. The
oppressiveness, folly and inexpediency of
these measures in the forms in which they
stood, had been SO clearly demonstrated
by time and observation, that there was
no room left for doubt as to what should
be done with them. 1t did not require a
sharp sight to see what was as clear as the
monday sun. 1t did not require SEN
sitive ear to hear the complaints of de-
frauded, outraged and long-forbearing
people. The special message Of the Gov
ernor delivered on the 9Th and published
in another column, fortifes the position
which we then took. 1t is an exposition
Of the outrageous abuses to which the
people are subjected. 1t is an echo of
the popular clamor for relief from the
consequences of the inoompetency and
profigacy of the irresponsible majority
in the Legislature.
The message demonstrates the immense
loss raculfipo, 70 tho favra x,arO fror, tbe
provision of the revenue law requiring
annual assessments and recommends a
salutary change. 1t recommends the
modification of the present arbitrary
system of valuation, and a return to the
plan of individual responsibility of the
property owners, and of the assessor"
subject to the decision of Boards of Su-
pervisors if the two differ. At present,
the power of the Board is unlimited
and according to the information which
comes to us through exchanges and from
correspondents, the abuses practiced I'M
der the system, are frightful. " We are
told" says the Carrollton Conservative,
"by the assessor, that there never was a
fairer assessment made, yet the Board by
raising the assessment virtually accuse
half the people of Carroll county of per-
jury" "The Board of Supervisors"
says the Senatobia Times, "have rem
dered the Office of Tax Assessor wholly
useless. They enhance the valuation of
nearly every farm South of the river
fifty per cent. Lands valued at SO per
acre have almost universally been raised
to $14. The result is that many hard
working men would be glad to realize the
assessment and even less, for their
lands"
These are but examples of what is go
ing on in all parts of the State. The
Governor himself furnishes two signal
instances Of the high-handed proceedings
of these bodies. According to the mess
age the Board of Supervisors in Issaque-
ma has fixed the "locaI taxation at rate
amounting to oppression, =" the enor-
nous amount Of nine hundred per cent.
on the State tax"
The Governor recommends the sus-
pension of the collection of the State tax
until April, and intimates that it may be
found expedient to reduce the rates which
were levied in ignorance" of the pro-
per basis of taxation. 1t is to be regret
ted that the idea of this suggestion was
not sooner conceived by the Governor.
The law directs that the levies shall all
be collected by the first of March, and
many of the people, closely pressed by
the collectors, have already paid their
taxes. At that time, the memorable for
felt of fifty per cent. is to be applied to
the unfortunate delinquent. But little
time is left; and it is not possible to re-
pair the wrong which has been done |
those from whom taxes have been wrung. |
A suspension of the tax for a month will |
not meet the case. 1t is simply an ex-
pedient which will only postpone the
trouble. An anodyne not cure. What
the people want is prompt REDUCTION of
The tax. They will be as little able to
pay in April as in March.
The iniquities which are practiced UNI
der cover of the School Law, are also
brought to light in the message 1t is
needless to repeat what is there stated
School managers in many instances, are
improving the opportunities which they
enjoy by virtue of the power conferred
oy the law, to embark in schemes of
plumber. 1t is right that the
avs under cover of which these criminal
lets are perpetrated, should be changed.
Let any candid reader examine this
message and say we have characterized
90 severely the log-rolling and corrup-
ion which have been at the bottom of the
egislation from which the people are cry
ng with loud voice for relief.