The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-03-03
ASSESSMENT OF PROPERTY.

The Auditor of State, in his circular to
county auditors, makes the following requi-
sitions, which will be of interest and value
TO parties concerned in assessments for taxa
ton: "The law provides that the shares OF
capital stock of any bank, whether organized
under the laws of this state or Of the United
States, shall be assessed to the owner, where
the bank is located. This provides directly
for the assessment of national banks, as well
as for those organized under the state laws.
The State Board of Equalization, at its ses-
sion last year, found, after a careful
examination, that it had no power
under the law to review the assessment
of national banks. 1t was evident
that great inequality in such assessments
existed, and that in many cases the assess
ments were erroneous and incomplete. The
responsibility of making assessments rests
with the county auditor and assessor, and
they should see that the law is fully COM
piled with. The statement upon which the
assessment is made is TO be furnished to the
county auditor by the president or cashier OF
the bank. The auditor furnishes COPY to
the assessor, and that officer. determines the
fair cash value of the shares so listed, and
makes return to the county auditor for
taxation. There should be full returns made
to this Office of the deaf, dumb and blind,
aud insane persons in each county, known as
incurable insane kept by families and at
the poor house. The law does not especi-
ally provide for a report of the insane, but
it is important to have the information for
the legislature and for statistical pur-
poses.
should be glad to receive at any time all
Information that auditors can procure in re-
lation to agriculture. mining. manufactures
and other matters of like importance, with
the view of Incorporating the same in the
annual report, for the use of the legislature
and the pu bile generally. 1t is suggested
that meeting of county assessors and their
deputies be held at the auditors office on
the last Saturday in March, to receive the
blanks that may have been prepared by the
county auditor, and any instructions he
may give in relation to making assess
ments; also for general consul
tation to determine. upon unifor-
formity of proceeding in the several town.
ships of this county. The next general as
sembly will criticise carefully the operations
of the new assessment law, and it is there
fore incumbent upon all officers entrusted
with the execution of its provisions to see
that they are fully carried out as directed
and provided for. 1fit Is found that some
of its provisions are onerous and burden
some, those provisions will come up for
revision and amendment, in accordance
with the wishes and sentiment of the pee.
pie. / would respectfully ask auditors to
give particular attention to section 123. 1t
is of the greatest importance to counties, as
we'll as to the state at large, that perfect re-
turns of all statistics provided for in section
1S3, should be made to this Office. The ag-
ricultural, commercial and all Industrial in
terests are in continued need of the
information that can be obtained through
a careful collection and compilation of the
statistics provided for. Assessors should i'm
press il upon the minds of the people that
the gathering ofthe statistics is not for pur
poses of taxation, but to show the products
and resources of the State of Indiana. Such
an exhibit is demanded by the growth and
prosperity of the country, and to place the
state in the commanding position to which
she is entitled by reason of her great resour-
ces, her agricultural, mineral, commercial
and other advantages"