The star of Pascagoula. [volume] (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1873-1878, 1874-04-11

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+ Ths fios'ax protest. sgiiast ~
eaings n &c sgnlzif.1a 81. ha1
been fprsd spon tie Jopfasi o. ihs
/ Iipua ti 4 signed ~ Nass fsa.
gsii. Csapbell, Afaber. EskiofJ
itag.i Johnson. 0ilmer. j. ~ BoYd
Croko. Cfssolias, q ". dgriea
5socksGll. Dsns0s, Graham. .. W.
Rogers, Wynn. Tisoo. f,eose, !. r.
Thompson, .Birto. atkins, Fssmsier
Shorter. Aksp, W. w. Thompson
Street, kendfick, Bsval, Thomas and
Waikor of Monroe
"MR. spE4Esa Tho undersigned
members of iho House of Representa-
tive respectfully protest against the
passage Of Senate bill No. 1865, on
act 10 relation 10 a State Boafd Of
Equalization. The object Of such a
board should only be to aacertain a
foir valuation Of all tho taxable prop.
eriy Of the State, with a WOW TO max.
ing every person pay taxes In pro-
potion to tho property owned. The
title Of this bill indicates such a pur-
pose, but q careful examination OF its
provisions, considered in connection
with the action Of the majority Of the
House iD voting down every amend
ment limiting the powers Of the
board, forces the conclusion that
equalization is not so much tie ul-
innate object to be obtained as tax
alton. The board may. if they think
proper, increase the taxes TO an I'M
limited extent by placing fictitious
value on the property of the State.
To place such power in the hancs
Of any seven men is dangerous, and
is contrary TO the spirit Of our SO,
called Republican institutions but
when we consider that this power is
conferred on men who are directly
and personally interested in having q
large amount of money drawn from
the people by the tax,gatherer and
placed within tbeir reach, VIC are
forced to the irresistible conclusion
that the people OF the State are here
after to hold their property by the
sufferance of this Board of Equalia-
ton. That the powers of the Board
are sufficient to
CoNFIsCATE THE PROPERTY
Of the people is apparent to any one
who will give the bill close and un-
prejudiced examination. If ficti-
tiops value has been placed on prop
erty in order to make it yield large
amount of revenue, the real value
will decrease. AS such decrease
takes place the proportion of tax
must increase until confscation will
be the result. The bill does not re-
quire any proof to authorize the in,
crease OF valuation, nor does it give
any opportunity for the ia payers to
be heard on the subject. II the val
uation in the county is raised, it af-
fects the property already assessed
for its full value to the same extent
that it does that which underval-
ucd. The equalization being made
after the first of September, leaves
no opportunity for County Board
to assess the decrease of valuation on
those whose properly is valued too
low, but must be borne by all alike.
While the power is unlimited to i'm
crease the valuation Of property, the
Board can afford 70 relief by reduc-
ing the aggregate valuation if such
should be necessary. The owner Of
property is to have no voice in It's
valuation, and may even be tenled
any knowledge Of the value placed
on. his property until the Board ofSur
pervisors meets to examine the same.
Every taxpayer must either attend
this meeting or be at the mercy OF the
Assessor and the Board.
an addition to the above objec-
tions to the bill, we are OF the opin-
ion that, as a heavy burden is placed
on the property holders of the State,
in the way Of taxation, a Board. if
appointed at all, should be composed
OF men familiar with the value Of
property in different portions Of the
State, that the pretended objects OF
the bill might be attained.
-> - S------
A Young lady blessed with pow