Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-02-23
ANoTHER AssEssMENT BILL.

ANOTHER ASSESSMENT BILL.
This morning an assessment bill was
introduced by Mr.. Overton. ltprovldee
that in the exemptions from taxation
all property belonging to religious, char
liable, scientific, literary, agricultural or
educational institutions are omitted and
made taxable, except public or free
school property. All notes, due-bills,
ETC., for the payment of which real es-
tate is pledged, are exempted where the
real estate is taxed. Real estate to be
assessed every fifth year, on the same
basis Of value prescribed for personal
property. One assessor to be appointed
for each county, with power to appoint
deputies; in cities of over twenty thou
sand inhabitants an additional assessor
to be appointed for city property the as
sessment made to be for State county
and city purposes; the expenses to be
paid by county and city Jointly. The
assessor of real estate to be appointed in
July or October, 1875, for the assessment
of 1873, and every fifth year thereafter.
The personsl-prOperty assessor to be ap-
pointed in January each year. A coun-
ty board OF equalization is provided for,
to consist of ten freeholders, and
its duties defined. The assess
ors have power to subpmnae witnesses,
and administer oaths. Banks and cor
porations to be assessed as heretofore,
with the privilege Of returning in the
name Of the corporation as one item,
instead of to the several stockholders, in
which case the a. o essed value of the real
estate is to be deducted. Goods sold on
commission to be reported, and tax
levied on gross com mmissions, once every
three months. Merchants to return the
average stock OF goods for taxation, and
in addition thereto all other assets, after
deducting liabilities, on which they pay
an Gd UGfOTenl tax, but no privilege tax.
Oaths and penalties on real estate assess
ments are repealed; oaths on returns Of
personal property are repealed. The
clerks Of county courts are required to
keep book Of all transfers, showing all
changes Of ownership of real estate Oc-
curing in the county, and to provide
and keep a book of ownership Of real
estate, from which the textbooks for the
intervening years, between years of reg
ular assessments, are to be made out.
All penalties for non-payment Of taxes
now fixed by law and repealed, and
regular penalty Of two per cent. for
each month enacted. All laws for the
sale of real estate for non-payment of
taxes are suspended for the taxes of
1875, 1876 and 1877, and thereafter no
sale to be made for less than three
years of accumulated taxes on any one
piece of property due and unpaid. In
the meantime, the penalty of two per
cent. per month is accommodating, and
all delinquencies are kept alive and in
the hands of the collector. In the
month of July, each year, the collectors
of taxes report all unpaid taxes, and
they are to be taken up and rechecked
on the new tax books, under the head
of forfeited lands" All the tax books
to remain in the Office of the collector,
and to be turned over to his successor in
Office. The city authorities may elect
to have the city taxes collected by the
county collector, but may provide its
own collector when economy demands
it; but no city collector to be allowed a
greater commission than allowed by
law to State and county collector.