The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-08-08
OPEN LETTER TO GOV. KELLOGG.

CLINTON, La, July 25, 1875.
His Excellency, Gov. W. P. Kellogg:
Sr-My attentention has been called to a
letter of the Hon. Chas. Clinton, Auditor, ad-
dressed to you June 20 h, and which appeared
in the New Orleans papers some days after
ward, in relation to the assessments in the
| country parishes, in which he states that in
some of the parishes assessment is made with
a total disregard of the States interest and
asking, if possible, to have the Board of Az
SCISSORS removed. He gives extracts from let
tiers received by him from some one from this
and the parish of Livingston to bear him out
| terest in the welfare of the State. Indeed,
should judge he has the same interest as the
Honorable Auditor himself. here insert the
extract from this parish:
"Of the many communications continually
coming to this Office l quote the following
two as samples, the first of which is from
East Felcana, the latter from franklin:
Assessment was made with total disregard
of the States interest. For instance "A
commercial firm within the parish has an in
ventored stock of goods to the amount of $685.
600, and the Board of Assessors, notwith-
standing my protest, placed the said firm on
the roll for $4,000. Another instance, where
certain firm has a stock of over $40, 900, they
assessed said party for $500. I could cite
great number of cases just as bad as those
mentioned in the foregoing. As a general
thing lands in this parish are assessed from
seventy-fve cents to one dollar, which the
owners rent for five or six dollars per acre.
Last years assessment wrongfully deprived
the State to the assessed value of at least
quar- er of million OF dollars. I look upon
the action of this board as an act of injustice
to the State and large amount of her tax
payers.
Now, sir if there is one word of truth in
this letter from beginning to end, must say
in candor have been unable to find it. That |
there are two merchants with an inventoried |
stock of goods, one at S35, 900 and the other |
at $40 900, is news to the merchants here; |
and l assert that there is not one whose stock |
reaches more than one-third of that amount |
and not one whose real capital invested goes |
over $6000.
Again, as to the average assessment of land |
being at from Is cents to 81 per acre, when |
the same lands rent for IS per acre. is as
false statement as can be conceived; and, in |
this, let me say that the Honorable Auditor is
IS criminal in misrepresentipg and falsifying
the action of this board as is his informant
and friend, for the reason he has the roll be-
fore him, and ten minutes of his time would
have proven the utter falsity of the whole
statement.
There is no land on that roll, if my recol-
ection serves me, as low as ST. though in
our case, to do the State no injustice, 1 fear
We have assessed some property at more than
is real value. The latter part of this state
nent is false as the first. There is no land in
his parish that rents for SIS per acre, unless,
perhaps, one or two small tracts in the i'm
Mediate vicinity of Port Hudson, the whole of
which is in cultivation. Some places are
&lo Ia CO. kbo& |
out these places have three or times as much
imbered as open acres, for which the land
holder receives no revenue whatever. For
Instance, place of 1000 acres has $50 or 200
.cres in cultivation which rents for So per ,
Icre; there is left $50 or 800 acres for which
he owner receives nothing, SO the real
entail amounts to 81, or less, per acre; aud
hese are exceptional cases, only a few get
ing these figures.
1 must construe this matter as impertinent
nd slanderous. and just here 1 know of no law
hat makes it the duty of Auditor Clinton or q
nybody else. even his informant, to protest
gainst the action of board of assessors in
be perform ance of their sworn duty and we
7ould remind the honorable gentleman, who
J just now sitting before jury of his coun-
rymen for disregarding his own solemn obi
atoms, that it might be as we'll to attend to
is own business.
In conclusion, 1 beg to call your Excellen-
Us especial attention to the assessment rolls
this parish, and believe that while prop
rty of all kinds, and especially landed prop ;,
rty, has been gradually depreciating in value,
GU will find that the assessment has for the 9
st three years been greatly increasing. and
nat you will at least find that the Board of
SCISSORS for this parish have performed that
npleasant duty fairly and impartially, con- n
dering the equal interest both of the indi- ri
idual and the State
As the time for this years assessment is
ear at hand, trust your Excellency will do
e the justice to make this reply to Auditor Il
linton's unjust SANDER as public as has been
is charge, by having this letter published in
lie city papers. Very respectfully,
JOHN S. LANIER Clerk of Court.