The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-03-16
TITHES AND TAKES.

ETsS GENERALLY-EOW PROPERTY OF ALL
KINDS IS To De LISTED roR TAXATION.
Auditor of State Henderson is sending out
the instructions to county auditors for the as
sessment of property for 1875, which VIII be
of interest TO property holders and others, as
explaining clearly the duties of officers and
taxpayers. and also giving those who are 30
fortunate as to have property chance to
know what is expected of them. The docu-
ment reas thus:
Herewith ia forwarded to you a number
of blank forms for use in making the as
seSsment of real estate and personal prop
erty tor the year 1875. The forms are A and
Nos. i, =, 5. 4, s. s, Z, $. and IL. No. 3 Is for
railroads 10 make returns TO this Office. No.
10 is for railroads to make returns TO coun-
ties. They are forwarded from this Office 10
the different railroads, and viii be returned
by the companies to the county auditors OF
the counties along their respective lines.
FORM a.
This form is to enable assessors TO deter
mine accurately the amount of credits that
should be listed set forth in the first part
of section 40 Of the assessment law. No de
ductions Of indebtedness can be made from
the value OF real estate, and none from per
s0naI property, except as Indicated IN this
form. The assessor should, therefore. fully
understand this provision oi the law, and
especially the sections nom IS TO %, together
with the plan of making the statement. He
should not hesitate 90 require the filling mp
of the blank. or to administer The oath or
affirmation, in addition to the oath or affirm
alton on the general schedule. If the asses
sor is satisfied party has no credits, over
and atove bona fide Indebtedness, he need
not go through the work of making the
statement.
PORN NUMBER ONE.
In making returns and fixing valuation of
real estate, the assessor must lie governed
strictly by the provisions of the law. The
principle in determining the value OF prop
erty is that it must be assessed at what it
would bring at voluntary sale for cash.
This was adopted by the legislature of 1872
and has not been changed. and must, there
! tore, govern assessments in 1870. The rule
! tndeTlies the legality OF all assessment, and
I is the basis of uniform and equal rate OF
taxation. The duty of assessors in this re
gard is onerous and responsible. as they
/ have TO fix the values which shall go upon
the duplicates, and represent the wealth OF
their respective counties and the state. The
county and state boards OF equalization
/ equall5sa the values returned by tbs asses
sors, there being no power to change lnd1-
vidual assessments. except that given to the
county board for special causes. it Is, there
/ tore, important that assessors be governed
/ impartially by The principle set forth, and
make returns OF values accordingly.
PORN NUMBER Pwo.
The form is in detail as prescribed in the
law. IL provides for full statement OF
money, stocks, credits, accounts, etc, and
for sach an analysis of the same as will
enable the assessor To ascertain the true
amount for taxation. He should in all
cases require complete statement. admin
lister the oath, and make the Analysis. The
result will show the amount OF moneys,
credits, and bonds, and stocks 70 bs listed.
BORM NUMBER gHREE.
Under the assessment law. The state board
of equalization is empowered to make the
assessment OF the capital stock OF CORPORA.
tions organised under the laws OF the state
To enable the board TO do this it is necessary
TO know what the capital stock of q
company is, and the assessed value OF all It's
tangible property. Every corporation in
the county should be required TO furnish g
statement according to the form given. i
any one fails TO do so, the assessor must gel
| the information from other sources, and ht
; should refer to the articles of association
recorded ia the Office of the county recorder
Each statement IL TO be- scheduled by the
assessor, form No. A and with the
. auditors schedule, (Form No. 81 forwarded
, 20 the auditor OF state to be laid before TIL
state board of equalization. IT these form:
are not all made up and sent 10 the auditor
! OF state uniform and equitable assessment
OF capital stock can not De made.
FORMS NUMBERS SIX AND SEVEN.
, The law provides that the shares of capita
! stock of any baulS, when organized undo
the laws OF the state, or of the United Stats
shall be assessed to the owner where tn
bank IL located. This provides directly 70
? the assessment of national banks, as we'll a
. for those organized under the state laws
: The ate board in 1873 and 1874 could not
: under the law, review the assessments c
! national banks. IL was evident, howeve:
that great inequality in such assessment
existed, and that in many cases they wer
erroneous and unjust. The responsibility 9
= making the assessments rest with The count
(: auditor and assessors, and they should 81
that the law Is fully complied with.
The statement upon which the assessment
: is made is to be furnished to the count
q auditor by the president or cashier of tn
bank. The auditor furnishes copy to tn
= assessor, and that officer determines the fai
g cash value of the shares so listed, and make
d return TO the county auditor for taxation
10 Form No. Z is for the auditor, aud No. fc
e the assessor.
|. It's important that sections 81 to sc of tt
% assessment law should be thoroughly under
: stood by the officers making the sssessmer
o set forth, and the assessment OF shares
;. stock should be fully and fairly made as II
3 law contemplates. Section 65 gives the aud
It tor ample power to carry ont the provision
of the act. Form No. S. This Is for the Il
N sessment Of pawnbrokers, and explain
| itself
Is FORM NUMBER ELEVEN.
As stated before, form No. 10 ia furnisht
:, railroads directly from this Office. IL is Il
= return OF real and personal property for Il
year 1873, to be made to the county audito
go to be assessed by the county assessor, exec
al as herein explained. From these return
Is the schedule No. III is made up bv Ct
- county auditor, 10 be forwarded with Il
20 returns 70 the auditor of state. The stat
- Inents and schedules to be laid beto
% the state board OF equalization, and it
= therefore essential that they be forwarded
- this Office as soon possible, that the sta
- board, which meets on the third Monday
~ June may determine without delay 4