The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1875-12-02
OUR STATE.

- - - - - Il -@a
How to Sustain the Honor and Cred
it Of the State and pay the Inter
est on the Public Debt without
Increasing the Rate Of Taxation,
and at the same time Relieve the
Burden from the Farming Com
munity.
Corr, spondence Herald and Mail.
I have given the above very Sc
rious consideration, and think if the
following ideas were carried out by
the lawmakers Of our State, all that
l have set forth in my caption to
this communication would be fully
realized. To accomplish it my plan
is that the Governor should convene
the Legislature of the State for
the purpose OF calling a coustitu-
tional convention to amend the con-
stitution in several particulars
One of the great sources OF demon
alization of our country at the pres
ent is the frequency of elections.
would then suggest the following
amendments to the constitutional
convention:
First. That all officers, whether
State, County, or Municipal, be
elected once in every four years.
Second. Abolish the Office Of
County Trustee.
Third. Make the Governor incl
igible to re election
Fourth. Make it the duty of the
Tax Collector to receive and dis
burse all moneys at a given pr cent,
but in no case to exceed 81 900 per
annum.
Fifth. To. tax all church and
other property now exempt from
taxation, when that property ex-
ceeds $4,000 in valuation.
Sixth. Would follow the example
Of England and abolish the ehancery
system.
Seventh. To revoke Act I'd, See
tion 81, IN regard to banks.
Eighth. That it provide for a
uniform rate of taxation by the cleo
tion of three tax assessors in each
county, to make an assessment of
all the taxable property in the coun-
ty. One of these assessors so elected
to serve for two, and another for
four, and the other for six years.
Then by this means we would
always have an experienced man as
assessor every year.
With these amendments to the
constitution we would suggest the
converting of the Legislature Then
let the Legislature make it the duty
Of the tax assessors elected rs be-
aforementioned, examine every piece
of property in their county, and as
sess it at its then actual value in
cash, and as property advanced or
deprecated in value, let them reduce
or advance it as the case might be
the object being uniformity. 1t
matters not whether the property
be valued high or low, if it be only
valued uniformly. II low, the rate
of taxation to raise a stipulated |
amount must be in accordance with |
that valuation, and the same if it be |
valued high, the rate Of tax to raise |
the same amount will be lower. We |
would also suggest that IN making |
the valuation that the lands and |
improvements-that is, the dwell
ings-shOuld be valued separately |
That is, to put the lands down in
separate column; then the improve
ments or dwellings in anotheg col
ann The dwelling to be rated for
insurance, and let the laws Of the |
State make it obligatory upon every |
owner Of Il dwelling to pay an insu-
rance tax upon it, and in case of
loss the State to pay to said owner
two thirds of its assessed value, |
upon proof of loss; said proof of loss
to be made by the loser, upon a
blank to be furnished by the County
Court Clerk for that purpose, and |
certified to by the Circuit Court
Judge; said loss to be paid by the
Comptroller of the State upon said
certificate of said loss. By this
means of insurance the State would |
save to itself the moneys now going
out of the State for insurance and
the amounts paid in the way of com
surveys and policy fees,
and which we think should and
would be money making business
for the State, as we all know that in
surance companies all grow to be
corporations, and the State
would not have to pay out to its
agents the commissions which the
insurance companies have to pay to
its agents.
We would restore the Bank of
not as it heretofore ex-
isted, with capital of five millions
of dollars, but with the faith of Ten
nessee pledged for the redemption
of its bills, and would confne its OPP