New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-01-04

which are derived the means Of preserving
public order, and Of educating the children
of the State. The proposition to suspend
the police and school tax, aside from it
palpable violation of existing laws, and tn
tendency that such a proposition, if carried
out, would have to bring the State gov
eminent into collision with the city
government and to arouse anew thos,
political animosities and complication
which, happily for the success of the hoped
for legislative reforms are now dormant
strikes directly at the poorer classes, who
need protection in person and property, and
are unable otherwise to supply it, and de-
prives them of vital want they
can not otherwise supply, the education
of their children, while it indirectly affects
every material interest of the city. With
education and the means of enforcing the
law banished from community, property
would have little appreciable value.
EQUALIZATION OF ASSESSMENTS.
The present system Of appraisiDg and
assessing the values of the State is unequal,
oppressive and very expensive. There is q
tendency to discriminate unfairly against
the city. Assessments in the city are arbi-
trary, and in the country are exceedingly
lax. Contiguous lands of equal value lying
in adjoining parishes vary in assessment az
much as seventy per cent. 1t is believed
an equitable equalization Of values and the
correction Of erroneous assessments would
add $40, 900, 900 to the assessment rolls of
the State, and to that extent tighten the
general burden of taxation. recommend
that there be board of equalization estab-
lished, to consist Of one member from
each congressional district, properly
qualified by experience and integrity,
to whom the assessment rolls shall be re-
ferred for equalization. This having been
once accomplished, no new assessment Of
real estate need be made but once in five
years, except as to permanent improve
ments made in New Orleans, which lean be
appraised from time to time, or the owners
might be required, as in New Jersey and
several other States, to deposit a sworn
statement of the value Of improvements
made by them with the registrar of convey
ances or the Auditor. The recorder of each
parish and the registrar of conveyances of
the city of New Orleans should be required
to furnish from time to time list of all
changes of ownership, so that the proper
corrections could be made on the rolls A
session of the board of equalization of sixty
or ninety days would probably suffice for
the purpose, and besides the other practical
benefits which would reeult from the adop-
ton OF this plan, direct saving of over
$90, 600 year would be effected in the cost
of assessment. The States of New Jersey,
Michigan, Indiana and Ohio have adopted
a system of equalizing assessments similar
in general principles to the plan l have
suggested AID the method is found effec-
tive, just and economical
EXEMPTION FROM TAXATION.
~ In previous messages reference has been
~ V to the large amount of property
e. ma by corporations, and used for ordi.
Mt commercial purposes, receiving all the
he yleAoh municipal and State protection,
nd eAemp'>ye revenues from rentals, yet
ro- OF the Stu taxation. Article lls
ter that "ta1at'e Institution, which provides
in throughout '',l be equal and uniform
leo "the General A,er also provides that
s a exempt from ia, shall have power to
cal used for church. ecA property actually
~ poses" Neither the X nh.,;,os,o .
Of this ordinance contemp~ ~. ~ .s;- pA :.
~ the most eligible offices am Inc spirit OF
~ rented stores in the bess .omo ,: VI
30, tions of New Orleans shoS
i IA, taxes to CITY or State; tss por-
ara halls of entertainment, coming in
of ton with similar buildings fuly:'
mis-. should be exempt; that banks and I
ter broking establishments should be tel
in. from the licenses and taxes which
ava competitors pay, and that valuable
:. IN and buildings, outside the city OF
i, Of Orleans, not actually used for On
,on. school or charitable purposes" shou
I'D released from paying their just share
,,+. expenses of the general government.
a tabulated statement, prepared at n
70 quest, by the Board of State Assess
appears that in the city OF New VI
nv With a total assessed valuation OF
,ho 600, 900, there is real and personal
erty exempted from taxation te
:, % amount of SIS, 1906. In this
meut, however, there is included
"a item of $l23O3,l25, described at
- 90 value of property ''owned by the
~. States, by the State, or by any
ner CITY or incorporated town in the
,a;1a The capital stock of the national
nov which by United States law is exc
ri, from taxation, appears also to
cluded: but, making all proper
tions, there still remains very
+,o amount of property unjustly n
o,,s, from bearing its proportion OF tn
: ~. liz burdens. l have placed this q
1900 abatement Of all exempt property OF
600 is the once VI 'no oeo,e
examination or action as you ma,
the proper to direct.
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
In oonsonance with the principle
, one AZ ,:..o, ,f al, h
being economy III 'n0 % ~ ~h;oh ~.
tn the OF inc ko'e.n ,. o.oa 80 ito a.
num- pleusou i''o.A - =, dc
that tnelr assono w WV :. ~.
ohools com"onu 'n"' e., az,
wards ton De ao'p'ou ~ yo -, 49,. ~.
item, TO Inc poop'o'
.na ing financial reforms:
G., l. That the salaries Of all officer
compensation is fixed by the constlt
an reduced a. to approximate to the
u cspita. Maid for similar services in other