The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-12-18
1.-THE EQUALIZATION OF TAXATION.
To the Editor OF the Democrat:

] To the Editor OF the Democrat:
In the regular session Of 1875 an act
was passed for the purpose Of creating q
! State Board of Equalization, which should
q make assessments every five years. II this
act were brought into operation the revenues
would be increased, the city considerably re-
lieved, and honest taxpayers satisfied by an
equitable and more ec ynomirll method.
The system which exists At present IS per
!. nicious and costly; pcrniciDus because It IS
partial, and costly because it entails yearly
expenditure Of over $4,000 for work baby
done.
The act alluded to would Obviate all this and
prevent the weight Of To xation falling ~ heav-
lily on New Orleans. Inc country proprletors
are Interested In keeping up TINS unequal dlS-
, tributon of responsibilities, whereby the city
is made to Ianguish, while the rural parishes
shirk their portion Of the public burden. al
though they demand more than their share Of
j the patronage and emollmcnts
~ Too often men Of small ability and less re-
srectabity are appointed to aSseS5Orships,
4 men who never were in position to become
acquainted with the value Of property, men inn
mediately under the control and influence Of
those who obtain their appointments, and
whose antecedentS totally unfit them for the
!, duties they undertake
b II Is a well known fact that at times sue
cessful candidates have taken advantage Of
the patronage which sectional political In
Hueace gave them to impose upon the com
4 monweath their political tools, regardless
4 OF even ordinary re5peCtability.
| That the public may understand how such n
diScreditable system can operate tnyurlOuSly
to the people OF the city OF New Orleans and
how incompetency and the want Of integrity
combine to deprive us Of n fair assessment
and an equalization Of taxation, will exeIn-
p plify by q few statistics.
The entire acreage Of the State OF Louisiana
Is computed at about %, 49, 300, made up Of
Good uplands. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 5,243,0OD
Pine hills .........=....... 1904 900
Bluff lands Observation-Disclosures ...+... 1,5S7 200
Pine flats ........ ...-......4...5. 1904, 900
PrairieS Observation-Disclosures. Z432 900
Alluvial lands .......... 49,. 3584,Oo0
Wooded swamp .....-....---. ..-.... 1,0SS,00D
Coast and marsh ....... .-..-... 1928, 900
This latter acreage Of marsh lands is Of
little value beyond the timber that may be
found thereon, We have about l9,0DD,0O0 Of
acres capable OF cultivation, which might pro
duce cotton, sugar, corn and rice. The title
] rights of some OF these lands still remain
with the government; bui He ratabte portion
is not listed dcc0rdtRg TO tdW, as may be seen
n by the Auditors book, are the assess
ments Of personal property made up with
any degree of accuracy.
In fact. these local rural boards OF assess
ment fail entirely in fairly listing the landed
and personal property By an honest assess
} ment of the wealth outside Of the parish Of
p Orleans, the State could afford to reduce its
+ taxation to nearly one-haf the present rate,
! and yet increase the amount Of its revenues,
for the burden would fall more generally and
euuitaby on the entire population
One of the wealthiest parishes Of the State,
with a population Of ID 900, yielded last year
over 5000 hOgsheadS Of sugar, 10000 barrels
OF moIassea. besides considerable cotton, corn
and live stock. This produce possibly realized
about 81, $50. 900, making an average income OF
$50 for every man, woman and child; and
\ yet the State tax in that parish Is not more
than So per capita, while the State tax Of New
Orleans reaches to nearly 50 80 per capita.
This inequality can only he accounted for by
the Incompetence and corruption OF the asses
sors.
The present State assessment for the par
ishes outside Of New Orleans, amounts to
$50. 100000, whereas the city % New Orleans
is assessed about Sf1000O,OO0. Thus Is the
city oppressed with heavy State tax, while
the wealthy rural districts are shielded by
corrupt practices.
Nv opportunities for acquiring information
!. have been such that it would not be difficult
for me to ventilate facts apper tanning 70 num-
beers of other abuses, both Of the past and
present; but wish simply to point out some
OF the most startling evils, and by drawing
attention to them, induce the Legislature,
during the coming session, to enact laws
which will alleviate the present depression
] and the discomfort arising from injudicoua
!, legislation, administered by costly army Of
Inefficient officials
If the act passed In 1875, to which have
already referred, is Imperative let there be
enacted another that will enforce an honor
able assessment Or all property, real and per
\ sonal in the city and country, and obtain
thereby an equalization OF taxation that viii
relieve the people of New Orleans from re-
sponsibilities which they have for 50 long 9
time been made to bear and which arc yearly
Gripping them beyond endurance.
J.. SEWELL.