Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-11-29
4 STATE BOARD or xQUALIxA.
TION.

for curing the defects said to exist in
the present mode Of assessing prop
erty subject to taxation.
Among these plans the one.
which is being urged by the N. 0.
Democrat, is likely to find a strong
support before the Legislature which
is to assemble in Extra Session, at
New Orleans, on Monday next.
The Democrats plan is to have
a State Board Of Equalization, that
will classify lands all over the State,
whether under cultivation or not.
Hence, all lands capable of producing
so much cotton or sugar, would be
assessed at a certain figure, by a
Board that would be totally ignorant
of the situation of affairs in each To-
cality.
The Democrats plan would have
the effect of forcing proprietors to
cultivate their productive acres, else
to sell them for what they would
bring.
The difficulties which surround our
planters and farmers in certain To-
calities would not be at all cOnsid-
cred.
The scarcity of labor, the want of
capital, the remoteness from market,
the difficulties of transportation, all
these impediments would be ignored.
We cannot for a moment give our
support to so arbitrary a plan, which
puts as it were the knife to the throat
Of our agricultural population.
The Board would tell the owners
that their lands are capable OF pro-
ducing so much per acre and if they
don't bring that out, it is their fault
and they must pay the same as the
man who has plenty Of capital, plenty
of labor and easy transportation to
market for his products.
A State Board of Equalization
would occupy towards the tax payer
very much the same relation chat the
old Returning Board did towards the
voter.
We oppose the plan, because it is
merciless, and because it is violative
of the principle Of local self govern
ment, and is in consequence, de-.
cided step towards a Capitalization
of powers.
After condemning theplan describ-
ed in the above,,we feel in duty bound
to offer substitute therefor, and
here it is:
Parochial and municipal cavern
ments are as greatly interested in
this matter of assessments as is the
State government.
Have they not their roads and
schools to maintain; their expenses
for criminal prosecutions, etc.e Can
the police juries, therefore, allow un-
der assessments to be made if they
have it in their power to prevent
suchs
1t must be admitted that these
bodies cannot afford to do it.
Why not then extend the powers
ofpolice juries by providing that the
assessors submit their rolls by wards,
for examination and approval by
these bodies, in which every portion
of a parish has it's representative,
who can give an accurate description
of the situation of affairs in his neigh
borhOod?
Ha,property holder has been over
assessed he could thus appeal to the
police jury Of his parish to correct
the error. II on the other hand the
officer has assessed property below
its fair valuation, then where could
be found an authority more compe-
tent praise the assessment than that
same police jury9
Our New Orleans friends are prone
to look at things in the country from
their far off stand point. With many
of them the jungle begins after pass
ing beyond the city limits, so that
they are almost in the dark conc ern-
ing the condition Of affairs in the par
ishes.
They do not know that large pro-
portion of the planters live from hand