Claiborne guardian. [volume] (Homer, La.) 1877-188?, 1881-12-28
Assessments.
(N. O. Tlmes-Dennocrat. |

in opposition TO the equalization
plan comes To us in a late issue OF
the Claiborne Guardian. 1t is hos.
tile to the policy We have been al.
vocating. but it's tone is 40 mOdcr.
ate, its desire To he night is so eNi.
dent that we would gladly have
a regiment of such opponents in.
stead of one prejudiced and unrea.
sonablr enemy. We have carefully
considered the opposition set up to
onr equalization system. We have
read and digcsted every argument
wh'ch has appeared III the negative.
But we can truly say that We have
vet To see one statement 10 the con.
trary which ~ not founded III "a to.
tai misrepresentation of the theory
and practice OF the plan.
The popular objections may he
summarized thus:
|. 1t is feared that the EqualiZa
ton Board will he n central power.
taking authority ont of the people 5
hands aud using it arbitrarily.
>. i, is feared that. under the
operation of the plan, the poor hill
lands will b" forced 10 pay as much
as the rich aNnvial hands.
3. II is feared that the effect of
the plan will be to nullifN the pro.
visions of the Constitution limiting
the tax To six mills.
There are other objections
vague, random aud historical. aud
more or frSI sincere. which We need
not consider at this time. The
above are practically the main points
upon which the measure is autago.
mized. Most Of the opponents are
honest in their oppoSl;ion, aud re-.
ally believe that the dangers they
set up are actual and living dangers.
Let Us see:
|. 1t i impossible that the Board
can become y central power since its
members are elected exactly as
congressman are. IL would. on the
contrary. he quite rs representative
u body rs the Legislature.
= There Is no possibility of poor
lands being assessed aS high rs rich
lands. because the classification OF
property would have to be made I'M
drra law of the State and this law
>houlofricarlN. specifically and rldh.
ola'rly define the grounds ut claSSi
iiratiou. The lists of the Assessors
would, therefore. be subject to the
supervision of the courts and every
citizen would have his remedy toI
til" slightest lnjuS ice. This RENE.
Dis must needs he absolute since il
i possible to frame law which
viii clearly and Enthusiastically cStah.
llSh u standard of cli>>ltication
This has been successfully done
ever" hrIc-Why not j. Ioul>i.
ana.
3. The operation Of the plan is no
more likely to nullity the cou>titu.
tiunal limitation than j. the plan We
now pursue. Indeed, it contains
the best possible guarantee against
such notification. The integrity OF
tn" limitation depends upon the jus.
tice aud COOL tdith of assessment,
we hold that such integrity Is pre-.
served by system which absolute.
~ assures equality and Uniformity
tar better than hy one which
leaves everything 10 the capI,cc,
the discretion OF the personal orin.
ION OF the local assessor.
In truth, IT one will only examine
the equalization plan in Il spirit Of
honest anxiety to under stand its
true and proper meaning, he viii
discover that all tltp objcctiouS upon
which he now dvclls are cured by
this plan and flourish now here so
well rs beyond lis influence. We
have no: seen the full text OF the
new revenue bill which it is propos
ed To adopt instead ot the cQualiza.
ton system ordained hN the Con.
Stltutlon, but We are surc that, no
matter what may he its merits, II
cannot hc rs fair, rs expeditions or
rs economical as the latter.
Through the medium of the EQUAL
llatlon Board and through it alonc
can we ever arrive at the proper dis
tinction between rich and poorlandS:
between remote and accessible dis
trlctS; between healthy and unhral
thy localities. That is the only
standard 10y which We can diScov.
cr real, intrinsic values and make
them the living motive of a complete
and comprehensive classification.
onr legislators should not dismiss
so serious IA question upon the
strength of an idle rumor or because
Oi a hastily formed and imsrcurely
founded objection. II affects the
welfare, the honor and the prospect.
I nj ltn 4 lei