St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1881-12-31
That Board of Equalization.
(Abbeyille MeridiOnall

| Notwithstanding the recommendation
of Gov. McEnery and portion of the
press in the matter OF the State Board
OF Equalization, We can see nothing but
an engine OF oppression in it, and we
therefore oppose it.
| In former article we attempted to
show that it was bad instruction, but
our attempt failed to satisfy one Of our
contemporaries 1.-The City Item" that
we had made the point. The Item
speaks very lightly OF our efforts in this
direction and processes to receive but
little instruction therefrom. Will, that
after all is not very strange. A poor
country Editor is not supposed, espe-
cially by his big City confreres, to know
much, or to be capable of throwing
much light on any subject. To pay but
little respect to the lucubrations of
country editors, unless they chime in
with the huge city sheets, or the " Or
gan," is the style now days. However,
we shall still continue to advocate what
we think, all the same. The Item pro-
fesses to desire just and good laws, and
we are not disposed to deny the hon
esty or sincerity OF the Item in this
matter, and give it credit for all ,the
patriotic intentions we claim for our
Selves i liz lUtll klON Cf Cl HIS JuSU DIS
far failed of showing us the necessity
have in showing it the wOrthlessness
The advocates of the machine say
that a large part of the property of the
State escapes taxation and so says the
Item. This simply means, it it has
meaning, that the property is not put
upon the assessment roll for taxation.
We do not doubt the truth of this
assertion, but is Central Board OF
assessors setting at the Capitol wing
remedy for this evil? Assurely not.
Does the Item man lack acuteness OF
perception to such an extent as not to
perceive this \? II so it would be we'll
for him to speak little more respect
fully OF his country confreres in read
ing them his lecture. He does not even
attempt to show how a board of equali-
cation can detect and list property not
assessed on the rolls. How a man or
body Of men who never were in this
parish, can tell whether A or B in this
parish, has given all his property in
for taxation is not explained OF at
tempted to be. The truth is it is too
absurd to talk about, and it is the
merest .ti,nsiest pretext for an excuse
Those who advocate it, it
they know anything know better. We
think it a mere disguise to cover
another object which is so poorly COW
cred, that it discloses itself all through
the whole argument.
What then shall we say or think Of
men who propose as remedy for GER
no remedy at all but mere disguise ?
Are we not Unsuitable in suspecting
their perspicacity or their motives |
Here State Central Board of apprais- |
ers is desired as remedy for an evil |
which it is palpably and wholly incapa-
bic of remedying. But the real object |
peeps out through this disguise. It is
that the appraisement Of property may
be taken out of the hands Of the local
authorities who know best its value
md centralized in distant central
BOARD. This is the Recommendation of
! governor and OF Journals who are
bowling about the central
zing Tenderness OF the Republican Fed
,ral administration. Capitalization in
Republican hands is bad thing, but in
Democratic hands it is NICE gerry!
We say that this Board is violation
# the principle of local self govern
nent, and that that solitary objection
lone is sufficient to condemn it. 1t
sserts that the people of the parishes
re not fit for self government, that
hey are dishonest. Indeed the Item
avs so in almost SO many words.
They assert that property is not ap-
raised high enough in the country.
his we deny. We hold that the local
authorities know better what is the !:
alue of property in their own locality,
han any foreign Board of so-called
qualizors. The only disguised object
{ the advocates of the machine is to
aise the appraisement Of country prop
rty. This is just what we are opposed
}. We claim that the appraisement in J