The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1882-02-18
Wherein IL the Evasion !
IN. o. City Item.l

to make record in the milage grab
business, and showed in an article
which we copied yesterday that 1t
had done its duty in that respect.
But it went further and plumed itself
upon having opposed an equalization
of assessments, which it charterixes
as q ''fraud in thin disguise"
Connected by the ring for the pur-
pose of placing fictitious value upon
property, and by that means evading
the six mills limit of taxation fixed
by the constitution, and extortine
from our already overtaxed people
more tribute for the bondholders and
tax-eaters."
Leaving out of the question the
point of authorship, on account OF
irrelevancy, we would like to hear
argument to sustain the charge that
the equalization of taxes, as required
by the constitution, is q scheme for
spoliation, or a means of evsdiDg the
six mill tar. The Item does not be-
long to any ring whatever, and is not
in sympathy with any one that does.
In that respect, we are on equal
terms with the Standard and all 9TH
er journals throughout the State
whose skirts are clear. Nor have we
any knowledge that those citizens
and members of the Legislature who
recognize the binding force of article
2O3 of the constitution are actusted
by any more selfish or unworthy mo-
tives than their opponents are. The
six mill tax is authorized by the con-
stitution, the equalization of taxes is
required BY that instrument. To
member who has taken an oath to
support this organic law, we are will
ling to concede the merit of sincerity
when he gives to its mandate the
same obedience which is given to it's
authorization. 1t can not be allowed
that a member of the Legislature
may call in question the wisdom of u
provision which has received the
sanction of the whole people. He is
required, under the solemn and bind
ing force Of an oath to support and
obey it.
The charge that the plan to equal
ize the assessment of taAes is q
scheme concocted by q ring to evade
another clause of the constitution. is
as easily made as any other accuse
ton, but it can not possibly have
weight unless it can be shown to
possess the elements of truth. The
whole question was fully discussed in
the convention of 1879, and the arti-
Gle 203 is merely an elaboration of
the we'll known principle which is
found in all the latter constitutions
of Louisiana, to wit !: Taxation shall
be equal and uniform throughout the
State" Under our present system,
it is is practically impossible to OBJ
tain a uniformity Of assessments
based upon the actual cash value Of
property. The returns from the va
rious parishes furnish abundant evil
dence that q superior revisory hand
is needed /; nor is there any force in
the assertion that large amounts of
property in the city of New Orleans.
as well as in the country, escape
proper assessment. The very object
of the equalization is to operate on
all alike. The man whose property
is assessed at relatively higher rate
than his neighbor, and pays his tag
es, is placed at q disadvantage in
business competitions. And further,
as the taxes are now levied, the
smaller properties throughout the
State are generally valued up to their
full worth, while many of the greater
fish escape such rigid scrutiny.
Though the Burnside plantations
have frequently been referred to, in
connection with the objections to
partial assessments, it is we'll known
that they do not stand alone. Other
large owners of lands, idle as well 81
I cultivated. succeed every year in hav-
ing their property set down at rates
which they would scorn to consider
as q purchase price. We know The
same remark is applicable to the city
: and the Item has frequently pointed
/ ont cases to our assessors in which
property has been sold for ten timel
, as much in cash as it was assessed
for. At the same time thousands O
poor people have had their it'll,
homes assessed at their full value
And it is the same in the country
, The equalization Of assessments. j
, properly administered, would scarce
ly disturb the smaller proprietors
but would make the rich speculator'
II pay for the luxury Of holding larg'
tracts Of fertile lands at prices actin
ally above reason. but which the,
8 manage to have omitted from the as
4 sessment rolls, or put down at low
a rate on the plea that they are unpro