The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1882-01-07
THE T E =!
THE PROPOSED STATE BOARD OF
EQUALIZATION.

|
Board of Equalization" We
then took occasion TO demonstrate
the fact of its being a cloak for
one of the most monstrous villain
les ever perpetrated upon a free
people. Our able friend, Hon. l..
E. Bentley of the Donaldsonville
Chief in a recent issue, also con-
dennis the contemplated outrage
and in such vigorous language as
to induce US to reproduce the FOL
lowing salient remarks =
I'VE contend for true, correct
and equitable assessments, and
maintain that those can be best
made by the people Of the parish
in which the property is situated.
They are far more competent to
deal with the problem than any
other authority whatsoever. The
New Orleans Democrat proposes
to invest a commission sitting at
some central point with the power
to assess every mans property
and to say, arbitrarily and with
out appeal, what amount of taxes
shall be paid by each citizens of
the State. And this scheme is
sought to be justified on the
grouLd-repeatedly advanced by
the Democrat in its able series Of
editorials on the assessment ques-
tion-that the local authorities
i, and people of the parish can not
be trusted to make a fair valua-
ton. Ergo, if we can not trust
local authorities, we must central
) izc the government, and the mat
ter of taxation must be governed
bv a State commission and not by
i. local agencies.
: |. is true that our fathers knew
nothing OF State Boards OF Equali-
cation and were able to support
their governments without a re-
. sort to such inquisitorial institu-
: lions ; but it is said hat three or
K four States have established these
boards. Suppose they have what
IS does that argue in favor of the
:. plan What of the thirty-odd
States that have not found it neces-
sary to resort to this extreme
o If it is claimed that we are to give
up our local selfgovernment in
Questions of assessment because
d three or four other States have
j. done so, we can answer that the
c. argument has no force, since more
Of than thirty of our sister common
IN wealths have refused to relinquisl
le the valued prerogative.
T. A State Board to examine into
e. and ascertain the value of thu
e, property Of every tax payer from
tn the Arkansas line to the Gul
O. would have a monstroLs labor i'm
RI. posed upon it. How would it pro
coed? As its action is to be final
be certainly he tax payer ought to b
or heard before his rate Of assess
ment is established. Must tn
tax payer appear in person? Mus
ne he trudge down from Caddo o
in Claiborne, from Calcas1eu o
10 West Carroll to appear tefore til
formidable council which has tn
~ right to double or treble what h
OF may consider a just valuation {
ID. his property Perhaps the hor
le- orable board might listen to tn
70. tax payer if represented by a Law
yer, or possibly a broker. Thu
''n we would find the farmers {
North Louisiana and the prairie
!, and the cotton and sugar planter
the when consigning their crops
zen their merchants, charging them
er. be careful to select some attorne
nj or broker to represent them b
fore the autocratic arbiter of tt
valuation of tL.eir property.
the How is this State Board to |
lif. constituted Shall! the Execute
ost appoint it, and thus be able 10 r
+or ward and punish his every frier
and enemy in the State If Il
TO members are to be elected by Il
OF people, you 60 back to the rig
md of self-government, but you ask
mr. pleibiscite overthrowing loo
government and establishing
ano Commission vested with great
My powers than Napoleon's dynas
due ever executed.
,on- We oppose a State Board
t,r. Equalization because. we fav
just and equitable assessments.
sn' local Influences operate i'll one pr
nay of the State to diminish asse
: be ments, we can conceive of no r
son whv they should not oper: