Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-03-30
ASSESSMENT GROWL
The Board Of Equalization Listening to
the PIaintive Voice OF the Per-
sistent Grumbler.
Banks that Have TO Pay Liberal Taxes
and Those that are Allowed to
60 Scot Free.

The Board OF Equalization has been meet
ing regularly to receive the complaints and
growls OF the citizens about the assessment
| of property. As a general thing, but few
complaints have been made against the val
uatlon Of the assessors. They Will IN all
likelihood be reserved for the delicate ears
and tender sensibilities OF the County Court
And that suggests warning. The Board
of Equalization wss established to protect
the citizens, TO hear their objections to the
assessment, and when shown to be wrong TO
correct each case. One reason why the
County Courts sessions are prolonged so, ia
because its time Is mostly taken up with
petitions from the citizens TO reduce their
assessments. Now there should be a limit
to these petitions and no man should have
the
PRIVILEGE OF LAYING HIS GRIEVANCE
before the County Court, unless his claim
has been denied by the Board of Equaliza
ton first. If this rule were followed, or
could be enforced, it would be more satisfsc-
tory to all parties. All those citizens who
take any interest in their own property
would do well to go to the Board of Equali-
cation, and if they find anything demanding
correction. insist upon having it corrected.
The Board of Equalization is composed of
all the assessors, who divide themselves into
committees of seven, which alternate in
hearing complaints. Mr.. Jesse Page has
been chosen chairman of the board and Mr..
r. f. League secretary. These gentlemen
constitute two permanent members of all the
committees. Yesterday an APPEAL reporter
called upon the secretary, Mr.. League, and
from him gained some information which
suggests the propriety of inquiring into va
rious matters.
THE PRINCIPAL CoMPLAINANTS,
so far, are the State National Bank and the
ParLr Hitherto thav Ia haor,
paying taxes on only portion of their cap
ital stock, and the assessors have this time
assessed their stock in full. As reason for
their objections they say that they seem 10
have monopoly OF paying taxes on their
stock. There are other banks and corpora
tions, such as the Union and Planters, the
Bank of Commerce and the Memphis City
Fire and General Insurance Company, which
by their charters are exempt from taxation.
Their second reason for an abatement is an
agreement entered into by them with Mr.. ].
A. Taylor, ex-county attorney; DR.. ID. L.
Porter and Judge Heiskell. By the terms of
this agreement they were to pay on only a
percentage of their capital stock. For in
stance, the capital stock of the State Ma
tional Bank is $3.50, 900, but by the former
agreement they were assessed at only $780,
900. MIR. Page announced his intention to
the gentlemen making the complaints in be-
half of the banks, that he would hold them !
TO THE FULL AMOUNT
of their stock. He did not recognize the va i
lidity of the agreement, indeed questioned il |
entirely. The bankers were Informed by |
him that if they would swear that their cap |
tai stock was what they desired it assessed |
at, he would so correct it. This they of |
course refused to do. The correctness of the
assessors position is undoubted, and it |
suggests another fact of which the pub
lie is ignorant, that there are several
institutions in the city whose character
makes them exempt. The question naturally
arises has the legislature right to grant any
such privils sc TO a corporation, which has
no benevolent or educational feature attached,
and if the statement OF Mr. League that
several of these banks are exempt from tax
alton is true, ought not the validity of that
to be tested?
All of these matters suggest a closer
scrutiny into the assessment Of property and
clearer and more defnitive mode oil pro-
,edure. There are undoubtedly many abuses
needing CORE ction.