The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1883-02-01
A BILL

by Mr. Chenoweth, to be Entitled an Act
ito Create a Board for the Assessment
and Equalization of Railroad Rolling
stock and Other Movable Property OF
Railroad Companies. in this State."-Re-
| ported Unfavorably
Be it Enacted by the Legislature of the State OF
Texas:
SECTION /. That the governor comptroller
and commissioner OF the general land Office
are hereby created board for the assess
ment and equalization of the rolling stock
and other movable property of railroad
companies in this state.
= Sec. 2. For the purpose of assessinr adj
justing and equalizing the valuation ~"
rolling stock and other movable propp
of the various railroads in this state, the
board of assessment and equalization pro-
vided for in this act shall meet annually at
the capital, in the city of Austin, on the Sd
Monday in April of each year.
Sec. 8. That on or before the first day OF
April in each year, the president or other
chief executive officer OF every railroad
company whose road is now, or which shall
he eaiuer become so far complete and in OPP
Grafton as to run locomotive engines. with
freight or passenger cars thereon, shall fur
nish to the state comptroller a statement
duly subscribed and sworn to by said presi-
dent or other chief executive officer, before
some officer authorized to administer oaths,
setting out in detail the total length of their
roads so far as completed. including branch
or leased roads, the entire length in this
state and the length of double or side
tracks, and the length Of such road,
double or side-track, in each county,
municipal township, incorporated city,
ftown, or village through or in which it is
located in this state; the total number OF
engines and cars of every kind and
description including all palace or Sleep E;
cars, and other movable property
owned, used or leased by them on
the first day of January in each year, and
the actual cash value thereof.
Sec. 4. That on the third Monday of
April of each year the state comptroller
shall lay before the board of assessment
and equalization all returns made to him
by every railroad company.
Sec. 5. That the said board at their an
nual meeting shall proceed to assess, adjust,
and equalize the aggregate valuation OF the
rolling stock and other movable property
! OF each one IF the railroad companies in
this state. The board shall have power to
summon witnesses by process issued to any
officer authorized TO serve subpGnas, and
shall have the power of a district court to
compel the attendance of suCh witnesses,
| and comoel them to testify; they shall have
| power, upon their knowledge, or such in
| formation as they can obtain to increase
or reduce the aggregate valuation OF the
rolling stock and other movable property
| of any railroad company in the state in
| Guided in the statements and returns made
| by railroad companies to the comptroller
of the state; and shall assess, adjust and
1ualize any other rolling stock and nova
BILE property belonging to said railroad
companies, or property belonging to any
railroad companils IN this state of the kind
specified in section 3 of this article upon
which no returns have been made, which
may be otherwise known to them, as they
NAV deem Just and right. In assessing
adiui ing and equalizing any railroad roll
ing stock and other movable property for
anv wear or years, the board of assessment
and equalization may arrive at its finding
conclusions and judgment upon its knowl-
edge or such information as may be before
it, and shall not be governed in its
by the testimony which may be ad-
duced, further than . to give to II
such weight as the board may think it is
entitled to; provided, that when any rail-
roal shall extend beyond the limits CT this
state and into another state in which q tax
is levied and paid on the rolling stock OF
such road, then the said board shall assess,
tion ofthe total value of the rolling stock Of
such railroad company as the number OF
miles of such road in this state bears to the
total length OF the road as owned or con-
trolled by such company.
Sec. g The board of assessment and
equalization shall apportion the aggregate
value of all property, hereinbeiore speci.:
fed, belonging to or under She control OF
each railroad company, to each county,
municipal township, city or incorporated
town. in which such road is located accord
ing TO the.ratio (which the number of miles
of such road completed in such county,
municipal township, city OF Incorporated
town, shall bear to the whole length OF such
70 ID in the state.
equalization shall cause to be kept fair
and full record Of al its proceedings and dc
cisions, and shall cause the same to be
signed officially by the president aud secre-
tary. and file said record in the Office OF the
ST lte COMPTROLLER on its adjournment; ard
the said comptroller shall include copy of
said record Of proceedings IA his annual re-
port 20 the Legislature
See s. on the receipt of the proceedings
of the board Of as essmentand equalization,
the state comptroller shall certify to the
secretaries of the respective railroad compa-
mics. and TO the assessors Of the proper coun-
ties, the action Of said board, which certih-
cate shall also SET lOrtn tue total value
of the rolling stock and other movable prop
erty of said railroad; the total length ofthe
road bed, including side tracks, in each
county, city, town village and municipal
Sec. 3. The assessors of the proper
counties, upon the receipt Of the report OF
the board provided for in section OF this
act containing the apportionment due their
respective counties, shall list and enter the
same upon the rolls for taxation, as other
personal property situated in their respect
i've counties.
Sec. 10. THAI, whereas, there If no law
In this state for the proper
assessment and equalization OF
railroad rolling stock and other movable
property, thereby entailing great loss to the
revenue Of the state, a public and impera-
tive necessity exists that this bill take elect
from and after its passage.
Sec. n. All laws and parts OF laws IN
conflict with any OF the provisions OF tins act
be and the same are hereby repealed.
ORION 'EEs., Angus, Is. 1s7s-cAETEE NEo
CrHE CONFArr;
GTWrITNEE:-Plesse send me I've
visls of Carers Liver fila 81
rptrfrn mail. enclosed please ind one dollar.