The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1885-07-04

BTToB OFBEeE,
B4roN RoUax. La, Juae 20, 1885 Il
10 the Honorable, the President and Mem
benz OF the Police Jnries Of the several
Parishes Of the Stale Of Louisiana;
IinxrEHmRN III order, conscienti-
0alsly 10 discharge the anfies Of my
office, and with The view Of adding to
the assessment rolls of the varions
parishes, beg leave, most respectfully
tofnake few suggestions. dis6laining
Tie fnintest intention of debating your
action Or any appearance of inter
medling.
Article No. 210 Of the Constitution
says, -.Ehat taxation shall be equaland
uniform, and makes it the duty of
ihe General Assembly TO provide a
system Of equality and uniformity Ia
assessments, based upon the relative
value Of property IN different portions
Of the State, " and 70 carry ont this
mandate, the Legislature, BY Act No.
9G, ofI8s2, appointed and constituted
the Police Jnries Of the several pat
ishesof the State, aiBoards Of Review
ersp for their respective parishes.
Same Act, Section No. "a requires
said Boards TO meet on the first Mon
day in lJuly of each year and pre-
scribes their Duties. In 1884 the
Boards Of many of the parishes failed
to meet and review the assessment
lists, in time for hhe Assessor to make
ont and file bis rolls within the period
fixed BY law. Many of theBoards did
meet, but adjourned without making
a very careful examination Of the lists.
Now, as no rolls can be furnished by
the Assessor, as the basis Of taxation,
until the tax payer shall have had an
opportunity Of appearing before the
Board and stating his grievance, and
the action of the Board in the preini-
SEES is made known to the Assessor,
whose duty it is to correct the assess
ment lists, in accordance with such
action, the result Of this failure on the
part Of the Boards Of Reviewers, is
manifest.
Another suggestion, if YOU will par
don me, is the imperative NECESSITY of
providing the Assessor (many are al
ready proyided) with a copy of the
abstracts Of entries in the United
States and State Land Offices, whereby
The amount Of assessable property in
the State will be largely increased.
The duties of Police Juror, rs a
member of the Board of Reviewers,
are TO i'equalizestho assessment of all
properties of like character and rela
tive value within their respective par
ishes,'' in accordance with the law and
the Constitution, and their action be-
ing final, their position is one Of grave
responsibility and Importance. Clothed
as they are with ample authority, they
should enable the Assessor (wh0se
duty it is to attend the meetiDgs) to
furnish rolls complete and perfect, as
to the correctness Of names, the de-
seripLion of properties, and aYaluation
Of same, just and equitable, both tu
the State and tax payer. Sitting as q
Board of Reviewers, allow me, in all
kindness TO remind You that you
should without hesitation, and impair
tally, place a proper valuation OH all
properties, regardless Of the individ-
ual, since it is Lhe property and not
the Individual with which Won are
dealing.
Many of the rolls for previous years
are heavily encountered witlrcrroneous
and double assessments. The com
missions 10 Assessors, costs for adver-
Using, etc, such property, and the
making and recording of deeds, which
are worthless TO the State, entail a
gfeYious expense n careful examina-
ton Of the lists, for the purpose Of
eliminating suelrerroneous and double
assessments would remedy this, and
thereby save the State, annually, thou
sands Of dollars.
The Assessors have entered upon
their work, with unusual and com
mendable zeal and promise MI assess
ment more correct and complete than
any heretofore attained but let them
be ever 30 efficient, the desired end,
which is y complete, correct and salts
factory roll, can not be reached with
out your valuable aid and cooperation.
The Assessors are prepared 10 de-
liversyou the iists--their Iabors thus
far are at AN end---a few days of earn
est work BY your bodies will accom-
plish much towards .perfeeting this
work. Ifeel assured it will be done.
O. B. STEELE, Auditor.