The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1886-05-08
EQU1LZzATTOE or ASSESS
MENT AND TAKd7YOE.

4 At the present rate Of taxation Of
State and parish taxes, many people
from other States imagine taxes here
are very high, when ii reality ii Is not
high taxation but low valuation. II is
very srae that certain property in GER
Gait, localities may be assessed at It's.
fnll value, but ii large majority of
cases the opposite to this prevails.
Seeing the discrimination made, An
ditor Steele addressed circular to the
assessors Of tho varions parishes, call
ing their attention to the fact that
railroad property--for instance, the
Mississippi Valley Read, is assessed
in one parish at $500 per mile, and
ranges up to $4,000 per mile in other
parishes. We can easily see that tho
railroad track may cost more in some
parishes, for instance where there are
several long and expensive bridges as
in Calcasieu parish, on the Louisiana
Western Roadebut there is evidently
too great difference Besides, the
discrimination is not confined to rail
roads alone. Two years ago our atten-
ton was called to report of an assessor
in one Of the parishes Of this State, and
found the mercantile business assessed
about $4,000. This of course, meant
all the capital invested in this bust
ness within the limits of that parish.
We felt somewhat surprised, because
we knew of one firm in that parish
owning and occupying at the time
large two-story brick store with an
iron front, and if our recollection
serves us right, was not rated under
$4,000 BY the Bradstreet or Dunn
agency. There were Others not much
behind this firm, besides the many
smaller country stores in the parish.
This state Of affairs 10 not confined
either, to this State. Go to New York
and it is hard to find a millionaire on
the assessors books. Just think of
Mrs. Stewart, paying taxes on only
100000. Take w. II. Vanderbilt
Let yonr mind run back to a few
months ago, when he was repnted to |
be worth 5000, 100000, and then cast
yonr eye on the assessors books and |
find him assessed and paying taxes on
100000. Jay Gould pays taxes on
100000, in New York, and c. P.
Huntington, another railroad king, on
$50, ZOO.
1t is DESTROYS that property through
out the State have an equaliza-
ton of assessment and then, and not
till then, will we have an equalization
of taxation. 1t seems to us the par
ties best qualified to act intelligently
in this matter, are those directly con-
cerned in the work, namely, the as
SCISSORS, collectors and police jurors.
If they could be brought together in
convention, We believe the united
wisdom of these men, in preparing an
equalization OF assessments of all
kinds of property throughout the
State, would be calculated to do much
good, and set at rest the question of
unequal valuation of all classes of
property. If tins body should be
considered too large, then certain
proportion from each Congressional
District might be brought together.
If taxable property throughout the
State could be equally assessed at its
true cash yalne, the rate of taxation
for the State would be considered
low. This wonld make much better
showing for the State; instead of
high rate Of taxation, it would rather
be higher property valuation and
lower rate Of taxation, which would
be recommendation. We hope the
Legislature will consider this matter.
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