The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-29

There has been no little kicking, some
Of IL Of salty character against the new
assessment law, placing the matter in the
hands OF one man, who was authorized 10
employ five deputies This new law also
stipuatcs that the duties Of the assessor
shall be faithfully and conscicntiously per-
formed. with no fear or favor and IN order
90 insure this TO rs great an extent as pos
sblc, heavy bond is placed upon him,
and suitable penalties for failure prescribed.
The asscssor is, furthermore, required TO
assoss property somewhere in the close
neighborhOod of its actual value. These,
In brief, are the terms OF the act under
which the property, real and personal, in
Shelby county is 10 he taxed.
The question has been frequently heard,
why dotaNpayer kick against such q man
ifesily Just law2 Where docs the point
that pricks come in2 Are they unwilling
20 yield up what the State, county and
city aps Justly entitled TOP DO they not,
by such protests, clearly admit that the
whole system OF valuation under the old
regime was fraudulent and, plainly
speaking, robbery in their "a
yorl The answer 10 all these
has In every instance been in the aiIirma.
tive, Whether correctly so or not the pub
lie will Judge. One thing is undcniably
truw There has been an assessment law
In force In Shelby comfy ever since the
practice became necessary ever since
government was established. Tho intent
and design OF such Law was honest valua.
ton. Has II been giycn1 liso, why are
those liable dissatisfied with the revised
onc2 What have they To fear, or how can
they b. injurcdl
The truth OF the matter Is tho whole
system las heretofore operated 10 the all
vantage OF the property owner and injury
to the county at large liy IL the county n
wealth has been undcrcstimatcd fully one
half Instead OF taking IL proper rank rs
one u the wcalthcst counties oi the State,
Shelby lar fallen behind la such mn extent
n 10 cause wonder and comment abroad.
Even Memphis, the most thriving city in
the state, and pushing rapidly 10 the front
81 southwestern cities, did not pull II out.
The trouble grew ont of the appointment
oi irresponsible parties Ia fix Vnlua.
tons Instances Of this irrcsponsi-
bility, not 90 Use q haHhCr term,
have accumulated IN surprising numbers,
Outrageous cases have bccn reported, and
examination ui the tax books Ia the trus.
tees Office have verified the reports. One
notable instance will serve to show the
enormous discrepancy between the Nalu'
alton 81 oNncrs aud asscs-or' Two miles
from the city there Is Tract ui some sixty.
nine acrrs, q perfect rarlcn spot, Last
year this was asscsscd at $1,000, this year
nj $1,000. The Tennessee Midland mil.
Rad passed partly through the tract, taking
about two acivs For this the company
paid $4,000 The price per acre Is plain
~ Is also the total value ol the tract nj
that rate. This was IN the country. An
example IN the city II the tmnsi0li block,
corner oi Second aud Union streets. II j.
understood that Si,OJO is the value II Tai,
property accorling 10 the asscssur hut lei
sonic one make an otlrr ior Il anywhere
near this figure aud hc will he Stunned a'
lunatic.
Another beauty Of the new law Is thai
the county court IL given no power 10 ~
ducc assessments This rests entirely viii
the asscs-or, chairman Of the court an,
three ircehoiders, Who constitute boar,
Of equalization. The decision 81 Tai
board - final There isno estimating IN
saving 90 tho State. county and city thi
will lcgitimatCly effect. On Monday anl
Tuesday last the county court reduced th
assessment on the Peabody hotel frn
s15lOOO a. $4,000, and ON the Gay0s
from $4,000 10 SGOOOO. Thus ut on
fell swoop the Taxing District Ice
revenue Of Sl.6i5, aud the stat
AMI county over $500. But then
were any number OF other reductions, NJ
grcgaiing large sum, just a. there hav
been nj every term 81 court. Tho iina
blow OF this Kind has been made, however
for In April next the nov law gucs into Fl
feet practically. ~ the rate will then be- iiSc
Cor 1883 liy that time Assessor Smith vi
have progressed ~ Ear In his work ~ {
give 4 we'll defined idea of the total.
this reaches SO. 1900, OO-and there Il it'll
douh, hut that Il will the $3.50 for stat
and county can aud will bo reduced {
Sl.O5. - says Chairman slaughter, an
be generally speaks 10y the cards. A,
cOrling 10 the samo authority, with q
equally good assessment for 1850, the rat
will be lowered 90 70 CENTS. OF course IN
Taxing District mto viii iall nccordingl,
then will follow the good results OF IN
IL