The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1888-01-11

The Constitution rrov;des dat axafon shall Be equal and
uniform throughout the State All property shall Be taxed IN
E.g''''''d 70 i value to be ''''T'i''d as directed By
In presenting this question to the legislature Of 1886, sab
mite the average assessed value Of taxable lands IN twenty
Counties situated in different parts Of the State, which clearly
demonstrated the gross irregularities in laws.
That this difficult question deal with conceded but
that be successfully done there doubt has been
adjusted other States and be done in Mississippi al
tona requirement observed It viii be remembered that
It imma'eral to the taxpayer, whether the valuation high
on the dollar valuation Of one hundred and twenty eight
Millions sufficient with other to meet the expendt
the State government and threequarer mills
valuation Of two hundred and ffsix millions, would suffice
When It Is asserted and uncnalenged that the vaes Of Mis-
Of dollars and now assessed put down and published at
hundred and twentyeght millions It surprising that
there l. general complaint that the present system Of the
revenue laws not only unequal and unsatisfactory but in It's
operation subject great abuses and injustice When properly
is assessed for taxation it should be not only just but upon
plan that nsurs both uniformity and equality 50 that there
will be constitutional distribution of burdens right which
every Taxpayer is entitled
This estimate Of values had Its origin seeming necessity
under destructive State regime that antagonism with
property owners and who at the time struggling re-
from the results of the late The burdens M
posed the time caused forfeiture Of nearly 80 per cenof
the land Of the State for nonpayment Of taxes and seemed
that taxation and conscaon almost synonymous terms
But happily for people they succeeded to the management
Of their affairs
recommend thorough revision Of the revenue laws and
would emphasize the fact that after careful examination and
repeated conference with the Auditor of Public Accounts
satisfied that the same Irregularities that obtain in real estate
Of the Houses charged with me duty Of formulating plan
my judgment by investigation and conferences with the
Auditor and Treasury departments conceive and digest
that will insure fair valuation Of all taxable property
letting escape This is Of the highest importance
and demands careful consideration If values the of
several hundred millions be reduced hundred and
twenteght millions by the process the reduction can be
placed sixty thirty millions of dollars which would
demand proportionable increase of taxes The difficulties
attending the assessment of property for taxation
fined alone to Mississippi but obtain in many of the States
Governor Perry Of Florida in his message says with
such regulations will just valuation of all taxable
property the might safely be reduced Notwithstanding the
increased expense which will devove upon the State under
the constitution Governor Taylor Of Tennessee says
his message:-"I confidently believed that if fair and
proporonae value put upon all the taxable property Of
the State personal and real the list would be doubled
This being true the of taxation could be reduced onedf
and still yield present revenue Other States make SINH
lar complaints and urge amendments and corrections Any
embracing the needed changes touching this important
subject and promising approximation of the taxable
wealth of the State, will receive my cordial approval
Two years ago deemed it important and regard now,
that the legislature should provide additional remedies for the
collection of