St. Landry democrat., 1890-02-08

ues; the evidence was there showing unmis-
taxable inequality. Either one portion of
| the State has one idea as to cash values
and others another idea, or something
was wrong, for there was no going back
on it that there was grave discrepancy.
Take mules. Some places they are higher
than at others. A mule worth $50 oppo-
site Baton Rouge, is worth $50 fifty miles
| higher up the river
Mr. Glynn explained that all he desired
Was to instruct the assessors how to assess
at full value. The testimony as to values
was very indefinite.
A sugar mule would not be worth much
at the end of five years, while q cotton
mule would.
| Mr. Giifoil said that an assessment was
not made for twenty years. mule when
he gets old is not worth as much rs when
he wss young. The mule is to be taken
as he stands on his four legs to- day.
MI Glynn said that he had no objec-
lions to Withdrawing the clause opposed
by Mr.. Renshaw. 1t was candid and
| true.
knew the meaning Of the English lau
guage.
Mr.. Shattuck asked that the portion
Mr Stewart, of West FeIiciana, said
the people of New Orleans were as honest
as those in the parishes, and if they hid
more from the assessors than those in the
parishes it was because they had more to
hide. He was opposed to allowing the
clause relative to New Otleans to rematn
In the minority report
The chair decided that the minority re-
port was before the house. Thu dis
| pleased several Of the delegase5 who
| claimed that it WAS parliamentary An
| appeal was taken from the ruling Of the
| chair, and by vote of nineteen yeas to
twenty three nays, the convention die not
sustain the chair for the want Of the neces-
| sary :wo-third vote.
The ma iority report as presented by Mr.
| Steele, was next up
MIR Steele stated that the report cid not
| favor any radical change in the revenue
laws of the State The minority report
favored moving along in the old rut. All
it asked was to instruct the assessors
The assessors have been requested re-
peatedly by circulars from the governor
| and auditors office to Gerry out the law.
What is the remedy A request is made
| and when it is made it is at an end. We
propose to let the law stand as it is. How
are assessments to be equslizsd? If one
parish is assessed at 81 and another five
cents, what shall % the remedy None
| was given by Mr.. Glynn
The assessors of New Orleans testified
| that all shares and stocks We assessed
at their actual cash value We ask for
| the adoption Of some system which will
place all on an equal footing. MIR. Steele
| asked Mr.. Glynn to answer him, if ore
parish is assessed less than another what
was the remedy1
| Mr.. Glynn claimed that the police juries
were the best reviewers, and he opposeda
board of reviewers. If something WAS to
be presented to the Legislature there
should have been meeting of the people
| and not the assessors, whose pockets are
| sensitive and who want to assess property
f r all it can.
MI Steele claimed that his Question had
not been answered. The suggestions made
in the report are in the interest of the tax
payer and not the State. The Legislature
has not carried out the constitutional re-
quirement. If the minority report is
adopted, in parishes where the property is
assessed at full value now it will be re-
duced, and he predicted the reduction of
the assessment in those parishes.
Mr.. Foster in the chair
Gen. Egan said that he was instructed
by his people TO oppose ANYTHING in the
shape of board of equalization. The
complaint made against tbs present sys-
tenn is that in some parishes they are not
assessed as high as in others. The ques-
ton of cash values to property is what
sgitated the committee. His idea of cash
value was what tie property can be con-
verted Immediately into for cash Others
think that cash value means what prop
erty will bring at sale on time or other
wise. AS far as his knowledge went, the
trouble with the assessors was just how
far they should 60. If they were in-
structed as to the cash value they will un-
derstand.
Mr.. Rensbaw-The revenue law itself
defines the meaning of cash value.
Mr.. Egan said: If the assessor does not
do his duty properly all that has to be
done is to have him removed, and the same
with the police jury. Assess the property
at it's cash value and thsre will be equality
throughout the State What better sys-
tenn could be adopted2 The law says how
1t must be done, and all that is ne ,essary
is for assessors to execute it. Why have
it changed if it is good enough7 The rem
edy for it's execution is in the hands of the
l Governor and Auditor. The people of his
parish wanted no system but the present
one adopted, and he came to enter their
,osest TO any change.
Mr.. Gilfoil-How can police jury Of
one parish pass upon question affecting
the entire ssate2 He argued from plain
business and COMMON sense standpoint.
He lives in the Fifth Levee District. Con
cordia Is assessed at $i5 on her land, and
Madison on identically the same class of
lapd, at $50 If Concordia is not assessed
at the same figure as Madison there will
be reduction in the assessment. Madi
son wanted justice and equality.N He was
once an assessor, and he had go6a deal
of trouble, and re'ated incidents which
were amusing. He did not want to pax
any more taxes. He wanted to pay less,
but if the boys say we must pay more we
are willing, but it must be on au equality
with other parishes
MIR. Steele said that the corporations of
New Orleans were assessed at their full
market value. 1t was easy to get at that
because they were quoted on the market
daily.
The majority report was placed on final
passage aud was adopted by vote of 264
yeas to 164 mas.
The decision was received amid cheers
1t was decided to have 1000 copies of an
address and The proceedings of this con.
vention printed 10 pamphlet form for dis
tribution, and that Auditor Steele see that
this is done.
Mr.. Shattuck, of Calcasieu, sent up the
following: