The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-02-25
THE TAX BILL UP.
A Bill to Make the Terre Haute & In
dianapolis Disgorge.

A Bin to Mako the Terrs aaute & In
dianapolis Dissorge.
In the house Saturday the Oppenheim
tax bill was considered in committee of
the whole.
Mr.. Glessner's bill to place county COM
missioners on fixed salaries, graded accord
ing to population, was indefinitely post
poned.
Senator Towards bill amending the
Barrett ten-year-street-imp act
was advanced to third reading with an
amendment exempting indianapolis from
the application of the bill.
Mr.. Claypool introduced bill, which
passed under suspension OF the rules,
authorizing the sale OF u certain tract of
land at Fairview in Rush county, which
had lapsed to the state from a defunct
college. The land would bring to the
state treasury several thousand dollars,
said Mr.. Claypool.
Senator Atkins bill to increase the pris-
on wardens' salaries TO s. 800 was sd-
vanced to a third reading.
Upon motion OF Mr.. Beasley the clerk
was instructed TO recall from the
senate, house bill 500 introduced by Mr..
Fippen. 1t authorizes the construction of
natural and artificial gas, electric light and
water-works plants by cities and
towns. Mr.. Beasley said that he
and several others voted for the
bill under misapprehension and
desired TO have the bill recalled for the
purpose OF calling up Mr.. Kelley's motion
to reconsider the vote by which the bill
had passed.
Mr.. Hench made an ineffective attempt
to nave the house instruct the committee
on judiciary to report his anti-railroad
pass bill. His motion to instruct was de-
feated-yeas 10; nays %.
Mr.. Oppenheim, chairman of the COM
mittee on ways and means, called up for
consideration his general tax bill. The
house resolved itself into committee of
the whole, with Mr.. Mccullough in the
chair
Mr.. Oppenheim explained the provis-
ions of the bill, after which the committee
rose and the house took the usual noon
recess. The bill is very voluminous, con-
tanning 262 sections. Mr.. Open
helm explained that the bill
required all assessments of real property
to be made every four years. The town
ship assessors are left as they are now, ex-
cept that no township assessor shall be
eligible for reelection. There is created
a county assessor who is to be appointed
first by the board of commissioners in
June Of this year. and to be elected
in 1892 by. the people; who is to
hold his office during the period of four
years, and to be ineligible for a second
term. 1t is the duty of the assessors to
assess all property at its real cash value,
that is. the sci ing price of property at a
private sale in the place where it is stu
ataH and that mr. fnraad QnPfInn
sale.
The bill further provides that it is the
duty of the county assessor TO receive the
returns OF all the township assessors and
to revise them and report to the county
board of revenue which consists of the
county assessor, county auditorand county
treasurer, the present county board of
equal cation being abolished. 1t will then
be the duty of the county board, which
meets in July, to revise, amend and cor
rect all the assessments made by the va
rious township assessors. There can be
an appeal from the county board of
revenue to the state board of tax COM
missioners, which takes the place of the
present state board OF equaliza-
lion. The state board of tax
commissioners will consist OF the
governor, auditor of state, treasurer of
pointed by the governor, whose sole duty
il shall be TO examine into the value OF
all the railroad property of the state and
report to the state board OF tax commits
sioners. and also TO each year visit mt least
once every county in the state and in
struct the officers OF the various counties
in regard to their duties. 1t will be the
duty of the state board Of tax commission
ers also TO prepare suitable blanks
for the use OF the various officers.
The bill further provides that all taxes
collected from the railroad track and roll
ing stock shall be turned over by the
county treasurers to the state treasurer
and become part of the general fund of
the state. This, in the opinion of the
committee with the other revenues of the
state outside OF the twelve cent levy, will
be ample TO pay all OF the current ex-
penses OF tho state. The bill also repeats
the twelve cent levy for state purposes. A
great majority OF the provisions OF the old
@--A.R-