Mexico weekly ledger., 1894-05-24
ASSESSORS.
An Important Meeting At Jefferson
City-MethOds OF Equalization.

DFeSs6u III Tie iIst busiIGSS Icsoiutioh
reported and adoped. 1t provides
that all taxable property shall be
assessed at its actual value on the
first day OF next June and every year
The remainder OF the work
of the convention was in line with
this policy. An effort was made to
fix a schedule for the valuation of live
stock, but after q brief discussion it
was abandoned as impractical, and a
resolution was adopted requiring such
property to be assessed at its actual
market value in the vicinity or county
where it is located.
The same rule was observed in re-
gard to common personal property.
Money, notes, bonds, bank stock,
building and loan shares and mort
cages must be assessed at 100 cents on
the dollar, and in case OF depreciation
in value, application for relief must
be made to the local boards of equal
ization. In regard to the assessment
of real estate and town lots, the OH
mittee recommended the assessment
by the acre or front foot with the
value of the improvements added,
and in arriving at such valuations
the Assessor should be governed by
Its market value at ordinary sale on
the 1st of June each year.
1t will be observed that these
changes. while within the scope of
the law, are most radical de-
partures from the custom that has al
ways been in vogue In this State. 1t
was the unanimous testimony of all
those who talked upon the subject
that, with few exceptions, all classes
| of property is assessed at only a small
per cent of its actual value. Real
estate outside the cities is rarely list
ed at one-fourth of its value and per-
sonal property frequently escapes
listing entirely.
The assessed valuation of real es-
tate and personal property in the State
at present is 1924 Co., @ in round num-
bers, and no one seems to have any
definite idea as to its actual value.
1t would certainly be more than
double, and doubtless much more
With real estate and personal proper.
ty assessed at its proper value, the rail
road, telegraph and bridge property
in the State, which is now taxed fol
$50, 100000 in round numbers, would
necessarily be advanced in proportion
to other property.
The testimony of the assessors wa:
a rather sad reflection on human We
racity in regard to returning money
notes and other securities. They
united in saying that this class of tax
payers frequently have very. shor
memories as to their worldly wealth
in the shape of portable property, ant
evidently have no fear of meeting 4:
fate similar to that of Ananias ant
Sapphire.
By way of illustration, the Govern
or compared the returns from a few
counties. The assessment of horses il
Barton County, he said, as returned
made an average of S1S.66 per head
in Audrain, S35.71; Mcdonald, S29.4s
Ray, 1888; Dade, 1855; Vernon, $2l.
81; Warren, 1926; Wayne, $31.s1
showing that in some of the countie
producing the best horses the assess
ment is the lowest.
The Committee on Mode of Assess
ment was out only a few minutes
when it submitted the following re
port:
"Resolved, That in making assess
ments of all property on the 1st o
June. 1894, and thereafter, the Count,
and Township Assessors be requested
and advised to comply with the strie
letter of the statutes governing tn
assessment of all classes, that the tru'
value in money be placed upon sucl
property to the best of their knowl
edge and Judgment"
The report was adopted, only TIVE
votes being recorded against 1t.
Quite a lengthy recess followed il
order to afford the other committees
time to report. After an hour tn
Committee OH Horses, Mules, etc.
submitted a report making the fol
lowing recommendations in regard t,
fixing values:
Stations, sporting horses, jacks
cts, according to pedigree and record
matured farm and carriage horses
$40 per head; 2-year-old and yearlings
$50; mules, extra, SIS; common, $40
~2-year-old, $25; ~yearlings, SIS.
J. A. Harrison, of Audrain county
was placed ON the committee to val
ne horses, mules, etc, etc.