The Indianapolis journal., 1894-03-16
NOW THEY ARE READY
The County Assessors i'm Shape
for Their Spring Opening.
They Arrange Programme for the En-
tertainment of the Taxpayers
The Valuations Fixed.

ference. This, at least, is the way the Tax
Commissioners and assessors look at ii, and
they feel that the beneficial results of their
meeting will be made apparent later. OF
the ninety-two counties of the State eighty
eight were represented yesterday. Barthol-
omew, Randolph Wayne and Kosciusko
were the only counties not represented.
AS soon as the session opened yesterday
the committee on live stock submitted it's
report and, after motion to consider it by
sections and classes had been defeated it
was adopted as a whole, as follows:
Horses-Heavy draft horses: First grade
$500 to 500 each; second, $500 to $780, third,
500 to $500. governed by the breeding quail
ties and individuality. Light draft stallion
ond. $500 to $500; third. 5000 to $780, governed
by the speed shown, individuality and breed
ing; General purpose stations: First grade
500 to $500; second, 500 to $500, governed by
the breeding. General purpose work horses:
First grade, four TO ten years old, $50 TO $50;
younger and inferior horses in the same pro-
portion. Roadsters and speed horses from
500 to $780, speed and individuality to gov
ern. Jacks from 800 to $780, Mules. three
and older ones in the same proportion.
Cattle-Registered beef: Bulls, $25 to $500;
so to 800 each; cows and heifers, S25 to
$50 Fat cattle. Export. 81 a hundred
gross weight; shippers. 50; butcher, $3.50
oxen. from $40 to S75 a yoke.
Sheep-Registered, S. to $25; common, 81
70 81.
Hogs-Registered, 80 to s75; common stock
ers and feeders, $3.50 hundred.
Chickens.noBlooded and fancy. 81 to s.;
common, 81 a dozen; ducks. 50 a dozen
geese, 81 a dozen; turkeys, Sc a dozen.
Honey bees, from 81 to 50 stand.
FARM PRODUCT VALUES.
There was quite discussion of the report
of the committee on farm products, agri-
cultural implements and machinery, many
of those present holding that as the value
of the products differs widely in the various
portions of the State the assessors should
be given a great deal of latitude A few
amendments were agreed to and the re-
port as adopted is as follows:
Wheat No. 2, 40c per bushel; corn, 25 to
40c; rye, 35c; barley, 35c; oats, zoe; potatoes
40c timothy seed, 81. so; clover seed 81; flax
seed, 75c; timothy hay, Sc a ton; clover, 81;
lard, Sc; wool, 15c; tobacco. to sc; maple
sugar, &c; beef, per barrel, IS; pork, $40;
sorghum molasses. 25c; maple, 75c.
The assessment of TOOLS farming imple-
ments and machinery was left to the town.
ship assessors who will be instructed by
the county assessors to personally view all
such property.
When the report of the committee on
merchandise and manufactured products
came up there was a long discussion the
assessors all agreeing that it was a matter
of the greatest difficulty to get at the
actual cash value of articles under these
heads, and, for that reason, they were not
taxed as heavily as they should be. The
committee reported in favor of assessing
some class of goods at 100 per cent and
others at 50 and 60 per cent
Mr.. Thompson moved to amend by pro-
viding that new manufactured articles in
stock be assessed at 60 per cent. of the
tail price. After some discussion this mo-
ton was withdrawn. Mr.. Ryker, one of the
committee. who dissented from the rest of
its members. made a statement of his po-
sition, saying that he was strongly in favor
of listing all lines of merchandise at 80 per
cent. of the invoiced value.
Mr.. Custer moved to amend the report by
striking out the rates reported and making
the report read: "All lines of merchandise
shall be listed at 80 per cent. of the invoiced
value" The amendment was agreed to, and
the report as amended. was then adopted.
PROPERTY OF BANKS
The report of the committee on banks
and building and loan associations was
adopted. 1t is follows
prepaid building and loan certificates,
drawing a stipulated interest and nopar-
ticpating, shall be assessed to the owner.
All loans made by building and loan asso-
citation upon personal security and the cash
hand on the 1st day. of April shall be
personal notes shall be listed at their true
cash value A note well secured and draw
ing per cent. interest is worth 100 cents
on the dollar. Abstract books shall be as
sessed by the township assessor and Board
of Review upon information furnished by
the owner, the assessment being based on
their earning capacity. Horse protection So
| cieties shall be regarded as benevolent as
sociations. Property owned by benevolent
| associations, and used for other than beneV-
| olent purposes, shall be listed for taxation:
| Only special deposits of greenbacks shall
| of corporations shall be based on the cap
ital stock and earning capacity. The value
of bank stock for assessment snail be de-
| termined by adding TO the capital stock the
surplus and undivided profits Private banks
shall be assessed on the residue OF credits
after deiuctng the amount of Indebtedness
added TO cash on hand, cash on deposit with
| other banks and the value Of fixtures.
Mr.. Gable requested that the regular or
der of business be dispensed with, and that
he be permitted to ask for certain informa-
| ton from the Attorney-general relative to
insurance policies or other insurance secur-
| tiles The request was granted, but the
| Attorney-general did not feel warranted In
| giving an off-hand opinion, SAYING gIag & tnat II
| desired he would prepare AN official opinion
to submit on or before April i.
ON HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE.
The first report of the committee on
| household furniture, musical instruments,
sewing machines libraries and billiard Ia
bles favored assessing furniture. musical
instruments, sewing machines and libraries
| at 60 per cent of their original cost for
the first two years of use, and after that
| according TO their respective value on the
| same basis. Billiard and pool tables were
| recommended to be assessed at so per cent.
of their original cost for the first three
years of use, and after that according TO
| their respective value on the same basis.
| The committee found that the best tables
| cost $500 and common ones $50. Saloon
| fixtures were recommended for assessment
| IDOn the same basis as billiard tables. This
| report did not meet the approval of the
| meeting, and, on motion of State Tax Com
| missioner Walker, 1t was recOmmltted 10
| the committee, with instructions TO report
| that the property included in 1t be listed
| at the true cash value and that the age
| and wear Of the property be taken into
| consideration at the time of listing. Sub
| the further suggestion that the county as
| SCISSORS impress on the minds of the town
| ship assessors the Importance of a personal
| inspection of the articles in question. Thls
| last report was adopted.
| The committee on gas weels, oil wells.
| pipe lines. forestry and mining reported
| the following valuations which, after being
amended by scaling the values fixed on
| pipe % per cent. were adopted Average
| gas wells. $500 each; productive oil wells,
| 81, 600 each. Gas and oil pipe, 1g-lnch, II:
| cents per foot 24-inch, cents; 1-inch.
| cents; 1A-inch 4 cents; 1l2-inch, cents
| pinch, 9 cents; 2i9-inch u cents: 3-inch,
| Is cents; 3i2-inch, % cents; 4-inch, Y cents
| 4t5-inch. 90 cents: 5-inch, 3S cents; 6-inch
| 50 cents: Finch: SO cents; S-inch, - cents
| 9-inch, S1.1O; 10-nch $l42; 11-inch. 80; u
| inch, S21O; 13-inch. $40; 14-inch, S2S5; 10
| inch, $3.50: 16-inch, $3.50.
| Tn, committee recommended that coal