The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-21
TAXLAW AMENDMENTS
STATE COMMISSIONERS TO PRESENT
ANNUAL REPORT TO-DAY.
Suggestions ms to Changes-The Coun-
ty Officers Fund-Report ON Tenn
perance Bill.

The State Board of Tax Commissioners
will this morning present its usual annual
report to the General Assembly and in 1t
will be found the recommendations concern
ing changes in the tax laws. The commits
sion says there should be no increase in
local taxes, and those charged with the
duty of making local levies should be held
to strict accountability, and that only
the necessary amount of revenue should
be collected for the economical administra-
ton of city. county or township affairs. 1t
Is recommended that the date of assess
ment be fixed for March l instead of April
l, so that the preliminary work of the Off
Gals can be put forward a month. The
board believes that county boards of re-
view should hold thirty days session in
stead of eighteen, and that the boards
should be increased by two members, who
shall be resident freeholders, to be appoint
ed annually by the judge of the Circuit
Court
1t Is difficult under the present law for
county treasurers to make their May set
Elements on the day required. on account of
the varying dates on which taxes be
paid before becoming delinquent. The COM
mission suggests that uniform dates be
fixed, first Mondays in April and November.
1t is recommended that the law he changed
~ % " Do SptCEdlly set Jul anu QtIlHS
what shall constitute bona fide indebtedness
to be deducted from credits in making out
the assessment sheets
The taxation OF building and loan asso-
ciation money has been a puzzling cues
ton. The commission believes that the
money invested in these associations by
periodical payment of shareholders is prop
eriy exempted from taxation. However. in
many localities the building and loan ASSOC
cations have developed into banking and
brokerage business, with paid up and
fnr 1ar 1nr
the claims that such stock is non-assess-
able. This money is invested in such stock
for the purpose of securing large rates of
interest and to enable the holders to escape
taxation. The commission shows that 1t
IS not the money of the small shareholders
who pay by the week or month. The COM
mission suggests that the paid up or pre-
paid stock be taxed. The commission wants
authority to call the assessors of the
ment of property begins to agree upon uni
form valuations, the counties to pay the
actual expenses of the assessors in attend
ing such conferences The commission con-
tinues its report as follows:
I'VE recommend that there be given full
the local assessment Of all property, whether
Incorporated or not. Such appeal shall be
open to the assessors, any member of the
and the decision of the State board shall
be binding on local officials. In some cases
State board, banks and other corporations
that have been before the board of appeal
and have had a proper assessment put On
their property, have had the assessment OF
the State board set aside and reduced by
local officials and enormous reductions made
In the assessment of the same property for
the succeeding year. There are, perhaps,
other amendments that might be suggested.
but in our opinion. it would be wiser to
await the results of greater experience be-
fore making further changes.
The greater portion of municipal taxes
are collected by city treasurers. and as
there Is no provision of law requiring them
to report these collections 1t is impossible to
show the amount of such collections The
panying tables therefore only shows the col
lections of such municipal taxes as are
made by county treasurers It Is suggested
that city treasurers be required to. report
their collections to the Auditor of State
that the whole amount of taxes collected
for all purposes may be ascertained.
There were levied for all purposes, in
year 1898, taxes to the amount of $19,054.
975.04, and that for the same year the cur
rent collections amounted to $lS,S2 ,04261,
showing delinquency of $2269 1929, but this
does not give the true condition of the
actual delinquencies for the reason that
large number of railroads which had been
of taxes levied against them paid the same
this fall, thus swelling the current collec-
lions reported the December settlement
sheets to the Auditor of State 1t is believed
that the real delinquency of current taxes
is much larger this year than heretofore,
and some legislation should be had to en-
foce the collection of the same
Whether this has been to any extent,
and IL SO, to what extent, due to the opera
ton of the fee and salary law of 1891, as
claimed by county treasurers, and what
remedy, If any, should be provided to pre-
vent its recurrence, are matters that call
rather for legislative inquiry and action than
for the recommendations of this board. We
deem it proper to call your attention to
you may consider and determine what is
best to remedy the evil.