The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-03-22

unanimously agreed upon certain changes
OF the law that will producce more
equitable result In personal property tax
alton. These changes involve merely the
presentation of an account OF ones i'm
debtedness as well as OF ones property to
enable him to be relieved from taxa
tion upon his personal estate,
and also particularly that
when person assessed upon
personal property for the first time shall
receive notice OF such intended assess
ment. And further, that tangible per-
sonal property shall be required TO sus-
tain its share of the burdens of taxation
in the localities Where il miy be found.
Ii is proper here to state that the Board
gave considerable attention TO the ''single
tax theory" so-called, and had the pleas
ure OF listening 90 some OF its ablest ad-
vocates, including the Hon. Thomas q.
Shearman, OF New York. But the board
believe that. as they were primarily re-
quired TO suggest Immediate relief from
the Ill effects OF the existing inequalities
OF taxation and TO suggest new sources of
revenue. the subject of a "single tax, to-
gether with other kindred subjects, would,
be better considered by the Legislature
at some future day.
In relation TO the obtaining of revenue
from new sources the board desires to
make several recommendations, as more
fully appear in the bills presented
herewith. Investigation has shown
that nearly every State in the
Union provides for the direct taxa
tion OF quasi pu bile corporations, and
that very many of the states have for
years had in operation so-called 'col-
lateral inheritance law" To control these
matters OF corporation taxation there has
been established in each of such states a
department of taxation control. In some
states the duties are performed by one per-
son called a "tax commissioner" and
assisted by corps of clerks, and in most OF
the other states by board of three or more
persons called Estate assessors" The
board believe that il would be not
only necessary course TO pursue
in the matter of the taxation Of
quasi pu blic corporations, but an econom-
icai one TO provide for a board of three
State assessors to have control OF all
direct State taxation and they prepared
a bill embodying this recommendation.
To avoid the possible constitutional as
we'll as other objections to the taxation OF
quasi-pubiic corporations, upon the
basis of their gross receipts. the board,
after careful examination of
the system now In operation in Mass
chusetts is the most equitable one that
has yet been enacted into law, and have
therefore adopted the same so far as ii is
applicable 10 our general system OF tax
alton.
They have also framed a collateral in
heritance law" so-called, and law for
the taxation of building and investment
companies, based upon the experience OF
other States in connection with
those subjects and the decisions
OF the courts pertaining thereto.
And such laws have been carefully framed
to conform TO the requirements OF our
constitution.
BY the adoption of these laws the Board
believe that the State Will derive a con-
siderable pecuniaiy benefit and without
hardship to any of the citizens of the
State.
A feature of the appointment of board
of State assessors, IL the law suggested
by the board prescribing their duties be
enacted, would be the more frequent
valuation OF the ratable property of the
cities and towns for State taxation. This
would not only be more equitable than
the present method of having n
revaluation once in fifteen or twenty years,
but decidedly more economical, and
would thus seem to commend itself to all
those communities which desire TO pay
tax only upon the fair cash value of
their property.
In the preparation Of the laws which
accompany this report the board has been
very careful TO avoid, as far as possible,
the introduction of any new matter which
has not, to some extent at least, been
passed upon by the courts, and also to
avoid the presentation OF such radical re-
forms as would be obnoxious to true
Rhode Island conservatism.
In completing their labors the board
beg leave to refer TO the fact that the mat
ters given TO them for their consideration
are probably the most prolific discussion
OF any which agitate the pub
lie mind, and that any delays
in the presentation of their find
ings to your honorable body have been
ocoasioned by the exhaustive considera-
tion required on account OF the different
opinions held by the members OF the
board, and 1t Is with much pleasure that
the accompanying bills are presented with
the approval OF the entire board.
The Change Suggested.
Accompanying the report are the fol-
lowing bills for acts and amendments to
acts relative to all the tax regulations
which are of interest to every individual
citizen OF Rhode Island who is assessed
on real or personal property.
An Act in Amendment OF Chapter 81
Of the Public Statutes.
Section l. The electors in each town
shall, on their town election day In 1893,
elect three assessors of taxes, one to
hold office for one year, one for two
years, and the ocher for three years,
and at the annual town election
thereafter, In each year, shall elect one as
SCISSOR for the term OF three years, and in
case OF a failure TO elect on the day of any
such annual election, such assessors shall
be elected at an adjourned meeting.
Sec. 2. Whenever there shall be va
cancy in the Office of assessor, caused by
death, resignation, neglect or refusal TO
qualify, or other cause, the town council
shall fill the same until the next annual
town election, when an assessor shall be
elected, to hold Office for the unexpired
term.
An Act I'm Amendment of Chapter 43
of the Public Statutes.
Section /. Section I of Chapter 43 OF
the Public Statutes is hereby amended so
as to read as follows:
" Section l. The electors OF any town,
qualified To vote on proposition
10 impose a tax, when legally assembled,
may levy tax for the purposes
by law, on the ra table prop
erty of the town, either in a sum certain,
cor in sum not less than a certain sum
and not more thnu a certain sum, or in
certain percentage on the valuation OF
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