The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-02
MIR. PARK,s RESOLUTION.


1t does not seem to as that the resolu-
ton introduced into the House by Mr..
Park of Greene county is just what is
wanted to secure the reform in the assess
ment and taxation Of property that Is
needed. Mr. Parks resolution calls for
bill that will bring about the assessment
of all property. No doubt there is great
deal of property which escapes assess
ment Much personal property is not given
in for taxation, and there are wild lands
which are not taxed; but 1t would be
found on examination, doubtless, that
most of the personal property that is with
held from the tax assessor is taxed lndi-
rectly in some form or other.
The great trouble in the assessment OF
property in this state is that property is
assessed unequally. In the larger towns
property is assessed at pretty near its ac-
tual value In this city a great deal Of
property is taxed at considerably more
than it would bring at public outcry. The
same is true probably in respect to prop
erty in Atlanta and Augusta. What is
the fact in respect to assessment in many
Of the counties In which there are no
large towns?
Some time ago we took occasion to show
that in more than half of the counties the
assessment Of property is so low that
these counties get more from the state
in the shape of school and pension mon
ey than they pay into the state treasury.
That this condition of affairs ought not 10
exist no fair-minded man will deny. And
yet if we understand Mr.. Parks resolu-
ton he does not propose to remedy it. He
simply proposes to have put on the tax
books the property which now escapes tax
alton altogether. Is it not just as i'm
portant that property in one county shall
be taxed near its true value as 1t is in
another? Why should a citizen of Chat
ham county be required to pay taxes on
an assessment of his property that Is
about it's market value, while a citizen of
another county pays an assessment that
is only half of the value of his property?
If Mr.. Park is going into this matter he
should go into it thoroughly. He should
insist upon a tax law that would give gen
eral satisfaction. If we understand the
purpose of his resolution it is to reach the
personal property that is supposed to be
hidden away in the cities. 1t is right
enough for him to reach such property,
and no doubt there is considerable of 1t,
but the amount that is likely to be reach
ed is small compared to the property that
escapes taxation practically in a hundred
counties by permitting it to be assessed at
a fraction of its true value.
Several years ago there was a state
board of equalization. 1t was not a pop
ular institution, because it compelled
those counties which had been in large
measure escaping taxation to bear their
fun share of the burden of providing the
state with an adequate income. There
fore the law creating it was repealed. Is
it not some such a law as that was that
is needed at this time? Let the members
of the legislature give the whole matter
thoughtful consideration. If they do they
will likely come to the conclusion that
law that will bring to the tax receiver
property that now escapes taxation is not
all that is wanted in the way of taxation
legislation