The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-16
TALKING TO ASSESSORS
GOVERNOR AND TAX COMMISSIONERS
MAKE ADDRESSES.
immortality of the Tax-Dodger En-
iarged UpOn-Taxing Building
and Loan Stock.

and Loan stock.
Every county in the State with the ex-
ception of Gibson was represented in
the meeting of the county assessors that
assembled at 10 o'clock yesterday morning
in the hall of the House of Representa-
tives. Governor Mount presided and J. 3.
Buskirk and l. N. Walker, of the board of
State tax commissioners delivered the lead
ing addresses of the day. At the close of the
afternoon session the conference resolved
itself into d number of committees, to each
of which was assigned as a subject some
species of personal property upon which to
report to-day a uniform method of valua-
ton. These committees held sessions last
evening in various rooms in the Capitol and
will report this morning at o'clock to the
full conference.
COMMITTEES ANNOUNCED.
These committees are as follows:
Live Stock-Stafford Maxon, EIkhart; J.
T. Newhold, Clinton; Mr. Farrar, Union
William Athon, Vigo; F. M. Johnson, Dear
porn; c. b e; MCDANIEL Parke; John B. Nc
Farm Products, Agricultural Implements
and Machinery-H. l. Billingsley, Mont
Henry Duncan, Decatur; J. r.. Pope, Law
renee; F. e. Walters, Sullivan.
Merchandise and Manufactured Products
VIII s. Stewart Delaware; William H.
Dfedrick, Vanderburg; Thomas Greer, AL
LEM Henry Helmkamp, Tippecanoe
IL mas Winslow, Grant; Michael Walsh,
Banks and Building Associations-Al-
pheus G. Compton, Wayne; j. G. Terrell,
Kosciusko; John D. Morgan, Monroe: Sher-
man White, Newton; Antonio L. Surface,
Household Furniture. Musical Instru-
ments, etc.-Benjamin Wertenberger Wa
bash; Richard Butler, Whitley; George w.
wooden Owen; II. L. Kiphart, Johnson;
Oil Wells, Gas Wells and Pipe Lines
Jonn w. Dragoo. Delaware; John c. Haas
Madison; p P. Wade, Pulaski; Amos Car
son, Hamilton; II. c. Haskell. Upton.
Ice in Storage-James E. Boswell, Marion;
James Spaulding, Lake; c. M. Dood, La
porte; Charles .. Sisson. Fulton; William
Starke
Unsecured Notes, Loans and Bona Eide
Johnson. Spencer; ]. M. Stork. Knox; o.
f. Parkam, Lagrange; William Reagan,
Floyd; Elias Chist, Adams; r. w. Holman.
Dog Laws-J. c. Herrod Putnam; w. t.
Powell Rush; Joseph McClain. Scott; r. r.
Caldwell, Boone; William A. Wright, Foun-
Revision of Laws--Thomas B. Buskirk.
tax commissioner; B. f. Williams, Wabash,
): M. Bonham, Noble; D: j. Slick, o.. Jo
Clark; James ID. Pratt, Hendricks.
THE GOVERNOR TALKS.
The Governor, in calling the conference
to order, made a short address in which he
said:
Governments are organized for the well
rare of the governed. Civilization cannot ex-
ISL without law. Laws must be enacted by
legislative bodies and enforced in courts of
justice. Free government cannot endure
without intelligence, hence the need of
schools. The spirit of love and charity in
spires TO philanthropic deeds and demands
institutions of benevolonce and charity.
The laws must be enforced and lawbreakers
punished, thus making prisons and reform
Therefore, it is manifest that the welfare of
mankind cannot be promoted without the
institutions of state, and these cannot be
maintained without expense. To meet this
needed expense, tax laws are enacted and
officials created to enforce them. To this
responsible work. gentlemen, you have been
selected. To this meeting you have been
called that you may adopt plens and formu-
late methods for an equitable and faithful
discharge of your responsible trust. Your
efforts should be to follow the mandates of
law and the dictates of conscience, rather
than the demands of self-interested men.
From the days OF the Roman taxgatherer
in Palestine to this good hour, there never
has been, and never will be, perfect accord,
either as to methods or subjects for taxa
ton. The disfaVor of taxation is, however,
are adopted for assessment and collection,
and the money thus collected honestly and
economically expended.
The tax laws of our State are generally
admitted to be wise and just Governors of
other States are recommending the enact
ment of many of the prominent provisions
of our tax laws. The tax laws of our State
lay upon you the duty of assessing all prop
erty Your official oaths, 1 doubt not, will
be discharged without fear or favor. The
wealthy syndicate, with its mighty infiu-
ence. the corporation with its power should
neither be objects for unjust taxation nor
the recipients of favor. The tax assessors,
together with the Tax Commissioners of In
diana, are to be congratulated upon the
faithful manner in which they have dis
charged their official duties The immense
amount of intangible property that escapes
taxation in some of the States merits and
is meeting the condemnation of patriotic,
honest men,"
The Governor then quoted largely from
the address on taxation recently delivered
by General Harrison at Chicago, which was
an argument to show the growing DISPOSE
ton to escape the tax assessor. Conttnu-
ing. the Governor said:
HConditions are not so bad in Indiana as
are found in many other States, and trust
by your vigilance and the good laws of our
State never will be. If money, notes, bonds
and securities escape taxation, this does not
warrant the listing of real estate or tangible
personal property below its true, cash value.
The duties incumbent upon you are to turn
on the search light, bring out the hidden
property and assess all property, personal
and realty, at it's true cash value.
After the Governor had finished his re-
marks he was chosen as permanent chair
man of the conference, and w. Fl. Hart,
secretary Of the State Tax Board, was made
secretary.
Attorney General Ketcham made an in
formal talk, in which he said that the the
DRY of the Constitution demanded that all
property should be taxed. mo system is
fair" said he. that does not reach out and
take in everything that can be found. IL
something escapes, the burden must rest on
something that has not escaped; the burden
is rolled off one shoulder to some other
shoulder OF 81, 500, 900 900 of personal prop
erty in Indiana only 81, $50 100000 is placed on
the duplicate, every piece tatlt goes to make
UP the amount that is assessed bears 20 per
cent more than it ought to bear. Where
that is done the man that is honest is COM
PEELED to carry just that much more of
burden than he ought to carry"
William d. Owen, secretary of state, also
made a short talk. He said that taxation
had caused more than one storm center in
history, and instanced the Cuban trouble
as having been caused by. oppression and
unjust taxation. He said that the assessor
had a fundamental place in the structure of
the government, and that the work com
mitted to him is most important one. Mr.
Owens remarks closed the morning ses-