The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1900-06-16
Mr.. Suberbielle
Gives His Side of the Ques-
ton, as Regards the
Much Discussed Parish
Treasurership. The
State Banks Proposition to
the Police Jury Defined.

New Iberia, La, June 18th, 1900
EDITOR OF THE IBERIAN:
In reply to the statements made
by Mr.. A. B. Romero, tOa reporter
of your paper and published in
last Wednesdays issue regarding
the action of our new Police Jury
in the matter of the Parish Treas,
urership, | desire to re-iterate that
under the proposition made to the
Police Jury by the State Bank of
New Iberia, the taxpayers would
have been saved during four years
Just little less than $4,000, and !
challenge Mr.. Romero to submit
any evidence proving the contrary.
In the first place his salary
as Parish Treasurer, $3.50 per
annum would, of course, ne dis
continued; then add the bonus of
$500 per annum offered by the
bank for thedeposistand the commits
sion paid him, amounting to . per
cent on School Board disbursements
and additional compensation for the
handling of drainage funds and
one will readily see where the tax
payers would be saved the amount
named.
In regard to the assessment Of
the State Bank which Mr.. Romero
states is $4,000, on a capital of
$4,000, he attempts to show that
the Bank is under assessed, the
ratio being about one fourth while
he claims the farmer on the con
trary is assessed on the twO-thirds
basis.
Being intelligent, / give Mr..
Romero credit for being generally
well Informed, particularly in mat
tiers with which he has had some
connection, therefore his state
ments are calculated to be mis-
leading AMI malicious. Facts,
figures and records are in evidence
to substantiate my assertions.
The capital of the State Bank
at the time the last assessment
rolls were made was $4,000 which
has since been increased, and the
collection of the new stock did
not commence befOrd November
asst. and while the subscribed capi-
tai of the Bank is $4,000, that
amount will not have been fully
paid before October first next.
The ratio of assessing bank stocks
in this Parish was fixed long be-
fore the State Bank was organic.
ed: the assessment of all Banks
beng proportionately equal. By
examining the ssessment rolls,
Mr. Romero will ascertain there
from that Banks, business prop
erty and mercantile stocks pay in
more taxes than do the
farmers. some of whose lands be-
ing held and sold at $4,000 an acre
are assessed at only one fifth their
value. A case in point is a certain
piece of farm property which | had
to price sometime ago and
which was recently sold on the bas-
is of $50. 90 per acre, exclusive OF
improvements. Reference to the
rolls will disclose the fact that
his same property is assessed at
s1O. 90 per acre; this is not an is
,olated case; most farm and planta
ton properties are taxed on the
same basis. Does it look like the
farmer is paying an undue pro-
portion of taxess No! as a matter
# fact rural property has never
,orne it's proper burden of taxation
IS compared with the ratio borne
~ town property.
While we are adjusting and equal
z,no assessments 1t might be fair
q Mr.. Romero to refer to the rolls
md ascertain if his poodle dog Is
,ot over assessed it would be unjust
you know, if he were assessed like
he farmer on a two-thirds basis.
It was highly amusing 70 me when
Mr.. Romero, who had just succeeded,
through the Vaccinations of pollti-
al bosses. in mulctlng the taxpay-
RS Of nearly $4,000, attempted to
prevail upon the Police Jury not to