The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1901-03-15
TO EQUALIzE TAXES.

sioner, of Florida, to whom was re-
ferred such legislative enactments as
were in a crude form endorsed oy
said convention, to systematic ana
put in proper form to be introduced
at the coming session of the legIsla-
ture, met in OcaIa on the 18th inst,
and we are indebted to Hon. ii. w.
Long for the following details agreed
upon by the committee:
A bill known as the Dickson bill, 10
amend the present mode of assessing
taxes to defray the expenses OF the
state and to equalize the value OF the
real and personal property of the sew
eral counties of the state. The main
features agreed upon were as follows:
| The officials of the state, instead OF
ascertaining the amount of revenue
necessary to run the state government
per year, and securing the same by
uniform millage to be assessed and
collected upon the real and personal
property of the state as assessed and
valued by the several assessors OF the
different counties; that the officials OF
| the state shall ascertain the amount
of money necessary to pay the total
expenses of the state, and after ascer-
tanning approximately the total
amount of revenue that will be col
lected from railroads, telegraph COM
panies, sleeping cars and the occupa-
ton tax, deduct that amount from
| the amount total necessary to defray
the expenses of the state government
| for one or more years, and apportlon
| the remainder among the several
counties Of the state according to the
| financial strength of said counties, as
shown by the value of the real and
| personal property contained i'll each.
| The aggregate value of the real and
personal property to be determined
| by a commission of seven, composed
| of one member from each judicial
| circuit of the state, to be appointed by
| the governor for a term of four years,
| and confirmed by the senate. The
| duty of this commission shall be to
| visit each county Of the state during
the months of July, August, Septem-
Der, October and November, and as
certain by an examination of the pub
lie records of each county, and de-
| termine from such examination, and
from any other reliable data Obtaina-
bic. the total valuation of the real and
personal property Of each county, CIV
ing said county an opportunity TO
show cause why such reduction
should be made; who shall report the
same to the comptroller the first day
January following. The amount so
app0rtioned to each county shall be
| raised by levy and assessment by the
county commissioners of the several
counties as county taxes are levied,
| assessed and collected, and forwarded
| TO tie state treasurer on a date to be
fixed. All real estate that is now re-
quired to be certified TO the state by
the collectors of revenue for nOn-pay-
ment of taxes shall be certified to the
county commissioners of the county
in which they are located. All re-
demptiOn of such lands shall DE re-
deemed from the county commission
ers of the county where located. The
advertising of the delinquent tax sale
to be paid by the counties, and % per
cent. interest, ETC., paid upon redeem
ing to be paid to the counties instead
of the state.
There are other minor details I'M
necessary to mention to give an idea
of the merits of this bill.
1t is believed by the supporters of
this bill that if it is enacted into law
one of its most sanitary effects will be
to remove any inducement by any
county officials to place low valua-
ton upon property so as to lower the
amount of taxes to be paid the state.
Another is bringing the facilities of
redeeming lands, as it were, to the
doors of those wanting to redeem.
1t is also believed that after the ma
chinery of this bill is put in working
condition that the commission need
not visit the counties Oftener than
once in ten years. 1t is to be paid
per diem for the time actually con-
sumed in its official duties.
The above bill was referred to Hon.
w. L. Palmer, of Orange, to be drawn
in proper form.
Bills amending statutory laws, fix
ing a penalty for the escape Of con-
victs; another making it a INSIDE
meanor for log carts, etc, destroying
or injuring public roads and failing to
repair the same, and fixing penalty
therefor; another making it misde
meanor and fixing penalty for in
juring or destroying shade trees with
in the right-Of-way of public roads.
were referred 10 Hon. ". X. Zewad-
ski to be drawn in proper form.
Teddy Bit His Lips.