Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1903-02-26
Publication of Assessment Lists.

| ENiucutly tu6 othto i lhA SOuluIo-
sion endorse the bill introduced by
Representative Golden to require the
publication OF all assessments. The
following extract from their report on
this subject leaves little doubt as to
the wisdom of such provisions:
1.-The publication of assessment lists
prior to the meeting of the County
Board of Equalization would have a
good effect. 1t would direct attention
TO the manner in which property had
been assessed, and would enable each
taxpayer to compare his own assess
ment with that of his neighbor.
1.-The assessor would probably be
more careful in his work if he knew
it was to be criticised and examined
in each neighborhood of his county.
Property, too, that escapes tax
alton would more likely find place
upon the tax books if it was under
stood that publicity would be given to
the assessment lists
every citizen has the right to
know that others are paying their due
proportion OF the taxes. His own
burdens are increased unless others
pay their shares.
"The general discussion of the lists
in the neighborhood would tend to
create public sentiment and would iu-
duce better assessments. Under the
present system the public has no way
of making an investigation unless each
individual taxpayer goes to the county
seat and examines the assessors book. y
The following language from the ad.
dress of ex-President Harrison, herein
before referred to, may be appro'
priately quoted here:
awe have too much treated the mat.
ter OF mans tax returns as a per-
sonal matter. We have put his trans
actions with the State on much the
same level with his transactions with
his banker, but that is not the true
Ebass. Each citizen has personal
interest, pecuniary interest, in the
tax return of his neighbor. We are
members of great partnership, and
it is the right of each to know what
every other member is contributing tc
the partnership and what he is taking
from it. 1t is not private affair; bu
public concern of the first import
ance."
"If such a publication should bt
made, it should be so as to give tht
widest possible notice of the contents
of these lists.
"Johnson county. just prior to thu
assessment in June, 1901, adopted ;
plan of publishing the total persona
assessment of each taxpayer for th
preceding year. The same thing wa
done just prior to the assessment il
1902. The first publication cost $25'
and the second $780,"
G. A. Broyles, Esq, the county clerl
of that county, kindly furnished tn
Commission with the following state
ment:
1.-The figures below give the valu
of our personal property for fou
years back and you may draw you
own conclusion, to-wit:
aggregate value as of June l
1899, $2,319,125; aggregate value a
of June 1, 1900, $2,367, 95S; aggre
gate value as Of June l, 1901, $2,599,
035; aggregate value as of June l
1902, $2,723, 190."
1.-The only question about the pub
lication of such lists is the matter o
expense, which will depend upon con
ditions in each county. Itwould prob
ably be best for the statute to author
ize the County Court to publish sucl
, lists month before the meeting of tn
County Board of Equalization, pro
vided the aggregate cost will not ex
: ceed certain amount to be fixed b.
law, and then leave the matter 0
publication to the discretion OF tn
County Court. Missouri State Tra
bune.