The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1905-02-18
ASSESSMENT OF LOUISIANA.
Discussion of the Results Accomplished
by the Various Conferences of
Aaseasors Held Jan 80.
SC orleans Times-pemocrat

more uniform assessment.
The constitution requires-article
224-that taxation and, therefore,
assessment shall be equal and uni
form throughout the territorial limits
of the authority levying the tax" The
constitution further provides that Tin
order TO arrive at this equality and
uniformity the general assembly shall
at it's first session after the adoption
of this constitution provide system
of equality and uniformity in assess
ment based upon the relative value OF
property ia the different portions OF
the state. !"
This article, which is reproduced
from the constitution OF 1879, never
having been carried out, the state as
sessment has al all times been unequal
and the taxation unfair and unjust.
Various efforts have been made to
correct the inequality, and while it is
rot as great as formerly, it is still
most Objectionable and offensive, call
ing for vigorous treaemenb.
The conference of the assessors held
Jan. 30 promised some improvement.
It is impossible for gentlemen who
make it business of placing valua-
tions on property to meet and ex-
change experiences without bringing
to light some defects in existing con-
ditions. It is presumed, therefore,
that some good will result from these
gatherings. A patent defect OF the
plan is that the Improvement is pro-
posed by districts rather than for the
entire state-to establish uniformity
perhaps in the Florida parishes, OF
the Caddo or Natchitoehes or Teche
districts, but without any relation
ship to the assessments OF other parts
OF the state. But, although this plan
falls far short OF what Is desired, any
Improvement, any tendency towards
greater uniformity is desired as a
move in the right direction. If We can
get the parishes of any section to
agree TO a system Of uniform taxation
| il their relation to each other We may
hope Ia the end TO get the several dis
tricts to make similar agreement,
thus giving us complete and absolute
uniformity throughout the state.
We have heard very few details OF
these assessors meetings. The re-
ports generally declare that they were
satisfactory and that good results will
follow; but the meetings were in ex-
ecutive session, little or no informa-
ton was given out and the people
were not taken into the confidence OF
the assessors, who, being appointed
by the governor and called together In
conference by the governor, apparently
believe that they owe their allegiance
and their report only to him, and that
it is a matter beyond the public. In
this all OF the defects of the present
system, which places the assessors be-
| yond the reach Of the voters, is
brought out clearly and forcibly.
! Such facts as have come out indicate
disposition to bring up the assess
ment of the laggard parishes, those
| that are under assessed, as compared
with their neighbors, with the probable
result OF considerable increase in
the total for the state.
At the Baton Rouge meeting, for in
| stance, where ten parishes were rep
resented, including three hill parishes
East Baton Rouge and East and West
Felicians, and seven alluvial parishes,
it was decided that there should be nc
change in the assessment of one Of the
hill and two OF the alluvial parishes,
but that the others should be brought
up to the standard established by
them. 1t was shown that the same
classes of property were assessed in
/ different sections at widely different
rates, but il no case was this assess
n1ent too high.
| The conference held at Lake Charles,
which included the parishes OF Cal.
casieu, Acadia, Vermilion, Iberia, ST.
Martin, Cameron, Lafayette and ST.
Landry, agreed that land values, as
at present fixed, need not be disturbed,
except in the case OF St. Landry, which
was declared to be greatly under
assessed. A scale of assessment for
stock and similar property was agreed
on, with proper allowance where il
should be made.
It will readily be seen that if these
findings can be carried out some good
| will be accomplished, or rather some oil
the worstinequalities ofthe present sys-
] tenn will be corrected. 1t will be recog-
nized at once as serious defect of this
plan tn at these district conferences are
wholly without authority to enforce
their recommend ations-they can only
suggest: they can not order anything,
Thus in the conference held at La
] fayette, the other assessors found, in
the absence Of the assessor from st.
Landry, that land was undervalued
and undertaxed in the latter parish
a finding that is unquestionab1y true;
but they have no authority over the
delinquent, and If MIR. Dossman OF ST.
Landry does not choose to raise the
valuation Of lands in his parish it Is