The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1906-03-30
GOVERNOR BLANCHARD SETS FORTH HIS
AIMS REGARDING THE REFORM WHICH
He IS INSTITUTING RELATIVE TO
THE EQUALIZATION OF TAX
ASSESSMENTS.
Higher Assessment, Lower Rate.
With High Assessment and Low Rate
We Could Attract immigration and
Capital, and Not Increase the Ordi.
nary Tax Roll Dollar.

throughout the State:
"The policy Of the administration
with regard to increase of assessments
having been misunderstood in some
quarters and misrepresented in others,
| deem it well at this time to clearly
and succinctly set forth what hope
to accomplish during my term Of office
as Governor in the way of reforming
the public finances.
THAT there is urgent need of reform
is, | believe, conceded by even those
who have hut a superficial knowledge
of the subject. The Constitution max
ers of 1898 had something like this in
mind when they enacted mandatory
provision enjoining upon the General
Assembly to provide system OF
equalization and uniformity in asses
ments, based upon the relative value
of property in different proportions OF
the State. The General Assembly
has never vet done this.
when | became Governor close
study of the assessment question con-
WINGED me that the inequalities of that
system. as then operated, created an
urgent demand for reform. The Wis
ible property of the small taxpayer.
such as land holdings and real estate.
was being taxed to meet the demands
of government, while much of the in
visible property of the well-to-dO,
such as taxable shares and other Sc
curities, was escaping its Just share of
the burden of taxation.
81 found, too. that property was no.
toriOusly under assessed throughout
the State. In addition to this, | saw
that as the assessment system Oper-
ated: one man holding land of the
same relative character, productive
ness and value as that of his neighbour
paid more into the State treasury in
the wav of taxes than his neighbOr,
and this, because of inequality of as
sessment. Lands of the same quality
and character in adjoining parishes
bore different assessments. This was
manifestly unfair and opposed to all
theories of equal division of the bur-
dens of government. Yet the system
had existed for many years.
"Louisiana with, | believe, 81, 2OO,-
600, 900 of assesSable property, had an
aggregate assessment of less than
1851 200, 600 when | became Governor.
| deemed it my duty to do what [ could
to equalize the burdens of government,
in order that these burdens might fall
with equal weight, proportionately to
holdings, on all taxpayers. 1t was
not my purpose, nor has it ever been
my purpose, to increase the burdens
of taxation.
THE plan | adopted was to gradu-
ally increase the assessments of prop.
erty, and at the same time gradually
reduce the rate of taxation. 1t has
been represented that [. advocated
raising the aggregate assessment of
the State at once from 800, 100000 to
$500, 100000. This is not true. The
assessments in Louisiana should be
increased gradually, and as assess.
ments go up the rate of taxation
should 90 down. The work of gradu.
ally increasing assessments to some
thing like the actual cash value OF
property, as the law commands, should
be run through this administration
and the next, and perhaps beyond
But beginning should be made now
To get the assessments up from $500
600, 900 TO $500, 900, 600 and the rate o.
taxation down to two and one-hal
miles for the State and four for par
ish, municipal and district taxes each
is recognized by me to be work tina
must necessarily extend through from
five to eight years.
San aggregate assessment of$S, 900,
100000 for the State is hoped for al
an ultimate result, not an immediat,
result. 1t is only when the rate of tax
alton has been sufficiently reduced by
the Legislature to warrant it that thu
aggregate assessment in Louisiana
can ever reach that sum. But before
the Legislature can begin to reduc,
the rate a material increase in assess
ments must be shown.
my purpose is not to add to, blu
to equalize the burdens of the govern
ment, and at the same time enhanc
the material interests of the State.
"My idea is that at present we ar