The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1906-03-23

"uItC muCu Va tuC iuSiStUlC PAoP
erty of the well-to-do, such as
taxable shares and other securi-
tiles, was escaping its just share
of the burden of taxation.
81 found too, that property
was VIGOROUSLY under assessed
throughout the State. In addi-
ton to this. saw that as the as
sessment system operated one
man holding land of the same
relative character, productive
ness and value as that of his
neighbor, paid more into the
State treasury In the way of taxes
than his neighbor, and this, be-
cause of inequality of assessments.
Lands of the same quality and
character in adjoining parishes
bore different assessments. This
was manifestly unfair and OPP
posed to all theories of equal d.
vision of the burdens of govern
ment. Yet the system had ex-
islted for many years.
Louisiana, with. l believe,
twelve hundred million dollars of
accessible property, had an aggre-
gate assessment of less than $751;
900, 900 when 1 became Governor.
/ deemed it my duty to do what I
could to equalize the burdens of
government, in order that these
burdens might fall with equal
weight. porportlonally to hold
ings, on all taxpayers. 1t was not
my purpose, nor has it ever been
my purpose, to increase the bur-
den of taxation.
1.-THE plan I adopted was to
gradually increase the assess
ments of property, 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 $780,
900, 900 to $500, 900, 900. This is
not true. The assessments in
Louisiana should. be increased
gradually, and as assessments 60
up the rate of taxation should 90
down. The work of gradually
increasing assessments to some
thing like the actual cash value of
property, as the law commands,
should be run through this adj
ministrstion and the next, and
perhaps beyond. But a begin
ming should be made now. To
get the assessments up from
800, 900, 900 to $500, ZOO, 900 and
the rate of taxation down to two
and one-half mills for the State
and four for parish, municipal
and district taxes each, is recog-
nized BY me to be q work that
must necessarily extend through
from five to eight years.
"An aggregate assessment of
$500, 900, 900 for the State is
hoped for as an ultimate result,
not an immediate result. It is
only when the rate of taxation
has been sufficiently reduced by
the Legislature to warrant it that
the aggregate assessment in Lou
isiana can ever reach that sum.
But before the Legislature can
begin to reduce the rate a ma
terial increase in assessments
must be shown.
s'My purpose is not to add to,
but to equaIize the burdens of
government, and at the same time
enhance the material interests of
the State.
''My idea Is that at present wei
are 1t the wrong end of the line.
Instead Of having . low assessment
and high rate Of taxation the very|
reverse should be the case. With
} high assessment and low rate of
taxation We could attract immi-
grafton and capital and, at the
,ame time, not increase the ordi-
nary tax roll = single dollar.
'Reforn Is : plant of slow |
|rowth and. as / have said, we
'annot hope to accomplish this in |
10 o. three, or even , half |