The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1906-05-19
NV BLANCHARD'S MESSAGE

chard's message, which was reac
n the Louisiana Legislature, or
Monday last:
Reduction Of Taxation. The assess
,,ants Of the state have increased from
~ 000. ooo in leso to 1896. sd l5- il
Ioo3 and ia that time there has brel
80 change i'm the rate Of taxation
abich i i mills. Municipal. parochia
ID lavee taxes added to this maxi
. .he TAX about 80 mills. This appear,
axcassiye. but the average assessment
.hronghout the State i, only 10 pei
o a.,, of the actual value. Assess.
mantS should be equalized, anC
hronqht near the values. and taxation
,bould be reduced IN proportion. AZ
:noroase of SIG. 600. 600 was made in
easements for 1905. by equalization,
i.asad on a 800. 900. 600 assessment.
.ho FAY should be reduced to - mills.
mb;ch would Weld the same revenue as
.he s35O. 600. 900 assessment Of 1901 Il
10 assessment NJ 1906 reaches $50. :
ono, 900, and viii =" much beyond that
s,,nra the rate can be made , mills.
II may be that tt" figures Of 1906 will
;n..ify a rate Of J mills. Parish and
nunicipal taxation should also he r.
dnced to S mills It would be q crime
,gainst the taxpayer 10 keep up the
'ame rate of taxation on The Increased
a.so.smnnt as existed on the smaller
assessment Of 1901 and previous years
nrrp Won 10 use it solely a. i basis
for the reduction 1T the bilrd"n OF tan
at,n on the p~e pie. ana if Noa do
This pIedgt. yoll my word t. use tn"
rato mower If necessary to mold down
tho concentrations within the limit Of
,bo.reyenue bill NJ the end Of the
current fiscal year there will be :, cash
surplu, on hand Of about 500. 600. If
the tax is not reduced a surplus fund
should be created for the retirement of
the State debt. amounting 10 Sll. los.
roo which natures in 1914.
Licences should be changes
in the License Law. which would in
crease the States revenues from that
source from 500. 500 10 II 900. 600
Election Of Assessors Assessors, i
should be elected by the people OF the ,
parishe. instead IF being appointed /
BY the Governor: polio" juri,~ in the ;
parishes and the ity Council in New
Orleans should BE- given the right of
review to egualiIe assessments: a State
board Of equalization should be pro-
vided for to equatize assessments be-
tween the parishes. or one group Of
parishes with another group or groups.
These three things should constitute
the system and should be adopted
together. no one or two of them with
Out the third. | have given much
study and thought to the question. and
am convinced profoundly that
the change of policy from appoiptite
to elective assessors. unless accom-
panied by the creation Of State
board of of equalization of assess
ments. will result in disaster. The
present State Board Of Appraisers
could readily be empowered to act as
board of equalization The asses
sors are now the registrars Of voters
in their respective parishes except
Orlesns1 While YOU are making as J
SCISSORS elective. YOU should consider
the ACCESSIBILITY dt,irability Of separ-
ating the Office of registrar Of voters
from that of assessor. Lnetd not say i
more. The reasons for this separation i
will readily occur TO you.
Election Of Parish School Boards =
recommend the members b. elected -
The popular sentiment pt thr State
seems to favor thi, sentiment. and !
make the recommendation. | am not -
without misgivings. howensr. as To =
the wisdom Of the course suggested. j;
fear the practical result will i,e t. :
bring the public school affairs of the .,
Slate into politics fractional poll u
tics. In framing the law the Legisla- \,
lure should guard against the dangers 7
Inc selection of the parish superin- i;
endent should be made subject to the -
approval OF the State Board and the
State Board should have authority to J.,
require that a reasonable salary be -
paid him
Election OF State Board Of Apprals- 7"
ers.This Board is composed Of the
auditor and seven members. one from
edch congressional district The lat -
@F should be made elective. which
sould require constitutional amend |",
uett. This In response to the popular ~.
sish mat all officials having any '-
ming to do with assessments be made 81
elective.
Tax Collectors of Orleans-Constd- ~
Il = iiis llSu W. 1EdklHS elective
y. w seven tax collectors now appointed
lor New Orleans.
Urinary Election Law-The new
, sa should require party nomna- ~
1uus 70 De made By primary: that none hu
w. ss' oona tide adh5.'nts and support eat
~, Inc paf.s t- eligible to vote:
,Douiu punish Will adequate penalties f.,
rO os guilty OF b'iaa and frauds. A
s ss.iai leglslafly eunmittee durin" ita
IN iss ms ram If aTT which is hoped ar
H. Il meet the puj ectation Of i ma
lsc,;,.u simple, 'H". Dry primary lea
'I ra:9 law propos. Il guarded. an,
,b,,. uci,lc Dlsea An state con- fra
'oated $4,000 Of 4.r>. 1881 IL VI
~ fo- III the cam ~ against yell ~
y, ever In New o. +-.'~ aud $40. goo nv
NJ piarlshes. A state Board wy
SILL was appoin1 wi'E policy the
- saehuous Applicant E. ot preventive bra
,ssssures. Act 1872 of ,Q, q. amend wit
10y Act l5O ot Inna 80 - -