The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1906-03-21

"
could attract immigration and capita
and, at the same time, not increas
the ordinary tax roll a single dollar
Reform is a plant of slow growtl
and, as l have said, we cannot hop
to accomplish this in two or thre,
or even a half dozen years. But it il
my purpose to make a beginning i
the assessments of the present veal
warrant it. Last year. although moi
a single parish in the State was as.
sessed at over SO per cent. of the
property actually within its borders,
and many of them at as low as 33 I-3
per cent, the increase in assessments
over the year before ian increase en-
tlrely due to equalizing assessments
was in excess of $45, OOO, 900. Apply
ing the same method of equalization
to this years assessments, and taking
into consideration the natural increase
In the values of taxable property and
new properties and that whichhas here
tofore escaped taxation, we should
nave an increase this year something
like that of last year.
"1f that should prove to be the
case, it is my intention to recommend
to the General Assembly that the in
crease for the two years be employed
rs a working basis for inaugurating
q systematic reduction of the rate of
taxation. This will apply 10 State,
district, parish municipal and to
of the special taxes.
If the increase in the States az
sregate assessment for 1906 be as
arge as was that of 1905, the State
ak should be reduced by the Legis-
allure from six mills to four and a.
laif, and parochial, district and mu-
.icipal taxes from a maximum of ten
1llls each. as now, to a minimum of
even mills each. And these reduc-
Ions II the rate of State, district, pa
ochlal and municipal taxation should !.
9 made to apply to the present and f,
lbsequent years. +.
Let 1T be distinctly understood G
lat Will not stand for the increase /
assessments in 1905 and 1906 over '
years being used as a basis f
r the appropriating of more c
oney to be expended. n
NO! l wish it to be used solely as I
basis for the reduction of taxation y
ID Will urge this upon the General
ssembly. G.
THE Legislature will start with an n
crease of S45, OOO, 600 in the assess. Fl
'nts OF 1905 over 1904. When it is "
lied upon to act, in June or July Of
present year, in the way of the tt
ssage OF a revenue bill, we may not, r.
IS true, know whether or not the in ii
'ase in assessments for 1906 will be a:
proxlmately as great as was the in
'ase for 1905. But that should not tn
der action looking to reduction of m
rates OF taxation. It is easy to 90
lte Into the revenue bill that if the Sc
easements for 1906 show an increas So ex
lal to that shown for 1905. then the
9 OF State taxation for 1906 shall be st
mills, and the rate for district. or
'ochlal and municipaltaxation shall as
exceed seven mills each. va
I'M .
lnis would be running no risk
ltever, for if the increase for 1905 sat
not approximately equal that for ST,
then the old rates of taxat;on -;
I'D stand. -
But there would be no doubt of the mn,
ease If the reduction in the rates 8
were written in the laws tai
-
a Increase in assessments would s.s
Die the State, the parishes. the M,
as and cities and district Ievec ooo
IDS to get along just as we'll on the
ICED rates of taxation as thew did !
a the assessments were lower and nv
'ates higher. They would have ma,
as much money as they had when as
assessments were lower and the %
'ates higher.
there couldnot be raised against R
schem any cry that existing Nau
or obligations would be affected oro
he obligation of contracts i'm lear
on 9
spocial scnoo taxes Peri
been voted in wards and school 70 :,
lcts throughout the State, and
have been, for the most part, so A S,
mills for so many years, with In
pecifying the amount to be raised oh;,,