The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-09-19

share alike the benefits accruing from proper administration of the laws. for which this revenue is raised m other words. the law should impose ana think does impose, upon every one responsibility to share in maintaining government, and that law is defective that places a burden upon one class which Is not carried by all.
 Taxes levied upon property shouid be- equal and all property should be assessed, and taxes paid upon its value without regard to ownership. and all species of property in the State should bear its equal share of taxation.
 Revenue being raised directly from the people 1t should be returned to the people in whosesome laws properly ad- ministered in which all should share alike its benefits.
 An occasional inventory by the State of it's institutions and its liabilities for the proper and economical ad- ministration of it's affairs, would enable us to know how much revenue ought to be raised and the amount ot revenue so raised should not exceed the liabilities of such government for its proper and economical administration. We would impress upon all the responsibility of everyone to contribute to this government under revenue laws. equally as they own property, and receive benefits accruing from a well organized and properly administered government
 All share Holders.
 Thus all are alike share holders in the fund, and have accordingly the same holdings. and entitled to the same interest in the development of our State. For the object of government is not to give the worthy and well do a comfortable and easy time, but Is 10 develop all of it's citizenship bring peace and prosperity to all alike, and guard alike the life liberty and proper ty of all of its people in the enjoyment of life and liberty. Thus being the object of revenue given from the earn ings and holdings of all. should be zealously guarded and properly expend- ed for our development and prosperl- ty. The revenues of Alabama are raised in the following way:
 First-By a levy of taxes on all real and personal property situated within the State. upon which. tax or six and one-half mills Is paid. The revenue derived from this source for the current year is $2.2S9, 145.62 The value of property in the State being $374671,927 of this amount $1.072.3O4.14 was received for the public schools the same being three mills of the tax levy The sum of $357,016.6s was received In pensions to worthy Confederate soldiers and their widows, the same being one mill of the tax mill. The sum of $S59,S24.79 was received on the ad- ministration of the laws and mainten- ance of the general government. the same being two and one half mills or such tax levy
 Assessors' Duty.
 Under our laws this assessment Is made in the main by the body of men a SFu~ md Ghnnld your pleasure and is your duty to see that assessments in your County are equal according to value. and none or your citizens should bear a burden un- equal to his neighbor, judged by the real value of their holdings. and you should evolve some plan so that the object of the Tax Commission law will be effective in equaliizng the values in Alabama I know that 1t is the earnest desire of the State Tax Com mission to equalize the taxes in all the counties and you can greatly aid the Commission in this arduous un- dertaking. by a careful discharge or your duties.
 Under our laws the Assessor is not merely to receive the assessment as handed him by the taxpayer. but it is made his duty to fix the value of every item, and fin careful discharge Of his duty he could see that every tax payer was equally sharing the burden and one value was. not exeessiNesao another
 The assessment of the railroad prop erty is left to Board consisting of the Governor, the Auditor, the Treasurer, the Secretary of State and the Attorney General You know the result of the assessment this year.
 Raised Valuations.
 This Board worked for weeks to find the value of this property, and assess