The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-07-16
Letters to The Editor
Tax IneQualitfes.

Editor The Advertiser:
 Will you be kind enough to grant to
 subscriber ana humble no, ppaInab,e paivatbe c na per for the purpose of giving expres. sion to some opinion upon a subject which Is at all times of interest to our TWO things are certain-death and taxes and frequently in times past the latter led to the fofmer.
 Recent expressions from members or the property in the State has hereto fore been assessed at about 30 per cent. of its cash value Some has been as sessed at 90 per cent. some at per The Commission have indicated that 60 per cent. of actual cash value will be acceptable to them. I understand also. that the Governor has intimated that he will accept the assessment ofbank stock at it's book value
 Now, why does the Commission say 50 per cent? 20 per cent? or even 10 insist that the banks should be as- sessed at a higher valuation than oth- CT corporations of the State-higher, even than that of the Railroads?
 to be governed explicitly state that all property shall be assessed at its actual cash value; not at forced sale value, but at the price at which 1t would
  erning banks just as plainly requires that this stock shall be assessed at its market value.
 never attended the Inauguration of a Governor. but I have an idea that before assuming the duties of his of fee he takes an oath to justly and impartially enforce the laws of the state The tax assessor taxes sim liar oath as to the duties of his office An oath is also required of the tax payer before his tax list is received. Are all these oaths fossil remains of
 former %th or fe are they still The Governor Is part of the law making lower of the State. in that he can recommend. approve. or veto. as in once law Is made he is under the | same bltgation to obey 1t as the hum- blest citizen within the boundaries Of | the State. I find nowhere in the Rev | enue Code of the State any authority for the Governor or the State Com mission to fix a per centage basis for the assessment of the property within the State. If these officials have the power to use their discretion, is 1t not likely that they have more power than contemplated blythe Constitution and | laws of the State? Such power in the hands of the Governor would be dan gerous. Of course the present Cover nor may be wise and impartial and above the influence of special interests but what assurance have we of being | so fortunate m the electlOn or SuCCceu- ing Governors? If 1t be within the discretion of the Governor to name a percentage basis for the assessment of taxes then 1t would be within his pow | CT to double or even treble the taxes at will; or. if he chose he could re duce them to a basis that would bank rupt the State. The present Cover nor. in his wisdom and within the dis cretion assumed. has already named one class of property which is to be assessed at higher valuation than any other property within the State A succeeding Governor may be in sym, pathy with that particular interest. and name a different class.
 I see that House bill No. 922, by MT Tunstall making 40 per cent as tho ably reported by the committed, witf an amendment naming 50 per cent as the basis To my mind this bill! oi some bill naming some rate should Dc passed I do not know whether the | requirement Jf the State would be met by 40 per cent. 50 per cent. or 60 pei cent, but certainly the Legislature l: the proper power to make the rate Il the Legislature does not see proper tt make a rate. then the laws should b' enforced as they appear upon the stat ute books. It Is due to the business interests of the State that they shoult business. This basis should be fxeC by statute, and not left to the caprice of any man or set of men.
 | Doubtless much of the anttpathy to wards taxes is~due to the fact that nt matter how good a bargain the prop | erty owner has driven with the as sessor. he is not sure but what som