The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1912-1984, 1912-11-06
The Governors Statement

addres Sed to me and To an admins
trative and legislative officers of
the state. and 10 all citizens Of the
Commonwealth who are interested In
equal and uniform taxation. has been
published generally in the news
papers and contains valuable infor.
nation and important suggestions.
Gle was present ut the meetings
of the Board OF Valuation and AS
scssment. which occupied about five
months and must be wcllinformed
on the subjects TO which he refers.
"The Board Of Valuation and As
sessment. consisting OF Henry NJ.
Bosworth's State Auditor. Thomas
\. Rhea. State Treasurer. and c. +.
Crecelius. Secretary of State. did
their work well and faithfully.
"All persons who have made pro.
per investigation know that corpor-
ations in Kentucky have not been
paving their Just proportion Of the
taxes. and shcre has been unjust
aud burdensome taxation upon the
people a. compared with what has
been required 10 be paid bv the large
corporations Of our state.
IL am opposed 10 discrimination.
and believe that taxation should be-
uniform. aud the corporations and
the people assessed and taxed Justly
end fairly.
"ln nv message IL the last Legs.
lniure. | recommended the passage of
eight important bills. aud all were
enacted into law except the public
utilities bill. which gave the Cover.
nor authority 10 appoint an assess
ment and valuation commission TO
do what the existing Board Of Nalu-
alton aud Assessment has done. but
a. the member, of that board had
not under former administrations
been active. had no knowledge that
the existing board would be active
until | was rs-ured bv the member,
that they would do their duty and
be Just and fair. aud the public u,il-
ties bull was not passed.
"The existing Board OF Valuation
and Assessment based their 1912 a..
essment ON evidence of the values
placed before them ut great length.
and ] am sure they have presented
what they believe. after careful ex-
aud convincin~ proof. are
lust aud fair assessments aud of
about four hundred corporations
assessed, only eight have protested
IN the courts.
The eight suits that have been
brought against the State NAV be-
contested through the Federal and
state courts, and are Of great inn.
portance To the people and the State
treasury. They involve for the state
about four hundred thousand dollar,
and for the county aud city
taxing districts about eight hundred
thousand dollars annually. or "A To-.
tai OF about one million two hundred
thousand dollars.
Nv hen the present administration
came into effect. less than one wear
ago. the States indebtedness wa,
more than one million doiiars. With
lu~t and fair taxation the debt of
the State would soon he extinguish.
ed and | regret that important and
powerful corporations are resist
ihg the action of the Board of Nalu.
hllon aud Assessment aud .n,i-a,Or-
me Ia perpetuate taxation which
Their own admissions show 10 be I'm.
Just aud unequal.
III the corporations which have
instituted suits persist in their eff.
forts, the state Of Kentucky and the
cause of the taxpayers should be
defended IN the courts BY counsel in
every way well-eQuipped. and by all
the attorneys :a.; may b. needed TO
meet aud cope with the many able
attorneys who instituted the suits.
Il have perfect confidence in the
states interests 1T Attorney Gen.
erai Garnett and hi, three assistants
ana also IN uhe allie and welI-equip.
ped attorney, Mr.. Rich. who. bv re-
quest of the Attorney General. in
writing. ] have employed. but | will
Ne pleased 10 appoint another attor.
new or two Others, if the Attorney
GENERAL, IN writing. should ask me
to do 50, as under the law. cannot
employ counsel to represent the
state without his request.
subsection 3 of sections ll2-l5
lartlcle .. page 2lS) of the Kentucky
Statutes provides:
The Attorney General and his As.
sis'ants shall attend 10 all litigation
and business in on out of the state.
REQUIRED of him or them under this
act or ohher existing law or laws
hereinafter enacted. and also any liti'
giion or business that anv State Of
iicer NAV have in connection with or
growing out of his official duty. and
no State officer. board of trustees
or the head of any department or in
stitution of the State shall have au.
thoritv to employee or to be repre-.
scented by any other counsel or at.
torney at law. unless an emergency
arises, which. in the opinion Of the
Attorney General. requires the em.
ployment of other counsel. in order
to properly protect the interest OF
the Commonwealth. in which event
the Attorney General shall. in writ
ing setting forth reasons for such
fCootinuad AN Na~x n.n.N