The true Democrat., 1912-10-19


aration of the objects of state, par
;sh and municipal taxation, desira-
bic?
The opinion that it is has been
growing stronger and stronger until
i seems to be practically admitted
by all.
The most obvious advantage in seq
legation, particularly as applied to
in this state, is that It
will eliminate the principal source
of inequality in taxation, the Unequal
ity of contribution by the parishes
10 the revenues of the state by rea-
son of the inequality of assessments.
The authority to tax may be the
power to destroy, but the authority
to assess is the power to destroy
taxation itself.
With local assessments of subjects
CT state taxation, we have the 0pp0r-
tunity for localities to practically de-
termine how much they shall con-
tribute to the revenues of the state.
Under our present system, which
permits this, we have seen a parish
with its property assessed as low
as 80 per cent of its value, paying
half as much of the state tax as IFS
neighbor with an assessment OF 60
per cent. With segregation this in
equality ceases-is impossible-and
without segregation it will continue
No Board of Equalization that was
ever devised will reconcile assess
ments between the parishes under
our present system of taxation, be-
cause in the nature of things it can
not be done
The local assessor cannot serve
two masters.
This recommendation of segrega
ton is all sufficient, but it has 9th
e. advantages.
Segregation gives complete con
troll of taxation for local purposes tt
the several localities Taxes from
the property set apart to them De
long to them, and are shared witt
none. And the segregation is so in
tended that what more particular!
fits in with home rule is left to tht
towns and parishes, and that Whlcf
belongs to state uses and represents
the more general welfare and prog
ress, is set apart to the state.
Segregation also protects state-Wld
interests from excessive local taxa
ton. This danger is recognized il
our present system which provide
board to assess railroads, express
companies, etc.
Segregation also preserves to tn
communities the benefit Of purely L
cal endeavor, which stimulates to fdl
ther effort, and prevents other sec
tons of the state from sharln
through state taxation in increase
values to which they have not con
| tributed.
To enumerate all the possible id
VantageS of segregation would max
| this article too long. Sufficient ha
been suggested to recommend h
principle to the voters.
If a principle of taxation is COZ
rect this alone ought to recommen
| it. But the fear of experiment i
what affects us so vitality calls 10
an examination of the plan of sef
regation proposed, and an inquiry il
to the necessity of a change in ou
system of taXation-for we dlsl!k
changes.
Whether our present system
good, bad, or Indifferent, it is eel
| tainly inSufficient-We have on
grown it. It's inequalities and fault
should suggest change, and no
its failure to furnish sufficient re'
enue make one imperative, unles
We want to see state taxation raj
ed.
We lately reduced state taxation
but it has climbed up again, and b
the adoption of the Confederate pei
sion amendment, which will recaiV
unanimous support, we VIII nav
gone beyond the six mill limit. E
eryone who has ever served on a.
preparation committees Of the LIE
:sature in the last few years know
that there are increasing demand
| on the funds of the state Whit
must have recognition.
, If the state is to meet the just d
mands made on it, it must have mo-
revenues. We know the present sy
tenn will not provide them unless v
raise the rate of taxation, or asses
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