The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1912-11-02
surplus and undivided profits.

Q. INSURANCE, DOndlng and surety
companies, and persons, firms and as
sociatioas engaged in the insurance,
bonding a13 surety business, exclud.
ing, however, fraternal insurance com
panles and associations, shall be tax
ed on a percentage of their gross
premiums received upon their bus
mess done in this State, less return
premiums and reinsurance in compa-
MES or associations authorized to do
business in this State The percent
age aforesaid shall not exceed three
per cent for all branches of insur-
ance, bonding and surety business,
except life and industrial insurance
and shall not exceed two per cent
for life and industrial insurance, The
special taxes to support the office of
fire marshal and fire prevention bu-
reaus shall not be deducted from the
premiums hereby authorized to be
taxed. When by the laws of any 9TH
er state or country any taxes, fines,
penalties, licenses, fees, deposits of
money or Of securities, or other obi
cations or prohibitions are imposed
on insurance, bonding or surety COM
panles Of this State doing business
III such other state or country, or up
on their agents therein in excess of
such taxes, penalties, fees, licenses.
deposits of money, or of securities
or other obligations or prohibitions
imposed upon such insurance. bond
ing or surety companies of such 9TH
er State or country, so long as such
laws continue in force the same OBJ
legations and prohibitions of Whatso-
ever kind may be imposed by the
General Assembly of this State upon
insurance, bonding or surety compa-
MES of such other state or country
doing business in this State.
7. irrigation canals shall be taxed
on a percentage not to exceed two
per cent Of their gross receipts, only
such real estate and the buildings
and structures thereon, rights of way.
machinery, tools and implements as
are necessary to the operation of
any canal shall be included in and
covered by this tax on gross receipts.
ALI other real estate and personal
property Of the owner of any canal
snail be locally assessed and taxed.
8. ALI sugar refineries, rice mills,
cotton seed oil mills, cotton seed oil |
reflnerles and refineries of petroleum
and its products shall be assessed on
the fair market valuation.
9. Until otherwise provided by the
General Assembly by vote of two
thirds Of the members elected to
each house, all operating mines Of
sulphur, salt or other minerals, all oil
or gas wells, all stone quarries, sand,
gravel and shell pits shall be taxed
upon a percentage Of the gross value
Of the product at the mouth Of the
mine, we'll, quarry or pit. This per-
cenrage shall not exceed five per
cent for sulphur; three per cent for
salt; two and One-half per cent for
Oil and gas, and two per cent for
rock and other minerals, inclusive Of
gravel, sand and shells. This tax
shall not apply to the product of any
mines, quarries or pits or oil or gas
wells, where the owner, other than
public service corporations, uses the
same for his personal purposes and
does not sell the same Or its pro
ducts or manufacture the same into /
another product for sale. Where gray
el, sand or shells are taken from the
beds of public waters, orfrom shores
not subject to private ownership, the
General Assembly may levy special (
taxes per cubic yard of material TAX !
I'll out and may levy different spec ,
Ial tax for each of said objects of
,aXatiOn. The Government of the
United States for any purposes, and /
contractors engaged in the construc- {
ion of any public work for the State I
)r for the United States solely for
he purposes Of such public work are l
authorized to take free from taxation I
gravel, shell or sand from the beds t
If public waters and the public shores
If the State. Every citizen of the
State shall have a similar right to I
AXE such materials for his own Per-
'onal use free from taxation, unless
hey are taken for sale. All real h
N-N pS'SNA'dA PAOPCI y VI lu6 Wv lISIS o
# such mines, wells, Quarries and pits :,
Except machinery, tools and nipple II
lents absolutely essential to the op- t
ration Of any mine, oil or gas well Q
tone quarry, sand, gravel or shell h
vt, and except the products them -
elves while in the hands of the pro- >
ucer, shall be locally assessed and b
aXed .
10. All real and personal property Fl
eserved for local taxation shall be
ssessed at such percentage not to
Xceed 100 per cent of its fair mar ?
et value as each local governing b
may establish, and lower b
ercentage may be established for b
ersonal than for real property or y
Or the values Of Improvements than
Or land values. 81
II. In all assessments of real prop W
rty whether for local or for State m
the value of the land shall 9,
c assessed separately from the value
I the improvements; but railroad, 81
lpe line and canal rights of way, CT
neither held in fee or under ease
lent, may be assessed separately ",
ON, or together with, the improve -
tents thereon as the Tax Commission u
lay deem most practicable. W
u. Assessments shall be arranged re
a n Nh i'm g.,