The Prescott daily news., 1912-05-31

clerks of the circuit court. collectors and other county and state officers to l report information as to the assess ment of property. collection of taxes. | receipts from licenses and other sources, the expenditures of public funds for all | purposes and such information as may | be needed or desired in the work inn posed upon the commission by this Act such information to be furnished upon | such forms and upon such blanks as the | commission may prescribe
 6. To make and prosecute such re- search and investigation as to the detailed properties of corporations. the business. | income, reasonable expenditures. net earnings and true values of the fran chises of all public service corporations doing business in this State will en- | able the commission to ascertain fair | and equitable basis of assessing same and of making and recommending proper | legislation to the Legislature from time to time. and to direct the local assess ing officers in assessing such proper | ties.
 | T. TO require individuals. firms and corporations to furnish information con- | corning their capital funded or other debts, current assets and liabilities value | Of property, gross and net earnings | operating Snd other expenses. taxes and other charges and such other facts as may be needful and desirable to en- able the commission to ascertain the value and relative burdens of taxation l borne by all kinds of property in the | State.
 &. To cause the depositons of wit | nesseS residing within or without the State. or absent therefrom to be taken upon notice to the interested parties in l like manner as depositions are taken in civil actions pending in the circuit or | chancery court in any matter which the commission shall have authority to | investigate and determine.
 9. To investigate the tax systems of | other states and countries and to formu- late and recommend such legislation as may be deemed expedient to prevent evasion of the assessment and tax laws and to secure just and equal taxation throughout the State.
 10. To prescribe and prepare all necessary interrogatories and questions to be answered by taxpayers and persons of each county, and the forms upon which the lists prescribed by this Act I are to be made.
 II. To consult and confer with the Governor and Attorney General of the State upon the subject of taxation. ad- | ministration of the laws relating thereto | and the progress of the work of the commission, and to furnish said officers from time to time such information and assistance as they may desire.
 | 12. To transmit to the Governor and to each member of the General Assem- bly,. thirty days before the biennial ses- sion of the Legislature. the report of the commission covering the subject of | assessments and taxation in the State | together with such measures as may be formulated for the consideration of the | Legislature.
 Section s2 The Arkansas Tax Com mission shall keep an accurate record of all official proceedings It shall also keep seal upon which shall be the impression. The Arkansas Tax Com mission All processes or certificates | iSSna1 hV the commission ho1l ha r. tested by said seal. Copies of the rec ords of the commission, certified by the secretary and attested by the seal of l the commission shall be received as evidence with the like effect as copies of other public records The secretary of the commission shall be the custodian of the seal and records. and be au- | thorized to affix the seal in all proper cases The secretary or any member of the commission shall have the power to administer oaths in all matters con- corning the proceedings of the commits sion or its official duties
 Section S3 The commission shall pro- vide a uniform method of keeping the tax rolls and books relating to taxation in each county of the State. They shall formulate and send to the proper off cer of each county all necessary forms by this Act provided to be used in the listing: assessing. return of property. collection of taxes. Said commission or one of them shall from time to time as often as may be necessary. visit each county in the State for the purpose of requiring the proper assessment and re- turn of property, a uniform value there of, and the use of forms and system of keeping accounts provided by law or by the commission
 Section S5. Section 12 of Act 257 of | the Acts of 1909. approved May 12, 1909. shall be amended so as to read as fol- lows:
 Section 12. The Arkansas Tax Com mission as hereby created shall consti- n Ifv, ffs,v, nv.I shall equalize the valuations and as- | sessments of property throughout the State It shall meet at the State capital on the first day of September of each year for the purpose of equalizing the assessments of the real and personal property of the State. The commits sion. as State board of equalization may. in its discretion sit at any other place in the State 1t may deem advisable | for the purpose of making investiga- tions or granting hearings relating to the work of equalizing the property of the State. The session of the commission as State board of equalization shall continue from the first day of Septem- Der to the fifteenth day of October each the Arkansas Tax Commission shall have the following powers and shall be governed by the following rules:
 l. To hear appeals from individuals, firms and corporations from the orders and judgments of the several county boards of supervisors of assessments and to grant such relief as may be deemed just and proper.
 | 2. They shall add to the aggregate valuation of the real property of every county which they find to be valued below it's true. full and proportionate value in money such per cent as will bring the same to its true, full and pro- portionate value in money.
 | 3. They shall deduct from the az gregate valuation of the real property of every county which they find to be valued above it's true. full and propor- sionaue nat, value value m money such per cent