The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-08-06

After petition signed by furty-seveu
merchants and business houses ON
Palafox street, within the limits de-
| Scribed in the advertisement of the
proposed increase in the valuation OF
property had been read and after a
/ number of the property owners had
| addressed the board and entered their
protests, the matter of increasing the
taxable valuation of the property on
| PalatoX street was referred to the
| county attorney by the board of COM
! missioners last night The attorney
will thoroughly investigate the ques-
ton and give the board his opinion as
to whether or not the board has the
legal right to make the increases. He
viii report to the board at the meeting
| to be held a week from tonight
The petition of the merchants was
| presented by John p. Stokes who
| stated that he had been asked to rep
resent number of the business people
on Palafox street
Mr.. Stokes said there were two uues-
tions to be considered, the first being
| as to whether or not the board had the
legal authority to make the proposed
increase and the second being as to
whether or not it should be done az
present, even if the board did have the
right.
4l6 Sdld Tic pOdIu WIS not an as
sessing body, that right being vested
with the tax assessor under the con-
stitution and the board of commits
sioners could sit as an equalizing
board only. He read a section of the
| state code, which he construed as
showing that the board could not le-
gally make the increase.
He also called attention to the dis
| cussion which had occurred in the
| senate during the last session as TO
some means of equalizing the assess
ment of the counties over the state.
4 He said that the reports already
| showed that Bscambia and a number
I OF the other larger counties were
paying the state much more in pro-
portion than the smaller interior coun-
| ties.
He called attention to the improve
ments being made by the city, such as
street paving, etc, and said the people
| We're already burdened with extra
| taxes and assessments. He said the
reason the petition which he present
ed was signed by the occupants OF the
| property in question and not the own
ers was that the occupants were the
| ones who really have to pay the in
crease. as the rents would be raised.
The merchants would, in turn, have to
| collect the increase from the consumer,
he said
A. M. M'MILLAN TALKS.
A. M. Mcmillan said he endorsed
what Mr.. Stokes had said and said he
| thought Mr.. Stokes was correct in his
Interpretation Of the law, as he had
been tax assessor for a number Of
years and this was the way he had
always understood the law.
He said the merchants ON Palafux
street were carrying all the load they
could carry and were at an enormous
| expense and were not In position to
stand any increase in rent, which ba
said was sure to follow an increased
| valuation.
F. H Turner protested against any
increase. He said he had recently
purchased a piece Of property on In
| tendencia street and that the valua-
tion had already been raised twice, so
that now the taxable valuation was
| over 100 per cent more than IL was a
r. q. RENsHAW.
DR.. r. G. Renshaw said he dfd not
know OF anything he could say which
would add to the stretch Of the arglI-
ment already brought forward against
any increase In taxation, but that he
| fully agreed with the others who had
stated that property owners were al
ready taxed until It was burdensome.
ED. LAWRENCE.
Edward w. Lawrence said that some
I
| increases He said he owned a piece
of property which was valued at SS, 900
! and which rented for S140 per month,
while a short distance from him was a
piece valued at $4,000 which rented
for $3.50, and still another valued at
| $4,000 which rented for about the
same figure. This was not Just, ne
said
c. II. Turner said that he did not
see how the property owners could
| stand any more taxation. He said he
| owned property which was not bring
| ing any more rent now than three
| years ago, although he had been
heavily assessed for paving and other
improvements. He said II the rents
| were raised the property would become
M. A. oUINA.
III. A. Quina said ne owned property
! which was bringing no more rent now
| than four years ago. In spite Of the
| improvements and extra assessments
and that he could hardly collect the
rent promised at present He said
| everybody had heard about the straw
breaking the cameis back and he
| thought they had the camel to the
STOPPING point now.
John Sheppard protested against any
Increase In the valuation Of his prom
| erty fronting on Palafox street. He
said his piece Of property, eighteen feet
| wide, was already assessed at S41 600
which he thought was entirely sufi-
| cient.
J. G. WHITE.
]. Geo. White said that the assess
! ments were not at all evenly divided Al
present, but that he thought some Of