New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1912-09-28

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A lower percentage may also b'
established for personal than fol
real property, or for the value o.
improvements than for that o.
land values. Thus a tenant hav
ing only mules and implements
may justly pay on a smaller per
centage of Valuation than the
percentage of valuation OF the
land he leases. OF course, as the
rule would be general, the owner
of the land in turn would gain
the benefits by the equivalent re-
ductions on his own personal
properties. Thus mules nigh!
: be assessed on the basis Of forty
per cent of their fair market
value" and land at sixty per cent
of it's fair market value. Or
again, both might be assessed on
the same basis as heretofore. This
would all be in the sound discre-
ton of each community under
home rule.
Seventh Properties segregat-
ed to the State, except on prod
ucts of mines, of stone quarries, or
sand. gravel or shale beds, and
OF Gil or gas wells are subject to
the special taxes imposed by local
special districts and political sub.
divisions; provided no Parish
shall levy a special tax for any
purpose which it is obligated to
care for out of its ordinary ali
mony, until it shall have first ex-
hausted it's ordinary taxing pow
er. upon an assessment of at least
fifty per cent Of the market value
of the property subject to its tax
ing authority.
il is evidently fair that rail
roads, telegraph companies,
banks, which we use by way Of il
lustration, should bear their pro-
portion of special taxes for they
derive their share Of the benefits
flowing from the general improv-
ment Of the communities in which
they operate; but it would be un-
fair to impose special taxes on
them for local improvements, un-
I'll the communt ties for their own
benefit had helped themselves by
exercising their taxing power on
an assessment of at least fifty per
cent. Of the ''fair market value
Of assessible properties. II 9th
crwise, communities might shift
Their obligations unfairly to the
shoulders Of those on which rests
the burden of State support.
Equity seems to be done by each
in the proposition as stated.
1t is further provided that for
the purposes of local special tax
alton these properties segregated
to State taxation must be as
sessed ON the same basis as is the
local property. For instance, the
Parish of Iberia could not assess
its properties on the basis of six
.y per cent Of fair market val
uation" and assess the property
of banks, railroads or express
companies on the basis of one
hundred per cent, but must as
sess it on the same basis as other
property locally assessed. In
case Of conflict as to this the
State Tax Commission would de-
termine the issre.
Eighth: The General Assemb-
ly on a two-thirds vote will be
able to readjust such features of
the tax provision as may be
shown necessary by practical ex-
rerience 1t may also find new
sources Of revenues. For in
stance. it is reasonably calculated
that the increase in the sources
Of State revenues above what
was shown by the assessment Of
1911 will enable the General As
sembly to release to local taxa
tion at an early date such prop
critics as sugar refineries (this
dnes not mean our sugar factories
which are subject to local assess
ment), rice mills. cotton seed mills
and other kindred industries.
These properly should be subject
to local assessment but were
transferred among the sources Of
State revenue IN order to make
sure that these would be amply
sufficient in the days of transi-
tion. But. even then, all but
three Parishes, as already stated,
gain by the deal and the State
will reimburse those falling be-
hind.
Ninth: An interesting feature
~ fhn rlnn Il fha nracfical naanin