Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1913-02-15

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place the present duties of the state
board of equalization in the hands of .
board of three men who are to be on the
job all the time, and not merely looking
after the work Of assessment Of corpor-
ate property, and equalization a. an in
cidsnt for few crowded days in each
year. The board is to be composed Of
three men to be appointed by the Gov
ernor, the first for two years, one for four
years, and one for six years, with six
year terms after that time. The first ap-
pointments are to be made within ten
days after the passage and approval Of
the act, and the names to 90 to the Sem
ate for confirmation If such appointment
is prior to the adjournment OF the sss-
sion. After the first appointments such
names as are presented, all names for
this board must be presented, to the
Senate for action on or before the last
Monday in February during the biennial
session of the Legislature preceding the
commencement Of the term of the ap-
pointee which shall be the first day of
July following. Each commissioner
shall receive a salary of two thousand
dollars year and they shall keep an Of
fec at the state capitol. They are en-
powered to select secretary at a salary
Of not to exceed eighteen hundred dol
lars year, and stenographer at sal
ary of not more than six hundred dollars
year, and they are empowered to en-
ploy such other persons as experts and
assistants as may be necessary in their
work.
Tho new law does not in any way at
tempt to change existing statutes in re-
gard to assessment and taxation, further
than that of changing the administrative
head, the commission being required to
work under laws which exist, but they
are given wide powers of enforcement of
existing statutes, and as they will be in
session all the time with powers to 20
out and look into assessment returns; to
confer and advise with assessors, boards
of review and boards of assessment and
equalization; to require such officers to
report information as to their immediate
localities; to require individuals, COM
paniss, partnerships, associations and
corporations to furnish information as
to their capital, bonded debts and other
matters which would have bearing on
assessments, to summon witnesses and
examine them TO visit counties of the
state if they feel that such work is need
ed; to investigate tax systems, to for
mulate and recommend legislation as
assessments of oil ssdisnt; to order re-
ssssmsnt district, when in the judgment
of the commission it is advisable; to re-
ceivs complaints and to examine into
cases where it is alleged that property
has not been placed upon the assessment
rolls; and to fix the state tax levies
which has been the work of the state as
sessmsnt board up to the present time.
The act gives broad general powers to
the Tax Commission, and it is claimed
that by their devoting their time to the
work they will be able to accomplish a
large amount of benefit to the state, even
with present crude enactments, and by
devoting their time to the work to be
able to present something in the way of
more equitable laws to the next legisla-
tive assembly for their consideration.