The Caucasian., 1913-10-09
Humiliation Of Assessments.

EtltiLIlfsIiloitb VI -h-'-7'
In fine equalization Of assessments
.ay.rv citizen has an interest.
n,rnosr Of equalization : 10 ADJUST
value, That are SUBJECT 10 taxation.
Lands an2 the Improvement there
au are visible properties owned hy
individuals, but a. q rule are ~
.,u,Iizrd TO their equitable Na.u' ,
TINS i due to an amtiqlatrd ,\1l"hi
which should be m0dcrnIZ"d -
nrnsrnt rruliremen.S. According }h
reliable and official statements IT,
EQUALIZATION has been proved 10 Dc
hpueticiaI substantially. In thc ul--
mo Of an cduilabI" system OF as
srsSmcnL there has been met the
most strenuous of opposition from
thc class who have enjoyed the
minimum assessment Of their prop
crfv and TO these fair equalization
means that they Will be required t"
conform to the system Of equity bE
paving taxes on their property, as
scssed at approximately It's equit-
able valuation and moi at It's under
valuation. II Is this class, every
where, where the modefnzed sys-
TEN is being advocated who become
the most radical of opponents and
who therefore would, if they could.
mislead the public in their beWall-
ment over OppresslVcly grinding
taxation.
In Shreveport the agitation Of the
modernized system of assessment
was inaugurated a year ago through
the efforts of Mr.. Carstens, citizen
noted for his progresslyeness. A
was anticipated there was aroused q
strong if silent opposition which
was overwhelmed into confusion
through the incontrOvertible dis
crepancies Of unqualified assess
ments as were exhibited in serials
of publications in the Sunday Cau-
caSian.
AS evidenced by the record there
has resulted from revision OF as
sessments principally in ShreVe-
port in an increase OF over three
million dollars of values for taxa
tion. From this beginning better
and greater results will follow, as
the assessor will have the oppor-
tunity of equaliZing taxable prop
critics which can not be accom-
plished in a day nor in a year.
At the session of the Police Jury
today a representative Of the Som
ers system requested consideration
of this plan of reaching correct
values. He suggested that com
mite be named for an, intelligent
inquiry into this all important and
llveliest question of today.
In so far as the Caucasian is con-
''l iit'i, Ito dIiIl i1lt ilo pun poSt "a -
ways has been and is to proceed on
the plan of moderniZed assessment,
which should be applied to the
State, TO the parish and to the mu-
nicipality. One of The plausible OBJ
Jections to the moderniZed system
of assessment has been that an
equalization of assessment would
promote a greater payment to the
Stale from Caddo and Shreveport
for taxes than low assessment
that Caddo and Shreveport would
be paying more taxes to the State
than the other parishes of the
State. This is a selfish view which
can have 20 standing with the pro-
gfessive elementsoof good citizen
ship.
In brief, summarized the whole
spirit of fair assessment is resolved
into the simple and logical basis of
equity. Ii when fair adjustment
of assessment is reached greater
taxable values are collecllhIe than
are necessary for the needs of the
government, State, parish or mu-
nlclpal, the rate of taxation must be
materially decreased, which will
prove advantageous TO every tax
payer whose properties having been
equalized in accordance with their
values, can no longer offer com
plant of discrimination or Of un-
fairness.