Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1913-01-16
PUBLICITY IN
] ASSESSMENT
MAYOR JACKSON READS SPLEN.
DID PAPER BEFORE MEETING
IN GRAND FORKS

Mayor J. w. Jackson left Tuesday
night for Grand Forks, where he went
to attend joint meeting of the State
Tax Association and the State NUM-
cipal League, which is being held
in Grand Forks today
Mr.. jackson read paper before
,4be meeting on-"Publicity of Real
Estate Assessment LISTS" He said
Fin part
Prior to 1900 publicity of real es-
tate assessment lists had not receiv-
ed much consideration. Since that
date the people of the United States
have become so keenly alive to the
vast Importance Of just and equitable
taxation in our scheme of Government
that they have set themselves to the
task of working out practical plan
that will guarantee it. In fact many
Of the worlds greatest men have made
the study of taxation and assessment
their life work. Countless investiga-
tions have been made, theories evolv-
ed, plans put into execution and con-
clusions reached. Undoubtedly pro-
gress has been made. AS one of the
rsults of these labors many who have
given the matter their earnest serious
study advocate as prime requisite
the publicity of all assessment lists.
Just how this publicity can best be
brought about is still undetermined
but one or two methods now in opera
ltion are meeting with much general
faPr. In my judgment that plan
which will secure the largest amount
Of publicity with the greatest COOP
Grafton of the public will be found
most efficient and satisfactory. With
out this publicity and cooperation any
plan must fail utterly of its purpose
to guarantee equality, justice and
thoroughness, and surely any plan
that will not stand publicity should
fail.
While this paper is limited to pub
licity Of real assessment lists what is
said would apply with equal force to
improvements if not to personal prop
erty lists also. And though it may
have to do more with municipalities.
most of the remarks and suggestions
are applicable to farm lands and vii
lagos.
Although it can not be denied that
fair and impartial assessments can be
and have been made without the aid
Of publicity. It is generally conceed-
Cd that the majority of assessments
are not as fair and impartial as they
might be, hence the need for publicity,
shat most powerful instrument for Sc
/ fling equality to all-Publicity-
Han where there is no greater patent
medicine for the cure of all evils and
the brand of which would carry DR..
Ladd's endorsement.
1t is said that taxation is the root
Of all evil and if true then assessment
is the root of all taxation. Probably
the greatest complaint entered by the
American property owned is lodged
against his annual tax levy. Always
back of the tax levy is the assessment
on which it is based, yet how few Of
these property owners interest them
selves sufficiently to ascertain what
the assessment of their particular
is and how it compares with
that of their neighbor. Did they but
concern themselves first of all with
their assessment the tax levy would
take care of itself automatically. In
fact it is largely due to this seeming
Indifference of property owners that
publicity is necessary to secure them
their rights. Only by publicity is it
cssible to arouse and direct the at
teiAton of an Indifferent public to The
question Of assessment.