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

Ia tiln EQUALIZATION ol aS5t+S9I'l''lt :
every citizen has an interest," = !
,,,,,no.a of eGtaIiZdtIOH IS 10 adjus'
,.,1nn- ih4I are subject to laAali0ii
Lands anG the Improvement inert
on are visible properties o"lltu ~
,,.aivi,,l,aIs DII is a rule are ~
ru1o}izcd 10 iilrIr equitable Na'u'
THIS is die 10 all amlIl'lAtth 9N7t's'
,,,b;nb should be molI,TuIZed L
nrpsruf requirements. According u
r.liabjr and official statements H.
equalization has been proved 10 u
beneficial substantially. In The il'+-
INC of an cullilabl" system OF as
srssncnl there has been met Iht
most strenuous Of opposition 1foh
thro class who have enjoyed illf
minimum assessment OF their prop
crIy. and to these fair equalization
means Thai they Will be required t.
conform to the system Of equity DE
having taxes on their property, as
scsscd at approximately its edull-
able valuation and not at It's under
valuation. 1t is this class, every
where, where the mOdernIzed Sys-
TEN is being advocated who become
the most radical of opponents an'
who therefore would, if they could
mislead the public in their beWall-
ment over oppressivcIy grinding
taxation.
In Shreveport the agitation of tht
modernized system of assessment
was inaugurated year ago through
the efforts of Mr.. Carstens, citizen
noted for his progressiyeness. a
was anticipated there was aroused 2
strong if silent opposition which
was overwhelmed into confusion
through the incontrOVertlble dis
crepancies Of unqualified assess
ments as We're exhibited in serials
Of publications in the Sunday Cau-
casian.
AS evidenced by the record there
has. resulted from a revision OF as
sessments principally in Shreve-
port in an increase Of over thret
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 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 a com
Mite be named for an intelligent
inquiry into this all important and
liveliest question Of today.
In SO far as the Caucasian is con-
cerned, its aim and its purpose al
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-
nlcipality. One Of the plausible OBJ
JectlOns to the mOderniZed system
OF assessment has been that an
equalization Of assessment would
promote a greater payment to the
State from Caddo and Shreveport
Tor taxes than a low assessment
that Gaddo and Shreveport would
pc paying more taxes to the State
than the other parishes of the
State. This is 4 selfish view which
can have 20 standing with the pro-
gfessive clementsoof good citizen
ship.
In brief, summarized the whole
spirit OF fair assessment is resolved
into the simple and logical basis Of
equity. 1t When 4 fair adjustment
of assessment is reached greater
taxable values are coIlectihle than
are necessary for the needs Of the
government, State, parish or mu-
nicipal, the rate Ut taxation must De
materially decreased, which will
prove advantageous TO every tax
payer whose properties having been
equallzed in accordance with their
values, can no longer offer com
plant Of discrimination Or Of un-
fairness.