The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1913-05-22
ANOTHER LETTER
From Assessor HOllingsWOrth to
Mayor Eastham-Will Brook No
Interference from Any Source.

Mayor EaS(ham-WllI BrOOk NO
Interference from Any Source.
Assessor HOllingswOrth has ad-
dressed second letter to Mayor
Eastman, a copy Of which reads as
follows:
In reply to your favor I regret
the necessity of again referring to
the subject matter of my last COM
munication, and beg to assure you
that my action was not intended as
any attempt to dictate to the coun-
cilmen in any manner whatsoever,
but was prompted by the same
spirit manifested by you in your eff
forts during the early part of the
year to improve conditions in the
assessors Office.
IN this connection permit me to
say, in view of your very recent ac-
tivities in this respect, your atti-
tude of resentment as implied in
your letter, that / should presume
to PROFOUND to you an inquiry of
any nature as to your official course
surprises me beyond measure.
And having assumed this posi-
ton, trust you will henceforth ac-
cord me the same right to manage
the assessors office unmolested as
you demand for yourself. AT any
rate, I shall claim this privilege in
the future and
bWiIl Brook No Interference From
Any Source Whatever.
Having agreed to cooperate with
you in your plan of equalization,
you delayed unreasOnably the ap-
pOintment Of an expert, as previous
ly decided upon. When you finally
made your selection, learned with
amazement that your appointee, Mr..
Mcconnell, Notwithstanding the
magnitude of his task, would be
able to give only portion of his
time each day to the duties assigned
him in estimating the value OF
buildings in a city of 5000 popula-
tion. After the work was we'll under
way, l called your attention to the
impractical features of such an ar
rangement, and the impossibility of
finishing the work before us i'm the
time required by law. You replied ii
was the best you could do. What is
the resulte Less than one-fourth of
the city has been assessed on the
plan proposed, condition that am
In No Way Responsible For.
"YOur positive refusal to commit
yourself indicates that you will not
favor a reduction in the rate, not
withstanding heavy increase in
the assessment Of the city, yet you
|reiterate your former statement
that such increase was neither ad-
vOcaed nor desired by you.
",fhe wisdom Of the policy Of an
increased assessment and a low rate
has never been called into question.
1t is high time there shauld be some
effort to fulfill that policy. The Po-
lice Jury made some reduction in
the parish rate last year, and from
Expressions l have heard a still fur
ther reduction will be made this
Iyear.
"The Caddo Assessors Office
has contributed its humble share to-
wards bringing about such a cdndi-
ltion and henceforth will refuse to
be instrumental in any further in
crease until the tax rate is materi-
| ally reduced.
1.-The proposition you set forth,
that my responsibility ceases with
the filing of the tax roll may be true
in sense, but for the practical re-
suit of that official act I am also
held responsible and I do not care
to shirk that responsibility.
Therefore, taking your refusal eas
final, shall deem it my duty before
the date of the Police Jury meeting,
as a board Of reviewers, on June 2,
Ito apply such a percentage Of re-
lduction to every assessment which
has been increased as it stands at
lpresent that will be equivalent to a
material decrease in the rate, which
you refuse TO allow.
in conclusion, allow me to cor
rect the impression that real estate
has been assessed on basis OF Az
per cent and improvements on a
basis of so per cent. The intention
has been to assess residentiel prop
ierty on basis Of 10 per cent where
Occupied by a bona flde owner and
| all other property on SO per cent
basis.
This closes my interest in the
Ientire subject matter. Yours re-
,spectfully,
as. O. H0LLINGSWORTH,