The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-11-10

alyxed. Other states are breaking
away from the old basic principles
we are working under. In our state
the old saying, All men are liars Is
almost borne out. Every citizen who
finds himself unjustly assessed will
evade the law.
Need classIfieatlons.
Every class of property should be
classified for assessment and taxed
according to the rate 1t can reasonably
bear. Why should money be taxed?
These are taken at the full cash value
by the assessor, and the reviewers de-
duct 25 per cent. The man who owns
real estate pays on only 40 per cent.
such inequalities have resulted in
the lowering at assessment rates and
the consequent increasing Of tax rates.
With the constantly increasing tend
ency to increase tax rates, no COM
munity can remain prosperous.
"The three mile-road law affords an
other cause for increased tax rates.
This law makes it too easy to serve
private interests with public means.
There are now outstanding in Indiana
$32,000,000 in three-mile-road bonds,
which must be paid for at the rate
of $3,2OO,000 year for the next dec
ade In passing over the roads in
Wayne county, improved under this
law, l can not say THAT they will last
until they are paid for.
Laws Favor Poor.
There is a constant cry that the
poor people and people Of moderate
means are bearing too much of the
burden Of taxation. AS q matter of
fact, every law Is made favoring them.
There are thousands of persons of
moderate means who do not pay taxes
and never thought of paying taxes.
I'm Wayne county there are $3.50, 082
on the tax duplicate, and last year
$4,000 was collected. Exclusive OF
the 1914 report, the country treasurer
carried on his books $4,000 in de-
linquentN There are 21,300 taxpayers,
There are 1900 delinquent or an av-
erage of IS per cent in the county. OF
the $4,000 delinquent, $4,000 is on
personal property. The poor people
and the people of moderate means
are falling short $4,000 Of contribut-
ing their share. while the property
owners are falling short little more
than $4,000
neglect PolI ak.
Under the present laws, hundreds
of young men are growing up habitual-
ly failing to pay their taxes. There
are 5000 voters in the county who do
not even pay poll tax, but show
enough interest in the government to
stand around the voting places once a
year and even to offer at times sug-
gestions as to how the county's mon
ey should be expended.
Another need OF the state is tax
board which can appoint assessors.
and make re-adjustments of assess
ments. The natural inclination of the
people is to elect men who will assess
them lower than the preceding asses
sor."
teresting statistics relating to the in
creasing delinquency in Wayne county
and the lack of administrative power
for high tax officials.
mo one has the power to compel
any assessor to follow Standard" Mr..
Bowman said. Indiana with ninety
two counties has ninety-two standards
of assessment, and Wayne county with
fifteen townships practically has fif-
teen standards of assessment"
0to09ISSS WIN uOpSs
Edgar Hiatt declared that personal
property is assessed according to the
conscience of the owner. He said that
the system of recording mortgages and
then taking them from the records
for taxation is wrong, and that other
state place an original tax against
them when they are made, regardless
OF the duration.
Mr. Hiatt disagreed with Mr.. RUPEES
belief that the policy of exempting
municipal and road bonds is an unwise
one and said that the public credit
would not be as good, as the people
would not hold the bonds if they were
taxable.
Such bonds could not be sequester-
ed. Outside investments in private
corporation bonds can be hidden" Mr.
Hiatt said.
Charles Shiveley declared that every
handed the assessment sheets and he
when and where there is actual need
lists what whe thinks he can not hide.
Mr.. Shiveley said that assessors should
be selected for the qualifications and
not for their politics. He predicted
the enactment of a law compelling the
publication of the ownership of all
private, state and interstate corpora
ton bonds.
Attacks Road Law
B. B. Myrick, former county treas
urer, took up the attack of the three
mile gravel-road law He said the tax
rate of the city of Richmond will