The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1915-06-19
Mr.. SUBERB|ELLE'S REPLY
New Iberia. La June IL, 1915.
E. F. Mlllard, Editor Iberisn,
New Iberia. La.

In the last issue OF your paper
you comment on the question oI
the equalization of assessments
which | am advocating.
To your mind, 1t would seem,
equalization means higher assess
ments Such a conclusion is not
altogether wrong, inasmuch at
the assessments of many, to be
eqnalized, will of necessity have
to be increased. On the other
hand however, equalization will
relieve many tax payers of excess
taxation which they have been
bearing and which should have
been borne by those who have
been underassessed for these
many years.
The object Of the Single Tax
System, to which l understand
you subscribe, is to place the bur.
den of taxation upon those who
should properly bear It, Consid
ering the imperfect system Of tax
alton under which we operate,
should we not lend our cOopera.
ti0n (from a selfish viewpoint il
not from other motives) to the end
that taxation, be equitably impos
ed upon all!
Do you hold, Mr.. Editor, that
such a condition with reference
to assessments as obtains 10 this
City should continued Are you
aware that assessments in New
Iberia vary a great deal and
range from ten TO sixty Ave per
cent? Are you willing thai a
greater proportion of taxes than
your just share should be imposed
upon your property
l do not deny that more reve
nue. is needed by the Oity and
this additional revenue must come
from increased assessments since
the Oity's revenue from licenses
and sources other than property
taxes has been seriously curtail-
ed. Therefore, in providing for
additional property taxes, due re-
gard should be had for existing
assessments so that no one who
is already over.taxed should be
further imposed upon. Hence
the necessity of revision and
equalization.
Let us now consider the condi.
tiOns that make it necessary for
more tax money "being squeezed
ont Of the tax payers,", as you
putt. In the first place 1t should
be borne in mind that the present
City administration inherited
from the outgoing council, = float
ing indebtedness Of $50. .8O3 63 as
shown by audit made by Mr.. Fl.
J.. Smith in June 1918 This
amount was snbseq uentDy increas-
ed to s35, 435. 81 by additional un.
settled accounts of the old coun.
Gil coming to the surface. OF the
last named amount $8,O71.O8 was
made up OF accounts and notes
due by the Light, Power and Wa
ter Department, the books Of
which will show this ss loss in
operation. As yOn were one OF
the supervising directors, having
charge of the municipal plant at
the time this indebtedness aecu.
INFLATED, you should not be nm
familiar with this matter. /
make q difference to it without
any desire to crlticise but merely
to keep the record clearly be.
fore 10.
No matter what may have been
the cause or causes that brought
about this financial condition Of
the municipal plant, 1t became
necessary for the City Trustees
when they took charge of the
City affairs to make arrangements
for the payment Of these obliga-
ti0ns which have ell been liquid
ated, save about one thousand
dollars due to the Texas Oil 90.
The net earnings Of the mnDici
psl plant since We have had
charge have not been sufficient to
pay the indebtedness In full, part
Of the money therefore, was Dor.
rowed from other funds, the same
beng still due. With reference
to that part of the floating indebt
edness owed by the City proper,
cay t27, ,364 10, there IS still due
the sum of s12,06O 90 for notes
Of the City held BY Mr.. Emile 81.
mon and to the School Bosrd for
past due annual appropriation
lsubioin the statement showing
the principal items OF extra ex-
penses since Ian. 1st and the loss
of Revenue from various sources,
ell Of which approximate dehcit
Of over 80. 10000 which must be
provid ed for from the revenues OF
the current year.
Statement:
Small Pox Epidemic and Cost
Of CITY Physiclan ....... $3.50. 90
Convention appropriations. 10000
Rent Of City Jail Lot. exacted
BY the Parish Of Iberia. go. 1000