New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1915-05-29
HOTEL FREDERIC TAX
EXEMPTION.

evening it was decided that
committee consisting Of its whole
membership appear before tn,
City Board of Trustees at its mex
meeting and urge that Body t,
rccognize the exemption granite,
10y the previous Council to Mr.
Felix Patout whereby the City
taxes on the Hotel Frederic, iii
built and completed during tn,
year 1929 would be RENTED fol
ten years. Such action is hardly
necessary since the present City
Administration, voted, a few
months ago, to remit this tax,
Messrs. Foutelieu and NiIIermin
voting yea with my vote recorded
against the proposition. In ex-
planning my vote on this ques-
ton, at the time, | stated my po-
sition to be against the policy of
exempting from taxation any
property not exempted by the
Constitution of the State.
In granting this alleged tax ex-
emption the former Council stip-
Hlated that the Hotel building
should cost not less than 100000
and that it should be constructed
and completed during the year
1912. this last condition not hav-
ing been fulfilled, the present City
Administration is not under any
obligation whatever to now remit
the tax. Reputation and bad
faith, despite the noise that is be-
ing made on this point, do not en-
ter into this question at all, but
the question Of exempting this
property from taxation does in
volve one of injustice to other
persons paying taxes on Hotel
property in particular and to all
other taxpayers in general.
It needs only to be mentioned
to appreciate the unfairness of ex-
certain persons and com
polling others, to pay taxes on
similar property, used in com
petitive business. No Govern
men. Federal. State or Municipal
in matters of taxation should |
grant an advantage to one and
same from another.
Besides being illegal to do so ;
such exemptions operate as an in
justice to taxpayers not so fav-
pred. Just in proportion as GER
tain property owners are exempt
other property owners are made
TO bear greater burden of taxa
lion.
Having no authority beyond
he law the old City Council nor
he present Board Of Trustees had
my legal right to free from taxa
ion the property in question. AS
Jitv Tax Collector it is my duty
o have all property subject to
AVIATION listed and placed on the
Assessment Rolls and | have no
discretion or authority to eM
mpt anyone from the payment of
axes on property so listed and
ssessed.
My position with reference to
he Hotel Frederic case is not
lifferent from the eases Of the
maternal Orders, my sole object /,
n all these matters being to pro-
ide for the City, adequate rev.
nue. derived by levying taxes ,,
roportionately and equitably
pom all.
My suggestion that the question
f the Hotel Frederic tax be set :
ed by referendum vote having !
OF met with approval and in :
lew of the almost unanimous :
eminent among the members Of =
ne Chamber Of Commerce that
lis property be not taxed. / de- ;,
re to announce that as City Tax =
ollector. / will not advertise a
nd offer for sale the property q
| question at the approaching !" !,
elinquent Tax Sale. Absence Of 9
roceedings against me, as City ..
ok Collector, to act otherwise :
| the premises, will be an indi- ,
,tion that such a course meets !.
it'll the approval Of taxpayers.
With reference to the charge
lat if the City did not keep good Q
18th in this matter that it would Z
ilitate against New iberia Sc +
ring industries, if such could K
. secured by tax exemptions, in =
lat the tax exemption might be r
Tered and later repudiated, J
wish to reiterate that e
this case no good faith has o
zen broken and no reputation