St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1916-10-07
BOARD OF STATE AFFAIRS

the Constitution to be voted for in
Louisiana in November, creating
Board of State Affairs and regulat-
ing the assessment and taxation.
1t stands No. AZ among the amend
ments as published by the secre-
tary of state.
1t S always safe to predict eppo-
sition to any legislation which is
aimed to equalize and, therefore, to
raise assessments which necessa-
rily result in the raising of taxa
ton on many property owners. It
is true that the objection mainly
comes from those who have been
paying less than their share of the
taxes and unloading some of the
burden on others. The tax dodger
can be counted on to fight forever
against paying his full share; and
skilled labor.
feat nearly reform aimed at equal
izing assessments.
In New York he late constitu-
tional convention submitted to the
voters an amendment not unlike
that proposed in Louisiana, its OBJ
ject being to give the state greater
power over the assessments and to
put an end to the system which
prevails in New York as in Louis
lana, whereby the local assessors,
especially in the country parishes,
place property on the rolls al only
q fraction of its true value. 1t is
the same in Missouri, and III u
dozen other states. Equalization is
the most difficult of reforms to ac-
compIish.
The campaign in Louisiana to
correct this evil has met with sim
liar defeat to that in New York.
Amendments which it was thought
would cure the evil anu improve
our system were voted down by the
people; and the question was left
over to the present legislature. 1t
could do nothing; but it resubinit-
ted the problem to the voters iii an
amendment upon which they must
vote at the coming election 10
this amendment opposition mas been
sounded and an rrganlzod tam
palgn against it Will be ntal..
h TO ward OF the opposl.ion that
was developed before to assess
ment and lax reform. Tile amend
menL mas been maac snort, leaving
the task Of equallzlng assessments
and providing enough revenue tor
the support OF the state to d BOARD
Of wide and extraordinary lowers,
! to be known as the bUard u
State Affairs. To Tree this tnls
body from the local prejudlces and
popular claInor, it is made entirely
tree and independent OF the voters,
being appointed by the governor
and responsible TO MIN alone. 1t is
given wide and drastic powers, in
cludlng the right to remove assess
ors, to investigate any firm or cor
poraaon IN order to find the value
OF It's property, to send for books
and papers, and to advise with tle
several state departments as to
economy and efficiency.
II Is not surprising " hear conf
plalnLs Lnat the board is undemo-
cratic In its origin; that it Is basee
on the objectionable system OF Cell
traiizatlon; that its taxing powers
I, are EXCESSIVE and will neip TO DuIit
UP politlcal ollgarcny III tIlt
state; ana tnat the tendency will bs
to use the control OF assassnltnti
wnlca lncluae taxation, Tor poiItI.
cal advantage. lilese are the com
pialllls naue against the amend
ment and constitute the chief ar.
gumenLs used in any campaign or
ganized to defeat it. There hav'
been mutterlngs against it in som'
OF the under-assessed parishes, Du
no organized opposition. On Tn
other hand, there has been no ef
fort to present the arguments u
lasor VI the proposed changes; AM
the chances are always against tn
auoptlun by the voters Of any lay
which they believe will lncreas
tnelr taxes unless il be SHOWN con
slllclngiy That II IS necessary 10
the pubic welfare, and is fair an
Just to all.
Inc bulk OF the opposition come
.ly.n the tax dodgers from tfios
individuals and parishes which ar
not paying their fair share of tax
alton. They constitute only
small proportion of the Taxpayers
lae great majority of them pa
their full share: aud for these nc
only would their be no increas,
.4s The tax rate would probably b
lessened by equalization Of assess
ments.
VIVA ..-s9-- ss$s
Again, it is quite evident thu