The Mena weekly star., 1917-03-22
NEW LAW GOVERNS TAX ASSESSMENTS
County Court Win Appoint Two Citizens for Each Township to As- sist AsseSsor--Equalization Board
 Abolished in Toto.

Little Rock, March 1.-The Ar kansas Tax Commission has issued a statement interpreting several important assessment and taxation measures enacted by the 1917 leg islature. The bills So far have not been signed by Governor Brough, but they were administration meas ures, and were advocated by the ex- ecutive. The probably will be signed this week.
 The commission desires to call attention of all tax officials of the various counties, especially the as sessors and county judges, to pas sage of three house bills--Nos. g., % and 386-whihc materially change Ghe assessment laws. The commis- sion will send copies of these bills, when the same are printed in pam phlet form, to the several county assessors and county judges, to- gether with letters of explanation, said the statement.
 Measures Explained.
 The commissions explanation of the three measures follows:
 House Bill No. g. provides for the assessment of all domestic in- suranee companies of every kind and the assessment Of every domes- tic company doing an investment, loan or trust business, or security, guaranty and bonding, indemnity business, and requires the princi- pal officer to file with the assessor, sworn statements, as provided by the act, for the assessors information an making the assessment.
 ''The bill also provides for the de- termining and assessing of tangi- ble valuations of corporations. The act provides that corporations shall make reports to the county assessor, in addition to schedules provided for tangible property under Section G9i0 of Kirby's Digest, and from this report the assessor can determine 'wDcther a corporation has an in tangible value, and. if so, such value should be listed under separate heading designated as intangible property.
 Township Assessors.
 House Bill Nc 75 makes it the duty of the tax commission to certi- fy the county clerk and assessor the per centum of market value to bt assessed, ef all nrnnerty which bas- it must be used by the township as sessment boards in making their as- sessment after they have arrived d the true market value of the prop erty assessed. This certificate shal be filed not later than 10 days befor, the time for the assessor to begiI his assessment for the county
 House Bill No. 3S6 abolishes tn, equalization board in toto, provid ing in lieu thereof, the township boards for the assessment and valu alton of all property, which plal will assess, value and equaIize al property at the time it is assesses and in the presence of the owner Political townships are subdivision of county governing in this as. sessment. and assessors shall mak, their date with this fact in view
 
 The county court, 30 days prior t the beginning of the assessment shall appoint two citizens who hav' been for five years residents of thu township and shall be the justice of the peace when practical, whi shall serve with the assessors il their respective townships for tn purpose of assessment and valua tion of all property according t' its true market value and on the Dc centum basis, as certified by the ta, commission.
 N0n- -Residents.
 'Non-residents must furnish | the assessor. on or before the frs day of the time advertised for tn assessing in such township list q their property by townships, speci fvne the school district wherein localed and be present in person 0 hv agent, if they desire A p pc ccni penalty is provided for thel failure to do so
 'Ten days after the assessor shti