The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-04-03
Governor Cats Message
To The legislature
tContinued from page ID

able way, anu there IL ulNSisi1s -
opinion as to the matter OF taxation
now. Some contend that we should
have more power given TO our Tax
Commission, others contend that 1t
saould be abridged and some contend
that we should have the taxes of the
State gathered from licenses and cor
porations of the State and counties,
while the tax on realty should be ap-
FLIED to the counties; and so we see
many diversified opinions in regard
to this matter. However, my own
opinion is that we should give to the
Tax Commission more power, so that
we might aid the differea. counties
Of the state it, better solution of
this matter.
STATE TAX COMMISSION
The Tax Commission will require
much of your time, as have stated,
and if it is continued it Will be nec-
essary for you to give it consider
able amount of power which 1t has
not at the present time. There is
great deal of property in the State
among the larser corporations and
estates escaping taxation. This body,
in conjunction with other taxing Off
GERS. should be given power to make
such investigations as are necessary
for the purpose of locating this prop
erty and placing its just proportion
Of the burdens of the government
The right, also, of discovery and Sc
cret investigation should be vested in
this body in order that they may dis
cover these escaped taxes in the va
rious counties in the State and CO.
operate with the Tax Assessor and
Collector in having them assessed
and collected. The Commission
makes several recommendations in
their report, which ] call your at
tention to and ask careful considera.
ton of the same.
TAXATION OF RAILROAD PROP.
ERTIES.
Under existing statutes the prop
c"ties OF railroad corporations in thi.
state are assessed for the purpose D
taxation by the Comptroller Of Il,
state, who calls to his assistance FOL
this purpose the State Treasurer an,
The Attorney General. This duty. II
my opinion, would be better per
formed by board composed of Tho
Comptroller, one member of the TIA,
commission and one member of the
Railroad Commission. In this wav ali
OF the information which the Comm.
troller, the Tax Commission and the
railroad Commission has could be
brought to bear on this subject and
recommend that the statute be
amended so as to provide board
composed of these officers.
AUDITORS OFFICE
IL regard ID this office, desire /,
say that we have two Auditors VIII,
are kept constantly at work auditing
the books of the county official.
throughout the State These men de
their work seriously and conscien
ticusly, but with the best endeavol
of them both 1t is absolutely :mpos
sible for them to come nearer than |
year and one-half in about half O
the counties and two years in tn,
balance in their auditing accounts
You can see from this condition tina
the books of the county officials ar
very far behind in the matter o
auditing, and under present condi
tions 1t is impossible for them eve
TO catch up. While hate very mucl
to insist upon it, think that ii i
absolutely necessary that you ad,
one more Assistant State Auditor 4
the force now doing this work. Tn
Auditors Office is in as good condi
tin as 1t can possibly be, considering
the fact that it is from a year an,
nne' half to two years behind.
INSURANCE COMMISSIONER