The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-12-04
MERCHANTS TAX
EQUALIZED ALSO
BY STATE BOARD
CONTINUED From First Page.)

an acre. which would he n valuation for
assessment purposes OF S2227b.
Another Of DR. Horne's places, 1875
acres, is assessed at $4,000. The new
appraisal Ia at 800 an acre, or Si2b00
Here is just how the law works, DIR.
Horne at present IL paying the state
tax of 6b cents per $780, or IL cents per
acre, He will have to pay tax OF
20 cents per 500, which win amount
10 26 cents per acre, or double his
present tax. In the average OF the %
counties, the tax rate will he lowered
just as the valuation Is raised 20 as 10
make no change. in what the owner
pays per acre, but the Shelby county
raise Is SO much greater than that for
the Other 95 counties that the burden
here will be greatly Increased
II. l.. Jeter owns 200 acres, assessed
NJ 5000. The state hoard agents think
II Is worth 800 an acre, or 100000,
Emily Horton has several farms, the
largest containing LISA acres, Her as
sessment this year was $4,000, The
state board figures &re $40 an acre, OF
about $7b, 900
A tract OF timber land owned by
Louis Riegel, on Island 40, 96s acres,
assessed this year at $1,000, Is increased
TO $40 an acre, or to $3.50,
sessed this year at S2.s7b, Ia raised 10
$50 an acre, or Sl7s2s0. These are only
n few instances, picked at random
which indicate the general average OF
the increases thus far suggested In the
First civil district.
There is another provision In the law
of which many business men are prob
ably unaware, The state board o,
equalization IL empowered and direct,
cd not only to cuualiZe the valuation
OF real estate, but is given jurisdiction
over the ad valorem taxes collected
from merchants by the county clerks
One section OF the act says;
Said board shall equaliGe the az
valorem taxes collected by county cour
clerks with those collected on othe
properties and may investigate, gathe
evidence, and act thereon as the natur,
Of the case may require
Another paragraph requires tina
county court clerks must on the flrs
day OF each month make reports to tn
state board showing the names OF al
persons to whom licenses and privt
leges have been issued during the pre-
ceding month. the amount OF state Ia,
collected, together with other informa
ton as may he called for by sat
board"
That paragraph. on its face, woul
seem to be directed at the mercantil
class and to give the state board con
sluelanie ihllluue III lNNhlHk. INTO III
state tax paid by merchants and 9th
ers doing business which requires
privilege license,
The board has nothing to do wit
personally assessments, which are lei
In the hands OF the county assessors a
al present.
- Agents Of the state equaliEatio
board are now engaged IN cheekin
sales and assessments Of city propert
in Memphis, having practically con
pleted their work in the county, al
though final figures have not yet bee
fixed on number OF large suburha
tracts OF land just outside the cit
limits. City realty is heing appraise
on the front foot plan, the value Of in
proyements being computed separated
Owners Of property will be notifie
whenever any heavy increases are mad
In order that any protests they ma
wish TO make may be heard
II has been hoped that the work
Memphis and shelby county might |
completed by the first OF the year, {
the assessment OF realty all over Il
state is required to be made ms Of Il
date of Ian 10,