The Bienville Democrat. [volume] (Arcadia, Bienville Parish, La.) 1912-1980, 1921-05-19

pushed for adequate finance at the
close of his administration.
Governor Halls administration
caught the full force of the rotten con
ditionS existing at that time. Inc
| general property tax payers began to
finch and dodge because the burden
was beginning its ultimate great
weight. He was compelled to cry out
at the close Of his administration that
the States financial system had fall
len down. The truth Of the business
was the limit Of the general property
tax had reached its maximum, c>pcc-
tally when controlled by political tax
assessors. and almost the entire amount
If revenue raised at that time was
by voluntary tax payers, making It
especially hard on honest citizens.
Governor Pleasant succeeded to thd
executive Office where he found condi-
tions of finance in most deplOrablo
state, not because Of any fault Of the
preceding executive, but because of
the obsolete and implorable system
under which the State was groaning
He found the political assessors in
complete power and indirectly in COLI
troll Of the States finances, each one
frying to shield his constituents from
the burdens Of an advalOrem tax, and
the parishes paying State taxes on a
basis of from twenty-five to one hun
drcd per cent "a sad commentary that
can only be recalled with a blush of
Shame). The Pleasant Legislature, on
the strength of his prediction prom
ises, promptly proceeded to pass the
act creating the Board Of State Affairs
that, in my opinion, saved the State
temporarily at least, from bankruptcy
and disgrace. This board has been
traduced and slandered from the Gulf
to the Arkansas line, and although
many Of its bittereSt antagonists have
been placed in authority, no one has
to my knowledge, advanced a substitute
or amendment, nor even simple biz
to repeal the ostentatiously contempti
BILE measure. It will 90 down in the
States history as the greatest piec
Of legislation ever enacted up unit
that date. 1t established an authority |
over the assessors compelling them t.
make returns for State purposes, a
least as near as possible, equal and
uniform" 1t increased the assessments
as a whole. in it's plan Of equalza.
ton, many billions of dollars 1t SEN
out special agents that found approx
mately $25O,OOO,OOO that had escaped
taxation. And again, the inevitable
was temporarily prolonged, but now
again the limit Of raising revenue
under the general property tax has
reached its extreme limits. No more
raises in valuation are permissible or
new tansibleS can be found. 1t iH
imperative, therefore, that other
sources Of revenue must be discover
ed.
The Board Of State Affairs, in name
and purpose, should be maintained
It's supervision over assessments per.
petrated; its charge Of the various in
situations Of the State should be writ
ten in the organic law; it was espec
tally instituted and directed to max,
Investigations and recommendations az
to matters of appropriations, thereby
the legislature of a very
and almost impossible. re-
sponsibility. The members are selected
and appointed from the highest class
OF Louisiana craftsmanship. They
have served their purpose well and de
serve the lasting thanks of the peo
pie. It would be we'll for this Constj