The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-02-02
Press Comment
Governor Hardee's Solution of Tax
Assessmen t Problem

seSsment of property in the fifty-four
counties of Florida and that assess
ment at a fair per cent of its actual
value is still with us in this state and
each succeeding session Of the legis-
lature, while making an effort at its
solution, leaves the problef still I'M
solved with each county to settle the
matter for itself.
Governor Hardee realizes that it is
one of the big, vital questions facing
his administration and, unlike most of
his predecessors, he takes hold of it
with vigorous grasp and a determine
ton to have it settled so that Unequal
tiles in assessment among the various
counties may cease and many thou
sands of dollars worth of property now
escaping taxation altogether may be
put upon the assessment rolls and
made 20 do its share in bearing the
expenses of the state government.
There was a meeting of the state
tax assessors in Jacksonville this week
called by Governor Hardee to consid-
er this question and his address be-
fore that body showed that he had
deeply studied the subject and had
clear constructive views about it
which he would urge upon the legis-
lature at it's Apail session, The
shortcomings Of our assessment sys-
TEN are notorious, but if our new gov
ernOr can nave his way those short
comings will not endure muoa long
err One of the results of his address
was that the assessors all agreed
upon a fifty per cent valuation of
property in future assessments and
that was a long advance step taken.
The remedy proposed by the COVER
nor to cure the evils Of the present
system, straighten out the kinks and
establish uniform assessment that will
permit no property to escape it's just
share of taxes is set forth in the fol-
lowing extract from his speech:
I'VE must center authority some
where, with power to enforce it's de-
cisions. Experience has shown that
we cannot permit each of the fifty
four counties to pursue their own will
as to the basis of assessment, because
many of them are trying to avoid the
payment of their just share of state
taxes. The central authority to which
l have referred, could force the re-
calcitrant county to come up on a level
with its sister counties in assessment
values. The adoption OF this plan of
course, is a matter for the constdera-
tion of the legislature, but 1t is my
purpose to recommend and to coop
crate with them in an effort to rem
edy existing conditions. l believe the
Legislature should authorize the APP
pointment of n tax commissioner and
give him solo authority in the matter.
am not in favor of the creation OF
such a tax commission as we have
heretofore tried. It has been sug-
gested, and there Is some merit in the
suggestion, that tax commission
composed of the comptroller, the state
treasurer and the chairman of the
railroad commission would give us re-
suits. If we are to have a commission
composed Of any number of men, then
the above officials. in my opinion,
should compose the board. What we
want is result, and l seriously ques-
ton If a tax commission so composed
would have sufficient time to give the
question that serious consideration
which its Importance demands. For
that reason, l rather favor a tax COM
missioner whose sole duties shall be
that of cooperating with the tax as
SCISSORS and board of county commits
sloners OF the various counties with
a view Of bringing about uniform as
sessments. 1t is needless for me to
say that such a commissioner should
be one who is familiar with the prin-
ciples of taxation, who is just and
fair, and above all. not q politician
do not know whether the legislature
win agree with me in my conclu-
sions. l do know that the question is
going to be brought to their attention
IN my message, and 1 trust some sys-
tenn, beneficial in this regard, may be
evolved from our joint deliberations"
The governors plan is a good one
always provided that this central au-
thority which he recommends shall be
authority in fact as we'll as name and
shall have as nearly autocratic power
to enforce It's will as is consistent with
the state constitution. Otherwise it
will be the same old story of another
commission having all the ensignia
and semblance of power but without
any real authority and able to func-
ton onlyf in an advisory capacity
Gadsden County Times.