The St. Mary banner., 1922-03-25
Land Owners Appear
Before the State Tax
Commission.

Baton Rouge, La, March 22.-The
City Council chamber was crowded
today with representative land own
ers Of Southwest Louisiana, appear
ing before the Louisiana Tax Com
mission for relief from tax burdens.
Senator r. B. Butler of Houma,
Terrebonne Parish, was chosen as
speaker for the assembly. Mr.. Butler
advanced arguments, stated facts
and citations of specific cases in
which land was now assessed in
Terrebonne, as were also improve
ments, at considerably more than its
cash value, if placed on the market
at private sale or forced sale. he
further stated that if these proper
ties were sold within twelve months,
that the sale prices would be less
than the present assessed valuation.
Mr.. Butler also stated this was ap-
plicable to the improvements.
Senator Butler did not plead for
a reduction of taxes but a reduction
of assessed valuation, believing that
the minimum of $50 on Class A
lands should be reduced to forty and
the other two classes accordingly.
Senator Butler also stated in his
opening remarks that it was not his
opinion or that Of the assembly that
the Tax Commission were RESPONSE
BILE for the condition which existed
but that the condition, a deplorable
one, did exist, and that the assemb-
lege had come to the commission for
relief. I'VE want you to keep US
from getting into the hand Of the
Sheriff. those Of US who are not al
ready there" said the Senator. eve
want you to aid US and work with
US in alleviating the situation"
Other speakers all concurEing
with the plea made by Senator But
Ter, with additional thoughts, were
Judge Ph. Gilbert Of Assumption, P.
G. Barron, member of the Con-
stitutional Convention; Senator Ven
tress J. Smith of IBERIA: j. P. Sup
pie, Bayou Goula; Albert Grace.
Iberville; A. w. Norman, St. Mary;
Ed. Dickinson, LaFourche; Chas. W.
Row, Rosedale.
Commissioners r. W. Riorden,
Chairman, Leon Locke and A. C.
Boyer, recently appointed, sat thru
terest in the procedure, and assuring
the taxpayers Of their desire to CO
ordinate their efforts in behalf Of
equitable taxation to all Of the tax
payers Of the state.
After a four hour session the
meeting came to a conclusion by the
creation of the Southwest Louisiana
Taxpayers League with Senator R.
B. Butler Of Houma. as Chairman
and J. Boatner Carter, Manager of
the Lafayette Parish Chamber of
Commerce IS Secretary. The plans
N MAPPED ont tentatively is to create
similar organizations in every par.
ish in the southwest Louisiana sec
ton. all eo-ordinating for an econo-
mical administration of civic, parish
and state affairs, with equitable as
sessment. The organization, with
headquarters at Lafayette will be
open to every community in the
state to unite with the officers of the
state in bringing about the desired
economical adjustment.
The Commission was presented
with the following motion which was
made by Senator Ventress ]. Smith
and unanimously voted for by every
accredited representative present, re-
presenting organizations throughout
che section Of the state participating.
The resolution was as follows:
I'VE, the taxpayers present, repres
enting our respective parishes, here
b. urge that the Honorable Louisi-
ana Tax, Commission approve a re-
duction Of the classification Of Agri-
cultural lands in the State of Loui |
siana. ss follows:
CssssrA to $40 instead Of 500;
Class B to $50 instead Of $45;
Class G to $40 instead of $50.
Further, we urge that the Com
mission also approve q reduction of |
fifteen per cent (15 p. c.) on the \
osee1eed valuation on the improve /
0ents On agricultural lands"
More than one hundred of the
heaviest taxpayers of Southwest
Louisiana we're present.
Among those present at Wednes-
days meeting before the Louisiana
1hx Commission were: Lafayette
kariah, Senator Wilmont Dalfrees, J..
1eatner Carter, Manager, Lafayette
IAs5sh Chamber Of Commerce.
Rexis: Senator Ventress J. Smith,
y. RAql Cyr.
St Nary: Representative VIM.
oayiss Senator !. s. Wooster. A. w.
|oormar.
TeF1eAonne: Senator r. B. Butler.
ka{enehe: Rep. F. Z. Drexler, Rep.
/. ~. McClelland, Ed. Dickinson, j. |
"a leRfnG Clarence ]. Bourg, Man
Iuer IAibodeeux Chamber Of Com
nefce.
Assumption: judge Phil. Gilbert,
J = Dkker, 8. O. 4uns0n. Eebsssl