Rensselaer Republican, Volume 23, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 March 1891 — The New Tax Law. [ARTICLE]

The New Tax Law.

Editob Repchlic^n. Tbc following are some of the points in the new tax law of interest to your readers; The levy for County purposes shall be made in September instead of June. > There is no provision for township 1 1 vy. 11 w ill be made, in June underthe old law. The live for state, school and endowment fund, and hospital fund will be as follows: •State ~T.T77.'. 12cts. School lfi' •«* . Endowment /. ..;;.w . T ” . Hospital 6 . Total 34$ “ . The meaning of the words, “value” “cash value” “true vnlue” , or valuation. whenever used in this act shall he lield to mean the usual selling price at the place where the property, to which such term or terms are applied, shall be at the time of assessment, being the priee which could be obtained therefor at jn-irate sale and not at forced or auction sale. Real property shall be valued by the assessor as follows; Lands and the improvements and buildings thereon or affixed thereto shall be valued at their J'u/l true cash vaivees timated at the price they would bring at a fair, voluntary private sale, not a forced or sheriff’s sale, taking into consideration the fertility- of the aril the vicinity of the same to railroads, macadamized roads, clay roads, gravel roads, and turnpike roads. State or Cmmtv roads, cities, towns or villages, navigable rivers, water privileges on the '-•une. or in the vicinity of the the same * " * *;■ In-lots and out-lots in .‘ill towns, c ities or villages with improvement thereon, or affixed thereto, shall be valued at their full c&xJi value as aforesaid, taking into eonsidernation all the local advantage upon actual vc-iw of premises. All : Jands-and lots shall also I.e listed at such \ r ahlation, .wilkout taking into leoiisidcration any improvements, and this valuation as well as the valuaTTdn with the improvements .shall l|e set down in a proper be left for that purpose. Sec 112 provides for the election of a county assessor in April, 1892. The Commissioner shall elect one by ballot at the June term to serve until one is elected by the people.

If the Assessor fails to adininster orth to person assessed, he can be fined twenty dollars for each omissiou. The County Board of Review or Board of Equalization shall nu et on Monday after the Fourth of July annually. If any delinquent tax payer converts property so the. County Treasurer cannot make levy, that is, if he sell it and and puts it in bank and will not pay, the Treasurer must report the same to the Prosecuting Attorney. Sec. 31. Whenever at any time during any year, any transient person shall locate in any township, city, tbwn, or village and shall offer to seh or otherwise dispose of any books or other goods, wares or merchandise, under the name of a gift book store or any other name or designation it shall be the duty of the proper assessor for the lima being * . * * forthwith to call upon such persons and demand of him the true value in money of all his stock in trade * * *. He shall forthwith return such valuation to the auditor of the County who shall o^ use the s<ane to be en-tt-red on the taxfou.iiiiL-ute_anßcolW4;-

Tatrurmed iately. : ’ The lands in Jasper County are appraised at from one fifth to one third of the price they would sell for, therefore "our State, school, endowment and hospital taxes will he three to live time higher for the } ear 1891 than at present. The same will hold good on personal property also. The land owners will have to pay this unless the Legislature has provided in same other act to lower the levies to suit the appraisement. The township trustee and County Commissioners can do that in June and September. The work of the Auditor and County Assessor will be very difficult to perform under the new law. Yours, J. B. Washburn.