Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 March 1909 — Good Talk By Tax Commissioner. [ARTICLE]

Good Talk By Tax Commissioner.

J. W. McCardle, state tax commissioner, gave an Instructive talk to a good audience in the county assessor’s office Saturday morning. A large number, under the Impression that the meeting was to be held in the afternoon, came in after the meeting was over. Mr. McCardle Impressed upon, the assessors their duties in assessing property and instructed them on some of the numerous difficulties an assessor meets. He explained that the state is endeavoring to secure a uniform taxation and urged the co-operation of local assessors. He said that if property was assessed nearer its cash value, the rate of taxation would be lowered. - He was very earnest in his appeal to the assessors to assess tee wealthy in proportion to their wealth' as the poor had so little to assess that nearly always they gave full value, while many rich people concealed much of ►fjjeir wealth or inisrepresejated Its value. He said taxes would he much less if all the wealth of the state was taxed as it should' be. He pointed out that the responsibility for equal and sufficient assessment was upon the shoulders of the township assessors, but cautioned them against making high assessments to make a record. Mr. McCardle 1b in favor of a public accountant as ijt would enable the state to be more economic in many ways. He said the postoffice department was deriving much benefit by reasson of having accountants.