xvi REPORT OF THE

value of the shares of stock, as directed by law. This sub-
ject was discussed at length in my report to the last General
Assembly, and it is not deemed necessary, therefore, to pur-
sue it further in this report. It cannot but be obvious to all,
that great inequalities exist, and the demand of the people,
that they shall be remedied as far as practicable, is admitted.
It is for the General Assembly to devise the remedies which
are necessary to ensure equality, in accordance with the re-
quirements of the Bill of Rights.

OPPOSITION TO EQUALIZATION.

The opponents of the equalization of taxation have not
been idle, hut have made a determined war upon it, and
upon this office, which is one of the instrumentalities by which
the equalization is expected to be promoted. It could hardly
be expected to be otherwise, when it is considered that no
man who has accumulated great wealth, thinks he ought to
pay taxes in proportion to that wealth, and that corpora-
tions, which have escaped taxation heretofore, are natu-
rally unwilling to be subjected to it. No more ungra-
cious or bootless task could be undertaken by any one,
than that of attempting to convince such persons, or such
corporations, of the equity of the practical operation of the
principle, prescribed in the Bill of Rights in regard to
equality of taxation. The organization to oppose it, is mak-
ing the most strenuous efforts to have the office abolish-
ed it possible, and, if that should fail, to cripple its
efficiency, by rendering impossible any legislation in aid of
the work of equalization Various objections have been,
urged for the destruction of the office, which it is believed to
be the duty of the incumbent to discuss.

First. It is objected that the office should be abolished,
because the duties ought to be performed by the Comptroller,
In the first place, it was because the duties could not be
properly performed by the Comptroller that the necessity
for a separate office became apparent. The Constitution
does not make the Comptroller an assessing officer. That
instrument gives the Comptroller no power, nor does it make
it his duty to act as an assessor. It gives to the Comp-
troller "the general superintendence of the fiscal affairs of