The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1883-07-28
A Change Needed.

SOutnefn Noflu:
The Legislature Of Georgia be-
ing now in session, is attracting at
tention to several important mat
ters. The subject of taxation is
one of great Importance, as it af-
fects every citizen. Notwith.
standing the comprehensive and
wide-reaching character of the tax |
law (reaching private libraries and
even, il is claimed, the dish.rag }, !
it is claimed, and justly, too, that
taxation is unequal because Of the
negligence or, MS some assert, the
wilfulness, of those giving in their
property for taxation in not plac-
ing a true valuation upon it. The
most equitable way would be to
have every mans property assess
ed by sworn and bonded assessors
aud the man whose humble home
and household goods are given in
at their full worth, win not be
compelled to pay more in proper
tion to what he owns than the man
who owns $4,000. A change is
greatly needed, not only in fixing
the value of the property given in
but in the mode of collecting the
taxes. There should he a more
careful scrutiny of the acts of oth-
GERS charged with this important
branch Of the public service. In
stead of increasing taxation, as
scssing the value of property will
tend to decrease it; if not it will
equalize the matter and give more
satisfaction.
There are many points in which
the citizen is taxed insidiously,
and he pays it unawares. One of
the heaviest sources of taxation of
this kind is keeping up the public
roads. But in Georgia some may
say there isno special tax levied.
The citizens come out six or ten
days during the year, with a par
alytic shovel or rheumatic hoe, and
works the road in person or by
proxy. That six days generally
comes at very inopportune times,
and when every days labor is
worth at least Is cents. Here
then, the citizen pays tax of 81
80 per annum. to say nothing of the
loss to his business. This would
be of little moment if 1t secured
good roads. Georgia is proven.
bial for bad roads. There are those
who answer, in the language of the
editor of the DE Kalb County
News, that the fault is not in the
road laws, but in their execution.
Even admitting this be true, yet,
with the road laws executed to the
letter, it will hot give us such
roads as the wants of the country
demands.
Is there any law to compel a cit
izen to buy a pick to use on the
public road when he does not own
one or have use for it. If there
is, then that man is taxed greater
than his neighbors.
Good roads are an evidence OF
civilization. IL is time that Geor
gia and the rest of the Southern
States were getting rid of laws
good enough in their day. covered
with the moss of past eras and civ
ilizations. Good roads are the
forerunners of progress, education
and religion. Good roadways tc
market are the best civilizers and
promoters of true progress. II
may be said that Georgia has made
rapid progress. True, but it hat
been in spite of her miserable sys
tenn of road laws.
The idea that men won't agree
to pay tax of So, or even e, tC
keep up the roads, is not wei
founded, when, under the presen
system, they are forced to pa,
more.
If the citizen works six days il
the year, 1t will cost him, if h
works himself, 81 80. Then, il
the winter, the wear and tear o
vehicles, iniary TO his stock, ant
delay in getting to and from mark
cts, will add from s3 to So to thii
, amount.
How can better roads be secur
ed7 This is an important ques
ton, demanding the serious atten
tion OF legislators. To effect i
will require thorough change il
road laws. To begin with, thu
county surveyor should be &C
quainted with civil engineering
, AS soon as he enters upon the du
, ties of his Office, he, with the Or
'dinary, or Board of County Com
missioners. should map out ever,
J important road In the county