The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1891-09-30
HIGH BATE or TAXA7i0R.

The legislature has at last fixed the
state tax rate, and it is higher than
ever before kuowo. The rate last
! year was not quite $500 on the thou
sand, while tais year the legislature
has saddled upon the people of Geor-
gia a rate OF 50 0S cents on the thous-
and. In commenting upon this CON
dition of affairs the Columbus En-
quirer-Suu says:
"a few days since the Enquirer Sun
sounded a note of warning to the Leg
islature, that it was piling up the tax
es of the people OF Georgia and that
the burden would fall heavily upon
the shoulders of the people this fall.
We called attention to the fact that
the appropriations already made would
make a higher rate necessary and
that the burthen was being added to
by prolongation of the session, al
the rate of $500 day, We are not
surprised nor should our re ders he
surprised, therefore, that the tax bill.
which yesterday passed the House,
imposes higher rate of taxation
than Georgia has borne since the war
"The fact should not be lost sight OF
that the Indebtedness of the State is
daily increasing, that every day the
Legislature is in session, and during
Saturdays and Mondays, when little or
no business is transacted, adds $500
to the amount that has to be raised by
taxation.
In the light of these facts is it MOI
the part of wisdom tor the Legislature
to expedite business as speedily as
possible, and adjourn. Many days
have been wasted in frmtless discus
sions over matters of no material in
terest to the people at large, and in
the consideration of impracticable and
unnecessary bills. Does the Legisla>
tuFe propose to remain in session until
after the Piedmont Exposition, and
thus increase the expenses of the State
to nearly $4,000? When the tax
collector comes around to gather from
the people the highest rate exacted
from them since the war, the people
will naturally enquire if this burthen
could not in a measure have been
averted, and will not be inclined to
view with much pleasure these lengthy
sessions of its General Assembly.
80 motion to adjourn is in order,
gentlemen
1t is not at all complimentary
to the wisdom and management OF
the present legislature that the tax
rate this year is higher than it has
been since the war, and that, too, in
the face of the fact that the new cap
itol building has been paid for Last
year Terrell county paid SO 200 state
tax, while this year we will pay S13,r
$50, and that, too, after an Increase
in the taxable property of the county
of nearly 100000, and a total
state increase of over S25, 10000 As
the taxable property increases the
rate Of taxation ought to decrease,
but the legislature has been 50 ex~
travagant that notwithstanding a
large increase in the valuation OF
property, Terrell county will have to
pay $4, 900 more to the state this yeal
than last.
The legislature has not fulfilled the
mission for which it was supposed to
have been elected. Their work show,
that they are not economizers,
An important question is; Viii
! the people receive corresponding ben,
eft for the money paid the tax gath>
erers?
If not, then the legislature has
been hurt'ul, and the people who
have to pay the expenses will prefer q
new rule of statesmen.
The LEGISLATURE AND THE 0CALA PLAT