Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1892-06-22
FOLLOW YOUR LEADER.
TAX REFORM.
An Address From the Associa-
tion at Chattanooga.
Privileged Taxes Must Be Done Away
With or Imposed With Equality
and Fairness.

To tho Tax-Payers and Voters of Tennessee !:
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn, June, '99.
At a meeting Of the Tax Reform
Association Of Hamilt0n county, on
Tuesday night, June 18th, 1892, the
following resolutions were adopted: :
Resolved, That the Committee ON
Ways and Means of this Associa tion
he requested to prepare a circular
which shall be sent TO each Chamber
of Commerce, Board of Trade, and TO
corporations and citizens in each
county Of the State. That said cir
culars shall set forth the objects OF the
Association and shall furthermore
urge the formation of similar associa-
tions in every county in the State.
This circular shall be written with a
view to impress upon the people OF
Tennessee The fact that these assCcia-
tions are nOn-pariisan, and that our
aim as an association is to secure the
greatest benefits for the people to be
derived from radical change in the
revenue laws of The State. That this
committee in said cifrnlnr shall urge
upon the people Of tennessee the
great Importance of eiecting to the
next Legislature men who will
pledge themselves to vote to carry out
the objects of the Tax Reform Asso-
Citations throughout the State.
This association was organized by
some of the leading citizens of Hamil.
ton county, irrespective of politics, on
Tuesday night, June 7th, 1892, by the
adoption of a constitution and the
election OF a president, ten vice-rresi-
dents, secretary and treasurer, and
two standing committees Of FIVE each
on Ways and Means, and Legisia-
tion. The object OF the association,
as stated in the preamble to the con.
stitution, is as follows:
"To form organizations in this
county and encourage the formation
OF similar associations in such othel
counties of the State as may be deem
ed advisable; to be composed Of al
tax payers and citizens who are or
posed to the present unjust, oppres
sive and ruinou5 system Of taxation
in Tennessee; to work in come ctior
| with the Chambers of Commerce
Boards Of Trade and similar organiza
tions throughout the State, in ordel
to have said laws repealed BY
the next Legislature; and take al
necessary steps to eff ct revenue re
form in this State"
The evils Of our revenue sys' en-
State, county and municipal--are 'o'
glaring to need comment, but we be,
leave to quote the following from ih,
report of our Committee on Legisla
ton:
]. That il can find no detailed pub
lished official statement or report O
the financial affairs of the State @
Tennessee for the year ending Dec
10, 1891, and no budget or oflicia
estimate of the proper expenses an
authorized disbursements of tn
State of Tennessee for the curren
year, begun on Dec. 20, 1891 and bt
lieves that no such reports or est
mates have been furnished to tn
people of Tennessee by their servant
in office. The latest Comptroller
report, of Dec. 20, 1890, is worthles
for present purposes.
But upon such data rs your con
mittee has examined. collected an
) compared, it believes that hone
collection OF the taxes for the yes
1892 imposed by existing revenr
laws will bring into the State trea'
ury sum fur beyond any rfap'
; need Of the government.
2. That the Revenue laws OF 1888
as amended at the extra session
1891, are in the main constitutions
and that the tax payers can not su