The herald., 1896-12-24
TAX REFORM IN CALIFORNIA

TAX REFORM IN CALIFORNIA
The subject of tax reform in California
has for some time been steadily forging
to the front, and now it has assumed the
form of an organized movement that
seems likely to overshadow all other
questions that will receive attention
from the legislature, soon to meet. The
general election being past and the ma
tional issues involved in the recent cam
| paign out of the way, it becomes the
people of California to give attention to
measures of reform and progress that
are within the Jurisdiction of their state
| government.
From time to time within the past
year The Herald has directed attention
to the existing tax laws of the state,
and pointed out some of the many ridic-
ulous, absurd and grossly unjust fea-
lures of our present revenue system.
No intelligent person can examine into
our tax laws and methods without at
| once discovering reasons for radical
changes therein. Unfortunately, no
changes can be made until the consti-
tuition has been amended, and to effect
an amendment to the organic law leg
islative action is first required. Hence
the first step toward revenue system
in harmony with an enlightened civil
da-
mand by the people that their law
makers shall at the coming session sub
nit d constitutional amendment that
will empower the Legislature to deal with
the matter of taxation as the people
may desire With such an amendment
submitted, the whole question of taxa
ton and revenue will be opened up for
discussion and education throughout
the state until the election in November,
1898. There is good reason for believ-
ing that at the next state election such
an amendment if submitted will be rat
flied by the people.
The Herald learns through reliable
sources that the movement for obtaining
needful legislative action this winter
is acquiring tremendous momentum.
The headquarters of the movement,
which are in San Francisco furnish un-
mistakable evidence that the people are
aroused, and that the campaign for tax
reform in California is open. A petit
ton to the legislature asking for the
submission of an amendment has re-
ceived the signatures of nearly fifteen
thousand persons, and additional names
are coming in rapidly and being filed for
use at the proper time.
A most encouraging feature Of the
movement is the fact that very large
percentage of the forty senators and
eighty assemblyren soon to gather at
the state capital are positively known
to favor the proposed amendment. The
i San Francisco delegation are practically
| a unit in its favor. Senator Stratton, an
able Republican leader from Alameda
| county, has announced his intention to
| do all in his power for the adoption of
the desired amendment, and numerous
assemblymen-eect in the same county
will follow the senator's example. Sen
ator-elect Bulla of this city. one of the
ablest men in the last legislature and
who will be power in the next one, is an
earnest advocate of the desired legisla-
| tive action, as are also several others, if
not all, of the Los Angeles county del
egation. The movement is entirely nom
| partisan, and is therefore being support
ed by Democrats, Republicans, Popu-
| lists gold men and silver men.
| In this connection we will add that
citizens mass meeting will be held in
the Southern California music hall,
Bradbury block, Monday evening, Dec.
2Sth, for the purpose of presenting and
discussing tax reform, with special ref
erence to the proposed amendment to
| the constitution. The audience will be
addressed by able speakers, including
| several members of the legislature, and
many details of the work now in prog
ress in northern counties will be ex-
| planned. There should, and doubtless
will be, large attendance on that i'm
| portant occasion.