The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1898-11-10
STATE TAXATIO

per on State taxation. 1t is on
the right line and should be heed
ed bv the Legislature.
| A deficit of one million dol
lars and a tax rate higher than
ever, is appalling, and it is time to
call halt to the extravaganza APP
preparations to public schools,
pensions, state colleges, and mill
tary encampments.
| Politics and currying favor with
certain class of voters, for person.
al ACKNOWLEDGMENT, must give
way to common sense and bust
ness principles in the management
of state affairs, public trust that
affects the common veal.
Ten years ago one bale of cot
ton would sell for $50. Now it
will take three bales of cotton to
bring $50, which requires three
times the amount of toll and
sweat to earn the same amount
of money now that ole bale of
cotton brought then. Yet our
legislators each session seem to
think there is plenty of money in
the pockets of the people and
keep on increasing the appropria-
tions to public schools and pen
sions, and big slices to state col
leg9s, all regardless of the decreas-
ing prices on cotton the chief
source of income to the farmer.
From $1,000, 900 to 81 800, 600,
an increase of 10000, was ad-
ded to the public school fund last
session, while the pensions to
Confederate soldiers reached the
sum of 800, 900, and there is still
q clamor for more money for both
Of these causes.
1t is stated that 100000 inter
est bearing bonds were issued to
meet part of these appropriations.
| With the state tax of 1921 on
the one thousand dollars, higher
than any year since the war, it is
stated that the state treasury will
be empty by July next and the
source of income practically ex-
| hausted until another levy is
made and collected.
! The situation then is to cut
down these appropriations or again
increase the taxes and still grind
the overburdeoed people who can
not realize enough money from
their cotton to pay the expenses
of producing it and their living
expenses, to say nothing about
the payment of other debts incur
red
1t will result IN practical confis-
cation of property to continue
this unwise policy.
J The cry that the old soldier must
be pensioned regardless Of his cir
cumstances, and the civilization
must be. advanced by educating
the masses, white and black, re-
CARELESS of the cost to the people,
may be fun to politicians, but is
Iparalyzing to the energies of the
labor'ng classes who have to foot
the bill equal in proportion to
that paid by wealth.
Pension the truly INDECENT or
badly crippled soldiers, but those
owning good property and able
TO support themselves, should not
be given the tax money of the
people when they do not need it.
Weed out from the needy and de-
serving the unworthy recipients
OF the States gener Hsity and the
peoples bounty. Cut down the
school fund to just proportion,
and withdraw the appropriations
to State colleges and let ambitious
boys be educated in the high
er branches by their parents or by
their own efforts.
The paternal idea that the gov
eminent must support the people
is erroneous and must not take in
the idea of Expansion" Our gov
eminent is founded upon the con-
sent of the governed, but when the