The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-10-26
GEORGIA'S SOLONS GATHER.
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continued from Sixth Page)
--rdsd on account of the negro al3ne equal
=, tbe Total expenditures of the stale for
81 nuruoses in 1860. And yet
,hs Total taxable values in the
stsfe In 1860 we're nearly twice what they
ora now. In other words the negro costs
The tavpayers now as much as both races
cost them IN 1860
,o7al facts. equally well established, that
On Nor cent of the crimes committed by
NEGROES are committed by those who have
oa5 the opportunities of free schools, and
onlv 10 per cent. by the ex-slaves who are
iliterate; while 80 per cent. of the property
scouired by the race since emancipation
l. in the hands of the iliiterate eX-slaves
and not in the hands of those educated in
he free schools, it seems to me that JUS
ire 10 The taxpayers of the state demands
tbat we adhere more closely to the limita-
lions prescribed in the constitution and
confne our public schools to che elemen-
t3rv branches of an English education on
W. leaving to the churches and to private
enterprise and to local taxation, the sup
mort Of schools for higher education.
Tax Reform.
There has been complaint for many years
that under our system of taxation much
q,tberer. and that great inequalities have
cvisted in the valuation of property re-
turned for taxation.
IN meet the demand for reform and the
eoualization of the burthens of taxation
Joint commission was appointed at your
last session to sit during the recess and
nrepare and report some measure for con-
siderdtiOn at the beSlhnlhS OF your pres
eut session
This commission has been Ia 0oriously at
work much Of the time during the sum-
mer and fall in the discharge of the duty
assigned them, and will doubtless report
for your early consideration measure in
tended to meet The popular demand. l
cannot TOO earnestly impress upon you
tbe Importance of this subject. There are
great inequalities which should be cor
rected Property in one county equally
valuable as similar property in another
Is of.eu returned IN one at half the value
put upon ii in the other. This is espe-
cally true of farming lands. Even IN
the same county one farmer returns his
lands at their real value while his neigh
Dor broadside of him, in order to avoid
the tribute he owes his state and county,
returns his al only half or even less than
half what they would bring under the
hammer The same disparity exists in
the vaIuation 9f other property, while
some species of taxable wealth entirely
escape taxation because of the facility
with which il can be hidden. Bonds,
stocks notes and other evidences of debt
often escape in This way, while mer-
onandse is frequently greatly under
valued From these causes, real estate,
which is visible and cannot be hidden, Is
made to bear more than its share of the
burthens of government.
While I have no great faith in the abil-
ity of any general assembly to frame a
1oyt1 fob l,a RI
invisible property of the interruptions tax
payer who hides his money and his evil
deuces of Indebtedness, L do believe law
can be framed that will compel him to pay
taxes on his visible, tangible property at
fair valuation, and thus equalize the bur-
thens between him and his more conscien-
tious neighbOr who now bears more than
his share. Fer many years we have en-
deavored to keep down the tax rate by
finding new objects of taxation. and by
reaching invisible property which has es-
capped. but we have met with Indifferent
success We have succeeded in taxing the
pillow of the farmer and the sewing ma
chine of the widow but the bonds of the
mser have escaped and the higher the
rate Of taxation the greater has been the
incentive TO him to hide his property from
the taX-gatherer.
But We should not be discouraged. While
we may not be able to reach all the prop
erty in the state for the purpose of tax
alton we can equalize the burthen on that
which we can reach and thus greatly i'm
prove the existing conditions.
refrain from making any specific rec
ommendation on this subject because /
nave no doubt the commission into whose
nAnds you gave the matter will do so, and
That YOU will, with their report as a basis,
DE- able to enact a law that will measur-
ably at least remedy the defects in the
present system.
Ballot Reform.
The experiences of more than thirty
years have demonstrated the dangers of
an unrestricted ballot The only safety
LOT a republic is in the virtue and intelli-
Eence of those endowed with the elective
franchise In a state in which there is a
large ignorant, unpatriotic or purchasab.e
Eo,e often the rich and INSCRIPTIONS can
ui1dle triumphs over his poor and honest
competitor. Good and capable men TOO Of
u'n shrink from politics because they can
4'l Without loss of self-respect resort to
~ means necessary to secure success
mus the standard of political morals and
oilcldl ability and integrity is lowered
e'u lne people lose respect for and conf
"guce ~ their public servants; the word
poluclan becomes term of reproach, and
IYIVes is regarded as a synonym for trick
''F ana dishonesty. When they have lost
ANl NlAIst WHO illdkt Inc avs 'AiN
p'ople lose respect for the laws. Lawless-
utss and crime abound, respect for the
courts and juries is lost, a turbulent aud
ponslble rabble sits in judgment or
W n'nals, often involving the innocent
vim the guilty; the judges are defe1
le majesty of the law is insulted ana
s mob usurps the prerogative of the
Asculioner. To these causes / believe
,'N1h Of the constantly increasing law
sshess and crime and mob violence thai
.as alsgraced our state in the recent pas
Icy pc traced. For thirty years we, i'm.
.t'F ned by one of the most devastating
ols That has blighted the earth in two
.ous8nd years have taxed ourselve;
IVY TO support free schools in which
EDUCATE all of our people, and thus
lug up TO the standard of intelligence
su sood citizenship the irresponsible elias;
solers in our midst, but costly as tbs
NIorlment has been 1t has failed. The
Pohslole venal vote has increased mor'
-pa'y than illiteracy has decreased. W.
Isl therefore try another remedy. Thii
""Serous element must be eliminated