The Savannah morning news., 1902-09-11
WHY TAXES ARE HIGH
CLAIMED NOT UNREASONABLE CON-
SIDERING IMPROVEMENTS
YEARS INCREASED RECEIPTS.
UNION STATION AND s. A. L. HELP
ED REDUCE RATE.

Lead1nE taxpayers DISCUSS the ftuAe
Fixed by COmmissioners-Wh
Tax Receiver Baker Says About 1t.
Demands OF the People for Inn
provements Were Met-New Union
station and improvements on the
River Front Responsible for the
Increased Receipts From Corpora
tiOnS-A Remedy Suggested for
High Rate.
The tax rate, a matter which con-
Germs most people in a material way
was generally discussed yesterday. 1t
seemed to be the consensus of opinion
that while the rate is high, it is about
as low as could be expected, with tie
demand for public improvements.
Tax Receiver Baker said concerning
it:
THE rate is very reasonable. con-
sidering the nur her of improvements
already made and the number contem-
plated and Incorporated in the antici
pated expenditures. When the people
demand a great deal, it is not for them
to complain of high tax rate. The
rate compares favorably with that of
other large counties in the state Many
improvements have been undertaken.
the country roads have been made SER
viceable and the public buildings have
been repaired and renovated.
The increase in the amount received
from railroads and other corporations,
Mr.. Baker said, is due primarily to the
building of the Union station and to
the improvements on Hutchinson's ISL
and. 1t was the increased returns from
these sources that enabled the county
to do so much in the way of improve
ments and at the same time reduce the
tax rate.
Thankful for n Small Favor.
81 don't suppose that we have a
right to complain said gentleman
who pays a large amount of taxes.
I'VE should be thankful for small ia
vors: but let it be understood thac We
are looking for larger ones. Six cents
is six cents, and the reduction shows
that the commissioners were anxious
to relieve, as far rs they could eXpedl-
emily, the burden the taxpayer. While
the reduction is small, there is one
phase of the situation that is as graft
flying as it is singular. The state and
county rates both went down. This
doesn't happen once in six years. Whe n
the county rate goes up. somehow or
other the state rate goes the other
way, and vice versa. Sometimes it hap
pens that they both go UP, hut it's not
often that they both go down. For
twenty years, from 1878 to 1897 tha
rates went down in the same year, but
once, and they found out tine next year
that they must have made Il mistake"
Why Taxes Are High.
There are several very patent rea-
sons why tax rates are so high in
Chatham county, and in the rest of
the state, for that matter. In Savan-
nah $50, 900, and more, is spent yearly
for education. That is good way to
spend it. Statistics show, however,
that the appropriation has increased
much faster than has the population.
Take the period during which Savan-
nah's population has doubled, and you
will find that the amount appropriated
for education has multiplied much
more rapidly.
THE amount spent in the state for
education and pensions is enormous
and we have had no let up. Now. who
pays the tax? One-half of Savannah S
population is colored. and the amount
paid by the few negroes does not cut
any very appreciate figure. There's
one-half of the population not to be
considered in discussing the question.
OF the remaining taxpayers, not more
than 80 per cent. pay more than a poll
tax, or If they do, it is so little that
in calculating in round numbers they
would make no appreciate difference.
The tax is assessed virtually on the
remaining one-fourth.
Remedy Suggested.
1.-The state and county tax rate
makes property investment unremun-
erative to a considerable extent" con-
tinued the taxpayer, who happens to
be both a lawyer and a land owner
land real estate is no exception. A
road tax ought to be levied. While
there is a law which provides that
those outside of the city shall be liza
bic to road-duty, and shall be assessed
90 cents a day for the time which they
| do not serve, or on failure so to do, be
| liable to be forced by the authorities
| to take pick and shovel in hand, thai
| does not reach the people whom / have
reference to, or those who live in the
| city.
II ran across the law the other day
"a city law, too-which gave the city
| a right to assess a road tax of So up
on every male resident between The
ages of 16 and 60 year. That would
| fill the bill. and the city Golfer. too
though do not doubt that it would be-