The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1904-10-21

TO the fusion cause in their fight
against the new revenue law and an
attempt to elect fusion legislature |
on that count. II should be given a
trial Of II year or two before demand |
ing a repeal. II is not a partisan mat.
ter. viewed in a broad light, but should |
be considered in business.like man
ner and II so considered II will un- !
doubtedly be supported by the voters
FUSIONlSTS ON REVENUE LAW.
revenue law was non.partisan affair, |
and because II has been taken up and
adjusted by the republicans is no rea-
son that it should now be made par
tisan matter and 1t would not be SO
considered but for the fact that the
fusionists are lacking a supportable
issue. BY the new law it Is planned to
pay off the state Indebtedness at the
rate of 100000 year and II the
state of its debt they cannot, If elect
ed reduce the taxes materially. The
debt will have to be met some time
and the sooner 1t is wiped off the slate
the sooner will interest payments be
stopped. No one but the taxpayers
will do this and the voters should sup.
hn orfu hO hn hn nf
facing the issue.
That the need for this legislation
has been recognized by the parties
now engaged in fighting the law and
the republicans for passing 1t is shown
by the following quotations;
1T seems imperative that some ac-
tion should be taken by the legisla-
ture providing for a better method Of
levying and collecting the revenues
necessary for the proper conduct of
the governmental affairs OF the state.
The imperfections and laXity of the
provisions of the present law for levy.
ing and collecting taxes to meet cur,
rent expenditures, and the still great.
er laXity in enforcing these imperfect
provisions of law, have brought us
face To face with a condition of af
fairs that renders it impossible to con.
duct the business of the state without
much embarrassment needless Sacri-
fees, and ever increasing floating in.
debtednesS. Governor Silas A. Hol-
comb in his message to the legislature,
Jan I, 1897,
The inequalities in our revenue
system must be apparent to any one
who has examined it. A general re
vision of the entire law upon the sub,
ject is necessary. Numerous attempts
have been made in the past to accom-.
plish such revision, but the short time
occupied in a legislative session, the
vast amount of work to be accom-
plished, and the magnitude and diff.
Guilty of the task, have prevented its
Poynter in his message to the legis.
lature, Jan, 8, 1901.
The inequalities resulting from
. the present construction and enforce
ment of the revenue law relating "a
assessment and taxation is agitatng
the minds OF the people. Immediate
legislation is demanded. Auditor j,
f. Cornell tfusion) in his report for
1900
"As a whole, We believe the law to
be a good one, and TO have been
framed with the object OF reaching al
property in this state, and to impose
on all taxable property its due share
of the public burden."-From the opin
ion Of Judge Sullivan, (fusion), the
other judges Of the supreme court con
curing.
: Except in the matters pointed out
. with regard to the method of assess
ings and taxing insurance companies
we believe the law 10 be not only fail
' to the tax payer, but one admirably
: adopted 10 the equitable distribution
Of the burden Of taxation among the
, property owners of the state. From
the opinion Of Judge Duffy, fusion
l.. commissioner Of the supreme court.