The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1904-06-06
REPEAL THE OCCUPATION TAX.

The federated business organiza-
tions of the state are asking the next
legislature TO repeal the occupation
tax law whereby all merchants and
most of the professions are required
to pay an occupation tax. The oc-
eupation tax law was first enacted
upon the recommendation of Gov.
z. j. Davis, and was justified by
him as a temporary expedient made
necessary by the impoverished con-
dition of the people resulting from
the civil war. 1t has been continued
by the democratic party and few
wears ago made even more stringent
than before. The occupation tax is
an unjust burden upon the merchant
and the professional man. 1t tsse
form of double taxation since it can
not be justified upon the ground that
such business and professions need
police protection or surveillance
From the Comptroller's report re-
Gently submitted to the Governor
We take the following figares:
The total taxable values of the
state for the year 1903 amount to
81 .054 ,94S ,037. The assessed value
Of the mercandise of the state is
947,973, 277. The total amount paid
into state treasury derived from the
advalorem rate of 1917 cents on the
500, amounts to l,7GG, 9l9 81. On
the same basis the merchandise of
the state pays $40 1868 50. The oc-
cupation tax paid by merchants
alone amount to 3lS3, gJ9. Add the
two and you have the merchants of
the state paying a tax, which If
based on the adyal0rem value
IF their goods would be equal
20 3D. cents ON the 500 valuation,
while other Kinds Of property pays
only ii Mauifestlv this Is unjust,
and "A burden which no class of le-
ultimate business enterprises ought
10 have topay. This is state tax alone.
Add TO this county and city occu-
patton taxes, and you have the meT-
chants of The state turning into the
common fund of the state, county
and city governments about 1850 0OO
Yu "A total valuation of SIS 100 600,
~ nearly 90 cents 9u tHe 800 yalu-
alton from occupation taxes alone.
Their sdvatHrsm taxes must bee paid
il addition
10 Is very apparent tnat there must
hs p revision ~ our taxing laws at
f.s coming session OFF '.e jeEI-la- .
rHra. I.. treasury |- very near a.
deficit. t.I 10 I- certain That after .
August first stat. warrants cannot .
hr nsIt Is higher blyaIoreu rate .
Is il necessity. Wilde revising the .
FAX rate .t eua.I He VsI to take .
some action booking fu fNs relief uf
tHu.. ets 4rr ..~ required FOO bear
tautIa buri.a. There H .H Wufe .
reason WHg 10 merchant e8tl "A stock .
Hf goods sa..lt "s. sa occupation .
lax t.ar ..st fH. Wt. a.. raises .
.a.s .r rttt|.. ..ft.. .r HHr4 sHnut4 .
usy s... IH. teu.efst. party te-
u.Ets .. .ra..st. ....aI utuUlf.rm .
fsKal.... s.E 4. f..r Fss4 8eu1-
cratic ..uu -~saI.. ...sala class
10 .f s#. $780, .aHH .tE iuuble
ASS lsrhsr f.- .sts.fHtf .lH-fclasess
pas fHIs suretg.H w.|. likely come
before tHa county convention asre
Iu IHit. .ut tlH .unf srt.w
zuuuiI us tskaH thereon t.e people
shaul8 nake @xfF.-*taHs Ha tte ea b.
.eet Ia Eha uf Haf.es #u JaIFH
ugss th~ 4aesliaa f eafefat Invss-
tisagAou ffem iar ftau8fHIat ofHEht
aud thsB ustuef g"ur representa-
tiwus e. Ese Ie1ts}afHsa accordingly