Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1906-11-15

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The difficulty arose with the asses
ment of personal property. A
natural result followed; holders of
real and personal property we're dis
grunted because the income, after
payment of taxes, was often less
than 80 per cent. Of the total.
Holders Of realty were disgruntled,
because the valuation on real prop
erty was raised in order to, in part,
make good the loss of revenue from
personally. The States and cities
were dissatisfied because of the de-
creasing revenue.
I A plan was adopted which proved
ideal all dissatisfied parties became
satisfied. At the period referred to,
the rate in Baltimore was $3.50 on
the 500 for realty and personally
alike. The assessment for personal
ty was then approximately six mil
lion and the revenue 100000. I'm
der changed conditions, brought
about by more intelligent and just
Revenue Laws, the rate on personal
ty was reduced to SOC on the 500,
the assessment increased to $780,
100000 and the City Revenue to
$500 900. Other illustrations could
be given, but these are sufficient.
In ancient times nations strove for
Military supremacy. In modern
times the goal is Commercial supre-
macy. This struggle is not confined
to nations, but extends to the vari-
Gus States of the Union. History
records the fact that those States
which had dealt most justly with it's
citizens and their property enjoyed
the greatest material prosperity.
And it is we'll for all to remember,
merchants, legislators, and bankers
alike, that the very life blood of
Commercial and State supremacy
is in large measure supported and
maintained by the Banking Institu-
tions Of the State in which they are
situated.
Therefore to tax such Institutions
beyond their deserts tends to seri-
ously impair the foundation of the
State and City Commercial prosperi-
ty. w..
Having before US these facts so
manifestly unfavorable- what is to.
be done? What is the remedy?9l la.
A careful study of our laws re-
veals the unfortunate situation that
no permanent justice can be done to
farmers, merchants, and Banking
Institutions until an amendment to
our Constitution has been adopted.
The difficulty lies in that portion
of Section No. III of the Constitu-
ton, which is in words as follows:
"Taxes shall be levied and collected
for public purposes only. They shall
be UNIFORM upon ALL PROPERTY
subject to taxation within the terri
torial limits of the authority levying
the tax, and all taxes shall be levied
and collected by general laws"
1t is reflection on the intelligence
of this State to assume that tax laws
should be so infexible as to require
the present Section No. III of the
Constitution.
Already the want of wisdom from
its insertion in our fundamental law
has become patent. Times, circum-
stances and conditions may and have
changed, and what wiser provision
could be made than to have laws
proposed and enacted by those whose
duty it is to support and live under
them?
The last session of our Legislature
recognized this, and to that body
was presented an amendment to
Section No. I'll of the Constitution
which permitted of greater freedom
in future revenue acts. This amend
ment. after its passage in the Senate
by five-sixth vote, failed of passage
in the House. It's passage had been
requested by a majority of the
House, and through a most unfortu-
nate combination of circumstances,
at the end of the session, no vote
was taken.
AS from time immemorial there
has been no more perplexing ques-
ton than taxation. so it is, that fair,
just and reasonable claws, alike to
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