The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1907-05-09
franchise tax law.
Case of Express Company.

Further addressing the senate up
on the question of the justice and
equality of the franchise tax l di-
rect your attention to the following
language of the United States SUI
preme court, in a case where the
Adams Express Co, were endeavoring
10 avoid the payment of taxes on its
franchise and insisting that only its
tangible property should be taxed. the
court said: Accumulated VEAL. Va.
laugh at the crUd1ty of taxing laws
which reach the tangible, and ignore
the intangible (franchisel property
While they who own the tangible
property, not organized into a single
producing plant, will feel the injustice
of a system which so misplaces the
burden of taxation Now from the
language and expression of the SD
preme court We gather that an injus-
tice does exist when such valuable
porperty is not subjected to taxation.
Mr.. President, I ask the question,
Isn't it right and just for us to apply
the law to the public service cOrpoT-
alton in equality and in the same
manner and terms as We deal with
the remainder of our citizens of the
state, or should We leave them i'm
mune from "A certain part of the tax
burden that we impose upon the or
binary citizen? All that I am urging.
is that we apply the same system 10
the public service corporation, that
We apply to the great masses who
contribute to the maintenance of the
government Is this asking unreasOn-
able? Is it unjust? Is it in the name
Of High Heaven anything more than
equal rights TO all and special privi-
legeS 10 none? | would not impose
hardship upon railroad or other
corporation any more than | would uD-
on the poorest man in our state. but
Mr.. President, my fairness towards
the railroads and other pubic service
corporations can never lead me into
discrimination in their favor as
against the remainder Of the tax pay
ing citizens of our commonwealth.
Railroads Benefsctcrs.
Il appreciate that the railroad is a
great factor in the development Of
our state, but Mr.. President, l say
that greatest of our benefactOrs are
the farmers, the merchant, the manu-
factUrer and the men at the head of
our great commercial affairs. because
it is from this producing, this cOnsum-
ing, and business class of our citi-
zens that comes the traffic that sup
ports and maintins the public service
corporation. Ignore and discriminate
against the interest of the last
named classes of our people. and You
trample upon the rights Of those upon
whom depends the prosperity of any
nation All of these interests, corpOr-
alton and private, marching side by
side lend TO the prosperity of our
state. but Mr. President, | am not
ready to say that on this account the
public service corporation should be
favored in our scheme Of taxation. and
by reason of such fa"oritism the re-
mainder of the tai 5urdened people
should be required TO pay more than
their just proportion OF the revenue
am seeking 10 equ2lize the tax
burden. not To do an injustice or to
injure any business enterprise in our
state If | had an idea that my bill
would injure or do 2 wrong 10 any
one then 7 would withdraw il from the
of this honorable body.
An Old Old Argument.
1t is not my purpose 10 tear down
but TO build up, and II * my opinion
that any governmental policy which
rests equally upon all will have this
tendency. The corporation inteTeS-
claims that e. franchise TaL would
drive capital from our state; that II
would hinder development This Is
an old. old argument. that IS pre-
sented every time We seek 70 regu'a.e
them. II was used when the railroad
commission was established. il Was
he cry in many of the states when 2
franchise law was enacted. but in The
face of such threat and alarm prac- /
tically all of the states have fran
chise tax law and I have vet to learn ,
Of q single instance where these laws /
have effected in the least any of the |
numerous states which have il. They /
have prospered, grown and developed !