The log cabin Democrat. [volume] (Conway, Ark.) 1901-1982, 1907-11-14
WOULD FREE NEGROES FROM TAX
ALTON

or on an educational platform,
were doubtless surprised to learn
last week that he declared himself
in favor of measure that would
not only liberate practically every
negro in the state from bearing any
part of the burden of government,
but would actually destroy nearly
every rural public school in the
state. Surely, one would think,
school man, a man who only lit
tie over a year ago was making
canvass of the state in favor of in
creasing the school tax by three
mills, could not offer such propo-
sition as this. And yet this is
what it amounts to.
His proposition, as announced
on the stump at Russellville and at
Atkins, is to exempt from taxation
$3.50 worth of personal property
from every tax payer in the state.
This would mean that not two ne
.proes in one hundred and not more
than one-fourth of the white peo-
pie of Arkansas would have to pay
any taxes whatever upon their per-
sonal property. 1t would mean
that our school funds would be cut
almost if not quite in half; that rural
districts now having school six
months in the year would not have
three months school. 1t would
mean that there would not be half
the money we now have with
which to build county roads, and
to support the county and state
government.
But let us take as a concrete in
stance Faulkner county and see
how Mr.. Hinemon s theory would
work out. Faulkner is about an
average county of the state in
wealth and population. There
were in 1906 approximately 5000
people who paid their taxes on per-
'sonal property in the county-5o79,
to be exact. OF these less than a
half dozen negroes paid taxes on
more than $3.50 worth of personal
property. If each one of these
people was allowed all exemption
sof $3.50 the total would be almost a
million and a half dollars The
the, total assessed valuation i'll the
county was S1,I59,o25-so that
Faulkner county could exempt all
of her property and have some to
spare. But of course there are
those who have more than $3.50
worth of personal property. The
bankers, merchants and man
facturers of this county have listed
property to the value of $500, $40.
Less than one-third Of the personal
property in the county would thus
be subject to taxation. Taking this
from the total and dividing it by
the number of persons paying tax
es makes the average personal as
.sessment i'll Faulkner county
$132 so. Does it no seem that IN
the solicitude for the 'po' man
and the negro-Mr. Hinemon
has gone little too high and has
made his exemptions about SII7 Sc
too much9
We do not believe that the great
majority of people want to be freed
from taxation. We believe that
they want to support their govern
ment. their schools and their roads.
We believe that every man, how
ever poor. wants to bear his just
share in maintaining these things
We know that none OF them wants
the country public school destroyed
and the and the city school badly
crippled.
But Mr.. Hinemon might say in
answer to this that ne would at the
same time propose constitutional
amendment TO increase the rate OF
taxation sufficient to bring the
same amount of revenue as at pres
ent. To do this the rate would be