The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1908-07-22
FARMERS OPPOSE THE BILL
SOME INTERESTING INFORMA-
TION ABOUT GUANO TAG TAX.

LIDS introduced a Dill in the present !
general assembly of Georgia for the
purpose of increasing the present |
guano inspection fee in this state |
from 10 to 25 cents per ton. The
object and purpose of the bill, as ad- !
mitted by the author is not to raise
funds for increasing the efficiency of
our present inspection laws, but to
raise money for the purpose of Gre
atlng a maintenance fund for the
eleven congressional district agri-
cultural schools recently established
in this state, and for the A. and M.
College at Athens. This bill has
found endorsement at the hands of
the governor, some of the large daily
papers, the leading officials of the
state educational institutions and
others. The farmers, who are most
vitality interested in the payment of
this increased tax, appear to be gem
orally opposed TO the bill. The origi-
nal object of the inspection fee was
for the sole purpose Of raising reve-
nue. to pay the EXPENSES Of carving
on the work of inspecting guano
offered for sale in this state by man
utacturers or dealers, and to pro-
tect the farmers from the imposition
Of fraudulent goods. The point has
been made by the friends of the
Martin bill that adjoining states
charge a fee of from rs to 80 cents
per ton, and for that reason Georgia
should make the same assessment.
1t has also been asserted by Repre-
sentative Martin and others that the
guano manufacturers charge Georgia
I farmers the same price for guano as
they do in other states where inspec-
ton fees are higher, assuming that
an increase in the present inspection
fee of from 10 to 25 cents will not
cause any advance in prices on guanO
sold in Georgia. 1t must be Dorne in
mind that Georgia farmers consume
annually from three to four times
as much guanO as do the farmers of
adjoining states, and a tax of 10
cents per ton in Georgia raises more
revenue than a tax Of 80 cents in
the other states. Furthermore some
of the states which now charge 25
TO ~ cents per ton as an Inspection
Zee charged SO cents per ton a few
years ago, the fees being cut down
owing to the increased sales, and at
inc demand of the farmers. who felt
that the fees were too high. The
annual consumption OF commercial
fertilizers, including cotton seed meal
in Georgia, is about 100000 tons
while the other southern states con-
sumo from $4,000 to 100000 tons.
At the time inspection fees were
fixed in the different states the an
nual consumption of commercial fer
ttilizers in the old cotton states was
quite small, and the sole object and
Intent of the law was to raise only
enough money to pay for the expense
Of Inspection. The consumption of
jguano in the ITarolinas, Georgia and
Alabama increased so rapidly in re-
(cent years that the income from the
sale of tags began to largely yield
more revenue than vas needed to
nay the cost of inspection, and by
Especial enactment of the various state
ilegis(atures the over plus vas divert
ed to e. ucational uses. =.
A Species of Glass Legislation.
The inspection fee is in the nature
Of fixed charge against the manu-
facturers, and, as such they collect
it back out of the farmers fLe same
as for the cost Of manufacture. sack
ing. transportation, etc. No honest
manufacturer would charge an in
spection fee of 25 cents in a staC>
where the law required the payment.
of only 10 cents. We do not believe
that such a charge against the manu-
facturers in Georgia is true, or can
be proven by any kind of testimony.
On the other hand, we believe that
fertilizers sold in this state bear a
charge OF only 10 cents per ton for
inspection fee. and that farmers In |
the other states are charged only |
the inspection fees as required by |
law in those states
There should be no obnoxious |
class legislation. There should be |
no inspection fees at all to be paid
by the farmers. The whole policy !
and equity of such a law is wrong. |
The entire 100000 annually expend
ed by the department of agriculture
in this state in the inspection of oils
and fertilizers and other work of
the department should be a direct
appropriation from the state treas
Ury, and the inspection laws should
be rigidly enforced. If the state is
not raising enough revenue to pay
the operating expenses of the various
branches of the government and pubs
lie institutions, let the rate of gen |
eral taxation be increased against !
all the property of the state, and do
not single out one special class to |
he made the victims of obnoxious !
class legislatiOn.-COttOn Journal.
The Remedy That Does.