The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1909-04-09
REVISION OF TAX LAWS
Urged BY Comptroller General
Wright in His Annual Report.
FAVORS INHERIT AN i TAX.
Future Appropriations Must Be Held
Down Until Revenue i Increased From
Other Than Present Sources.

Atlanta. Ga. Comptroller General
William A. Wright's annual report To-
the legislature, transmitted through
Governor Smith, contains some in.
teresting statements with reference to
financial and other affairs Of the
state.
That the appropriations OF the state
should be held down in future until
the revenue OF the state is increased
from other than present sources; that
the laws governing the conduct OF
insurance companies should be more
stringent and that the laws govern
ing the taxation of insurance compa-
MES in general should be Slightly
modified so as to encourage their OPP
GRAFTON in this state, are among the
principal recommendations made by
Comptroller General Wright.
Using the same figures embodies BY
State Treasurer Park in his recent
report, the comptroller general shows
that the finances Of the state are in
practically the same condition they
were In this time last year, notwith-
standing the loss Of $4,000 in reye-
nue. from the whisky tax,
He shows that the state has been
able to meet all appropriations up
to date, which was made possibly.
only by the abnormal increase In the
taxable values of the state In 1907
and 1908, as well as an increase VI
revenue from special or occupation
taxes and from the collection Of $685..
600 through suit brought by the.
comptroller generals department
against the Georgia Railroad for back
taxes on $4,000 shares OF Western
Railway Of Alabama stock.
The comptroller general shows that
the unparalleled increase In the val
ne OF the taxable property of the
state can not be reasonably expected
to continue and for that reason he
urges that appropriations In future be
held down until other sources of reve.
nue. are found.
AS a means for increasing the rev
enue he suggests extending the laws
taxing occupations and the taxation
Of inheritance, as is done In many
states.
The comptroller general recon-
mends a thorough revision of the rev,
enue system and declares that the de-
fectiye and disjointed machinery for
assessing property for taxation not
only encourages but permits much
taxable property Of the state escap-
ing taxation. He says that some.
method should be adopted whereby
the return Of invisible personal prop
erty such as notes, mortgages, stocks,
bonds, ETC., should be enforced.
The insurance laws should also be
revised says General Wright, and
that the jurisdiction Of the c3mptrol-
Ter general as insurance commissions
er should be extended to all classes
Of insurance companies for the pro-
lection OF the policyholders.
The comptroller general shows chat
in 1908 the total business written
by all companies in this state amount.
ed to $676, 452, 981.24 and the premiums
collected amounted to STA, 409, 1881
In view of the enormous amount 6fI
business done by them, he suggests
that they should be encouraged to OPP
crate in this state and that just and
equitable taxation laws should be en-
acted for the reason that in the end
the burden OF taxation is borne by
the policyholder.
An interesting feature OF the comp
troller''s report is a tabulated state.
ment showing the increase Of proper
ty owned by negroes in this state
from 1880 to the present year. In
1880 the total amount OF property re-
turned by negroes for taxation
amounted to $5,764,29S. In 1908 it
amounted to $27,O42,672.