The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1909-05-15
THE ADDRESS OF JUDGE DUNLAP
Speaks to the Association Of Bankers
on Subject Of Taxation.

ms VI TIC ltAdS DduhtGS ASSOCla-
ton an instructive address was de-
livered by Judge o. E. Dunlap of
Waxahachie, president of the Citi-
zens National Bank, and who was
elected president of the association.
Judge Dunlap spoke on the subject
Iof Taxation: Do the Banks Pay
Their Just Proportion of Taxes" In
part the address is as follows:
Mr.. President, Ladies and Gentle
men: The subject assigned me for
| discussion is Taxation: Do the
Banks of Texas Pay Their Just Pro-
portion of Taxes?" | feel sure that
my audience will render verdict
| for the affirmative of the PROPOSE
! ton, because my audience pays the
tax This furnishes practical, but
! not theoretical knowledge of the
subject The political economist, and
| the legislators have tried to unravel
/ its intricacies. If | should attempt
to give mere outline of what has
been written and spoken on this
subject that would be the greatest
tax | could impose upon you. | will
not attempt it, but will be brief in
my remarks Taxation is essential to
the support of all civilized govern
ments. And the higher the type of
their civilization the more expensive
/ its maintenance. Public schools,
highways, hospitals, libraries and
public buildings are some of the at
tributes of a progressive govern
ment. And, moreover, it requires
large official force to conduct the af-
! fairs of all governments. The money
necessary for this is collected from
| the citizens by taxation. This tax,
under our laws, is supposed to be
equal and uniform" and is based
upon the value of property, without
discrimination as to any character of
the property This provision of the
constitution is manifestly fair and
Just And as much may be said OF
the ad yalorem tax laws on our
statutes. The difficulty arises in the
application of the laws by the num-
erous taxing officials of our state.
These officers each pursue arbitrary
rules, radically at variance with
uniformity. This condition is almost
universal in every state. The comp
port. says: While there is no fairer
or better mode of taxation than the
ad valorem system properly and
justly administered, there is none
more oppressive or unjust and un-
equal when loosely or imperfectly
executed" This is true statement
of the case Every citizen should be
willing and ready to "render unto
Caesar the things that are Caesars"
in the way of tax. True patriotic cit
izenship demands this sacrifice, with
out which government can not exist.
because there would be no protection
to life liberty and property. On this
proposition, I assume, there can be
no dissention The dissension arises
on the question of the tax being
equal and uniform That is the
fundamental law governing taxa
ton: and, regarding which, | believe
nearly all citizens are "law-abiding.
But it is repugnant to any citizen to
know that he is forced to contribute
more than his just proportion of tax
to the support of the government.
And that this is true. in many instn-
ces, no one can doubt. This much
is PREDATORY to my remarks concern
ling the taxation of banks The direct
taxation of banks had its origin
about the beginning of the nine
teenth century. The first state law
act of 1905. This was followed by
other states, each differing in the
method adopted. After the enact
ment of the National bank law, a
material change was maze III tHe
method Of taxing banks, which re-
suited in greater uniformity.
State Equalization Board.
Every state should have state
board of equalization, empowered
to hear appeals from local boards,
Our state constitution would have to
be amended in order to permit the
| creation of such a board. With such
| a board uniformity, approximately,
could be obtained in the rendering
of most corporate property. This
method is pursued by many states,
and with fairly satisfactory results.
| / do not think there is any species
of property which pays a higher tax
than banks. Expressed in millions,
the capital and surplus of the ma
tional banks of Texas is $50, 000,-
600; of state banks, $11 ,000,0 900.
These banks are all located In towns
4 IT,