Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-04-06
1903 NEAR-BEER
TO BRING STATE
ABOUT SI75,OOO
So Says Comptroller General
in Report-But State Faces
Financial Straits, He Says,
and Must Cut Expenses.

A condition IN the revenues Of the state
that calls for hedging on expenses during
the coming year is given due stress Dy
Comptroller General Wright in his an
nual report. proofs OF Which nave Jus'
come from the press
to this financial condition and to some
greatly needed changes in the laws gov
erning insurance business in Georgia, the
report OF the comptroller Is almost wholly
directed
Temporary Abnormal Conditions
General Wright charges that the insur-
ance laws o. Georgia are almost discrimi-
patorv against companies organized IN
this state. in that many taxes are levied
here from which foreign companies are
exempt
Insurance. he says. is popular in Geor-
ria. as the big premium receipts OF over
ssooo,ooo in 1895 go TO prove
he says that Atlanta is the biggest
Insurance center south OF New YORK
He predicts that the near beer revenue
during 1sS viii be not less than a15.oOO-
Ha makes a striking statement showing
the increase in taxable values returned
Nv colored citizens OF the state-nearly
AZ moo I'm 1850. and 81. 10000 in 1890.
A thorough revision OF the Insurance.
laws A. inDerativeIy needed. he says
re believes that the powers Of the in
murancs commissioner should be extend
Cd The commissioner should be en-
powered. he ssys to make examinations
annually. or when needed. 70 inquire
into ot-only the solvency OF the compa-
nfes but their honesty Of management
A. veil and 10 refuse licenses or revoke
then, when dishonest management Is W.
covered.
All Of these recommendations. sugges-
lions and comments made by the comp
frolIer general see the big questions OF
revenue and Insurance from the stand
point Of the taxpayers and pOlicy-holders
OF Georgia
sFrom the foregoing figures" says the
report showing the condition OF the
states finances. II viii be observed that
notwithstanding the loss Of $4,000 Of
revenue from the tax on liquor dealers,
the condition OF the treasury on January
i, 1868. was practically as II was on the
corresponding date I'm IpoS'' The comp
troiler beiasves- this was made possible by
the abnormal increase in taxable values
as wen as increase OF revenue from spe-
cial or occupation taxes or other sources
This abnormal increase, he said. cannot
reasonably be expected to continue grow
ing. and he doubts II IL win be possible
70 meet the 1909 appropriations even with
q temporary loan OF the $4,000 authorized
BY law. Appropriations. he says. must
be held down in future till our revenue
Is increased from other than present
sources. de says that more revenue can
be raised by taxing occupations not now
touched and suggests an Inheritance tax
such as Is imposed in many OF the states.
He saws that to relieve the annual en-
harrassment the state experiences In
meeting promptly it's school appropria-
ton. which in 1909 viii be s, $4,000. the
legislature should provide sinking or
surplus fund from taxes on the taxable
property Of the state in excess Of the
present assessment OF s705.S24S.
He submits a tabulated statement show
ing how the assessments Of the taxable
property OF the state have increased since
1sS0. the first year Of his administration
OF the affairs of the Office. The state
ment shows that In 1850 the property on
the digest was assessed at s23S. 81, 126. and
in 1908 II had. grown to $5S4.1ss. Isl. Not
withstanding the. marvellous increase
shown he observes. the tax rate has not
c0rrespondingiy decreased. but on the
contrary has increased until with 500
per cent Increased valuations we have a
tax rate reaching the constitutional limit
OF one-haf OF one per cent.
&T75,OOO 1909 Near-Beer Taxes
We may expect $4,000 from the near
beer tax in 1909. says the comptroller.
This tax amounted 10 $500 in 1908
He says that an evident oversight in
the near-beer tax law should be attended
10 by making provision for the compen-
sation OF ordinaries for collecting the
tax He further advocates an appropria-
ton OF sufaeient money from the fund to
pay commissions on collections they have
already made He believes. too. that the
tax should be made payable 10 the coun-
~ tax collectors instead OF to the or
dinaffes
He submits statement Of propsrtyare-
turned for taxation by colored taxpayers
from 1850 TO date, showing that in 1SSO the
coiored citizens OF the state paid taxes
on a property valuation OF S5Te4 2es
whereas in 1sos the valuation has swelIed
70 sz7.041.s71 He tabulated other chief
items OF property IN Georgia. showing
hat real estate town and city valuations
have Increased from forty-nine millions IN
1880 20 IL millions IN 1903: lands, wild and
improved. from 20 millions I'm 1850 to III
million In lsts; cotton factories. from 81
$4,000 % 100; bank capital. from 81
eG,5s7 to sSo.zs4s ss: and railroad and 9th.
CT corporation property. from s.sss,12s. q