The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1909-01-15
HOW TO REDUCE TAXES

First, aDollSn lne once OF county
treasurer and have the county COM
missioners designate one or more
banks in which the tax collector shall
deposit the public money, taking du-
pncate receipts from the bank. one
for himself and the other for the COM
missionerS. 1t is presumed mat the
circuit clerk is bookkeeper of the
county, and he can appOrtion the
funds on his record and keep the COM
missioners duly informed of the stat
US Of each.
Second, consolidate the Office of
tax collector with that of sheriff. and
have the collecting done after the
Mississippi method, according to
which the sheriff divides the list of
tax payers in alphabetical order into
equal parts corresponding with the
number of working days in a desig-
mated month and have each tax payer
20 or send to the sheriffs Office at the
county seat to pay his taxes.
Third, put all county officers or sal
aries from 5000 to $1,000 each, accord
ing TO the amount Of business done
by each Office, making sufficient pro-
visions for clerical help il cases re-
curing it. Fees to remain as at pres
ent, and all surplus fees over a
above the salaries TO be turned into
the county treasury.
These three reforms will reduce the
county tax rate, which is usually from
two to four times as high as that Of
the state. The county rate in DeSOto,
for instance, is 20 mills, while that of
the state is IL.
Fourth. a fair and just valuation Of
all property given in for taxation
throughout the entire state, by which
the poor man will bear no greater pro-
norton of the tax burden than the
rich man, cannot but have the effect
of reducing the rate. One cause OF
the present high rate is the fact that
the property of one man, which, by
WAY of illustration, we will say Is
worth $4,000, is given in at a valua
ton of $1,000. while that of another
worth $1,000, is given in at $500 to
5000.
That equalization for which press
and people have been clamOring fol
wears. if ever secured, will result in q
very perceptible reduction Of the tai
rate. There may be other ways and
means Of accomplishing the object de
sired. which are left for others to pro
nose. hut those mentioned seem cas-
lest Of attainment.
We might suggest the repeal OF the
pension law of 1907 and the substitu
ton in its place Of a law giving state
aid only to those in actual need OF 1t
but such a suggestion may raise al
outcrv that we do not care TO hear q
the beginning of this happy new year
The members of the legislature, !
they are such genuine patriots as the'
led those who elected them TO believe
ought to be willing to serve for dol
lar or two less than they usually pa
themselves. and they could also pa,
their clerks less than they have here
tofore received, all of which Woul
have a beneficial effect on the Ia
rate. hut We fear We can never choos
one hundred men a majority OF WHOM
20, no made to think their service
are worth less than five or six dollar
dav though the services OF some Q
,ban, are worth even less than zero
Indeed if would be a blessing 10 IN
state if some of the counties coui
and would nav their members OF n
Il legislature even ten dollars a day I
s+or At home and not attend the se'
siOns.
Finally the Herald has not Ee
abandoned its humble opinion ina
the legislature should be aooilshe.
.,a government by commission SUI
e+ituted Laws could be made. amend
"a or repealed by the initiative an
referendum. provided too many pro-
ositions were not submitted to IN
people at the same election. ~
NAV be a socialistic or pOpulisuc loe
hut its practical adoption would +
Heve the tax payers, and the oienni'
scandals and "fmpotent conclusions
at Tallahassee would disgust an
sbock rs no longer.-Punta UO'O
LIarold