The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1910-05-21

IN aHotHef Column, hepfeSentatlV
11tt G.. W. Payne, of this parish, an
= nounces that he will vote agains
> the proposed tax for good roads
= the Panama exposition. and th
game law. We think Mr.. Payn
is wrong in his position. In orde
to be perfectly fair and consisten
he might at least give the people
a chance to decide such matters a,
are to be submitted to them.
The people of Grant parish hav.
within the last few days decided
to levy a special 6-mill tax for five
, years on themselves for the build.
ing of good roads. If we under.
stand the good roads measure now
before the Legislature, it will levy
a special tax of / of l mill on all
State property, and with the fund
thus raised it is proposed to build
good roads in the different par
ishes OH the half and half basis.
That is, in all parishes where a
good roads fund is provided by
special taxation, the State will give
the same amount, thus doubling
the good roads fund for that par
ish. In view of the tact that Grant
parish has just decided to tax her.
self 5-mills for the building of
good roads, we believe Mr.. Payne
is wrong i'll jumping to the con-
clusion that her citizens are op-
posed to the addition of / of l mill
tax, when it will double their abil-
ity to build roads. LII other words,
having voted 5-mill tax for this
purpose, we claim it is only fair to
Judge that they would favor An adj
tional raise of only one-t,centieth
when this small sum will double
their desired cash capital.
As to the Panama proposition
we have no expression of the peo-
pie. In the very nature of the
case, however, our Representative
is unwarranted in saying that he
is "sure" the people of Grant op-
pose the measure. The law pro-
posed is, that special tax of Z of
l mill shall be levied on all prop
erty in New Orleans, aud that in
the country parishes half of that
amount, J of l mill, shall be levied
to defray the expenses of the Pan
anna exposition.
In the absence of any expression
from the voters of Grant on this
very important QUESTION, it is lit
lie premature for Mr.. Payne to de-
;ide the matter for them. As a
natter of fact we believe they will
ndorse the tax If it is submitted
o them. We think when our citi-
ems understand the vital import Of !
be matter, and know their direct b
interest in it, they will heartily ia
or tie measure.
The tax in both instances is SO :,
mall the average taxpayer is not ,
DING to care anything for it. The >,
'rgest tax ]! of l MILL will only n
mount to ID cents a year to the
AN assessed with $4O0 worth of
roperty, and the man assessed ~
18th $4,000 worth would pay $3.50 q
year, total of $3.50 for the en- RI
re five years. Is there man in &C
ouisiana worth $4,000 who may ar
- l..
1t expect to be benefited many .
mes more than the $3.50 tax he
ould pay for the Panama exposi--
IN? The same inquiry applies q
TIA increased force to the good
ads question, because the tax is =
taller, and the benefit is present
tn us in more tangible shape.
Since writing the foregoing we
that the / Of l mill for good !
ads will likely be confined within
= 6-mill constitutional tax limit, Pr
d 1t may be that it will not have IT. n.
be submitted to popular vote. sh'