The Mena weekly star. (Mena, Ark.) 1904-1977, 1911-04-06
A Fight OYER
BACK-TAX BILL
Senator Logan's Measure for Collecting
Back Taxes. Which Passed the
Senate Easy, Is Stirring a
Row In the House.

Little Rock, March 29.--The House
on Friday morning will resume the
debate on the Logan back-tax bill
which both its friends and opponents
have pronounced one of the most inn
portant measures introduced in this
session, and which has developed one
of the most spectacular legislative
battles.
II was passed through the Senate
almost without debate and many of the
senators declare they were unfamiliar
with its terms, and are now using
their influence to secure its defeat in
the House. 1t has slumbered for
weeks in the House, but when it was
called up Tuesday morning, it was a
signal for the fight to begin.
Representative Going made motion
to indefinitely postpone the bill and
made vigorous speech against the
measure, declaring it most ubiquitous
and the means of building up an in
vulnerable political machine. In the
afternoon he was followed by Repre-
sentative Kerwin of Jefferson who de-
clared that the proposed law would
not effect the poor man but would
catch the rich tax-dodger, the blood
sucking vampires who have been rob
bling the people to feather their own
nests. He asserted that no one ex-
cept the railroads and corporations,
here and outside the state, wants the
bill defeated, and that the same in
terests that are seeking its defeat are
attempting to defeat the general tax
bill in the Senate. He had been told
that it would put million dollars in
state treasury out of Pulaski county
alone. He resented the ipsinuation
made by Mr.. Going that the tax gath
erers to be appointed by the attorney
general would be a bunch of grafters,
and urged the passage of the bill in
behalf of the common people.
Mr.. Jackson of Phillips, who opposes
the bill. in the interest of fair play,
moved that Mr.. Kerwin's time be ex-
tended thirty minutes, as he had all
ready occupied his full time. but Mr..
Kerwin retorted that Mr.. Going had
not been limited and if the house did
not wish to hear him he would quit,
which he proceeded to do.
He was followed by Hurst of Wash
ineton, who favored the bill, declaring
it fight between capital and labor
The state is facing deficit of half a
million dollars and the money must be
found somewhere. Naturally the cor
porations and their counsel would
fight this and all other measures which
seek to make them pay their full pro-
portion of the taxes.
Representative Little of Mississippi,
acknowledged one of the most magnet
ic orators of the House. began his
speech against the bill and at 4:30
yielded to a motion to adjourn and
will finish his argument Friday, next
Senate day. He denied the charge Of
corporate influence against the bill,
declaring it most artfully drawn in
strument to permit lot of tax-grab-
bcrs to filch money from the people.
Permitting the attorney-general to
appoint assistants in each county TO
bring back-tax suits to collect on the
difference between the real value and
the assessed value of property for an
unlimited number of years, it will
open unending litigitation, will cast a
cloud over. every land title III the
state, and no man would be safe from
the rapacity of the tax hirellngs,
These assistants. getting one-third
of all taxes collected, could enter in
to all sorts of corrupt agreements.
and the property of honest citizens,
who had always paid taxes charged
sainst them, could be taken without
due process of law.