The log cabin Democrat., 1911-09-05
RfYFNUF SITUATION
GROWS COMPLEX
7. J.BILL in CONTROVERSY
TANGLE OVER TIME OF LEVY
ING COURT MEETING MAY
PROVE SERIOUS.

Little Rock, Sept. 5.-The further
the controversy over the Turner-Ja-
cobson bill progresses the more con-
fusing and complex the situation be-
comes. The whole revenue system of
the state, which it had been designed
should be revised and remedied, is in
state of greater confusion than ever
before, and it is only the beginning.
Next Friday is the last day upon
which the referendum petition may be
filed for its submission to the people,
and it will be forthcoming by that
time. In the meantime, the validity
of the act is being fought out in the
courts, and no one may predict what
turns the controversy will take
In Pulaski chancery court Monday
suit was filed by the Arkansas tax
commission asking an injunction
against the assessor of Pulaski county
for making an assessment of the prop
erty of the Little Rock railway COM
pany under the old law, also asking
that the county clerk be enjoined
from extending taxes against the
property of the company made by the
tax commission.
Under the old law, the assessor as
sesses all municipal utilities, while un-
der the Turner-J acobson law the tax
commission makes the assessment.
Under the old law the assessor this
year had assessed the personal prop
erty of the street railway company at
$660,000. Under the new act, the
commission had certified out to the as
SCISSOR an assessment of $4,000, 900 on
the same property.
Ex-Congressman c. c. Reid appear
ed as attorney for the commission and
Assistant Attorney General Henry
, Rector for the assessor. D. H. Can
trell represented the street railway
company, w. B. Smith for the water
company. They, with Mr.. Rector, op-
posed the suit of the commission, con-
tending that Turner-J acobson bill is
not law, and that any action under
| that measure is invalid and void. They
contend that the assessor is acting
within his rights in ignoring the as
sessments presumed to be made by
the commission, and the attorney gen.
eral filed motion to dismiss the suit.
General Hal Norwood holds that the
commission sis unlawfully pretending
to bring suit for and on behalf of the
state of Arkansas" AS Governor
Donaghey is supporting the commits
sion, it follows that there is pretty
question as to who the state of Ar
kansas is. General Norwood's motion
was set for hearing September IS.
There is a prospect of a most de-
lightful tangle over the meeting of
the levying courts, that hinges upon
the determination of the validity of
the revenue bill. This threatens to
cause so much confusion that there is
a chance for the action of the quorum
courts being nullified. Under the old
law the courts met the first Monday
in October to make the annual county
levies and appropriations. At the last
regular session of the legislature the
Woods bill was passed changing this
to the fourth Wednesday in October.
Under the Turner-Jacobson bill the
time of meeting is fixed for the first
Monday in December.
Now, if the courts meet on the
fourth Wednesday in October and
make the levies, and subsequently the
supreme court declares the Turner
Jacobson bin valid, it follows that the
levies made under the Woods act
would be void, that law being set aside
by tn later act. Those opposing the
new order of things might attack the
levies and have them all set aside, ano
the confusion which would follow car
only be surmised.