Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1912-09-27
INTEREST THAT NAY Oppose the TAX
AMENDMENT.

dOAOh VILE 6ACaO vi PoioehOh 10y
tax based on and assessment of 3d.
500, 900, while under the proposed
plan this same company will have
to pay tax of five per cent on the
gross output of the mines, and tax
ing the output of 1911 as a basis,
when this company had a gross out
put of about S., 800, 600, it would
pay to the State about $3.50, 600 per
annum, which would be equivalent
to an assessment of about SIS, 000,-
600, or more than seven times the
present assessment. One of the best
features of the proposed plan is that
the General Assembly can classify
property for taxation and adopt
different rates for different classes.
And by this method of classification
sulphur mines are put in a class to
themselves and at different rate,
and when you consider that this
company claims to have more than
1000, 900 worth of sulphur in its
mines, you will see that taxes un-
der the new plan will be put upon
those best able to bear the burden.
The salt mines: Because, under
the present plan, the salt mines in
this State are assessed for $211 300,
while under the proposed plan, these
mines would have to pay to the
State three per cent Of the value of
the gross output Of the mines, which
would make their taxes several times
greater than they are to-day.
Persons, firms or corporations
owning sand, gravel, or shell pits
or rock quarries, and selling the
product of same, for the reason,
that to-day they pay no taxes, while
under the proposed plan they would
have to pay two per cent of the
gross value Of the output of the pits
or quarries, thereby greatly increas-
irg their taxes.
Persons, firms, or corporations
owning oil or gas wells, who to-day
pay a tax Of practically nothing,
and who under the proposed system
will have TO pay two and one-hali
per cent Of the value of their gross
output.
The rail roads may also object,
for the reason that under the pres.
ent sytem the limit of taxation that
may be imposed on such property
is 10 mills parish, 10 mills munic.
ipal, 5 mills State, 2-5th Of a mil
for good road, and in 1918 one mil
for Confederate Veterans pensions
making in all 1920 mills. This tar
of 1920 mills is the limit of taxa
ton on the property of rail roads
situated in a municipality, but OF
the property situated outside Of mu
inequalities the municipal tax mus
be deducted, leaving the limit 1920
Ii the proposed tax amendment j
ratified by the people, the rail road
will have to pay a tax Of 25 mill
on all Of their property, and as tn
great bulk of such property is stu
ated outside Of municipalities, ther
will be an increase Of $50 mills OF
the great bulk of rail road propert
situated in this State.
In the above figures we do nc
take into account special taxes, sue
as school, drainage and levee taxes
as the rail roads would have to pa
these special taxes under both plans
The proposed tax plan is fair,
is progressive, it is simple, it wi
come as near putting an end to tn
tax dodgers as any scheme than ca
possibly be devised, and will so in
crease the revenues Of our State ths
our State educational institutions
our asylums, our hospitals, and i
fact every department Of our Stat
government and all Of its institu
tons can and will be amply proviG
ed SO that the credit of our Stat
viii remain gilt-edge, and our bond
viii be sought as one of the safes
investments in the Union.
We hope the people Of Louisian
viii not be influenced by the argr
ments that may be advanced in a
insiduous manner by the special in
terests, but that they will, by a
overwhelming majority, ratify th
proposed tax amendment, thereb