The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1912-09-28

| Mr. Editor: 1t is well there shouid
be some explanatory discussion OF the
Tax Amendments to be voted upon IN
November; and permit me to address
your readers.
1t is we'll known that the increasing
demands for revenues with which to
operate the affairs of the State calls
for more and more taxes. THESE taxes.
imposed upon the imperfect system
! heretofore existing, have always I'M
posed burdcns unequally as between
individuals as we'll as between Par
ishes. Some persons have been taxed
on a higher basis than others, some
have scaped taxation, thus adding to
the burdens Of those having taxes to
pay; and as between Parishes, those
parishes with low assessments have
shifted their state Tax Burden to
those with higher assessments. Inc
Equality in assessments and lnsnfhc'en-
CIV of revenues for State needs, are the
chief marks of the present system OF
Taxation.
For eight or ten years thought has
been given to dcvising a plan which
would equalizc the burden, produce
the revenues and not increase the bur
dens of the taxpayers.
This year, the Tax Commission,
with the benefit Of the labor OF its pre-
deccssor, confected the plan which
has been adopted by pm overwhelming
vote of the General Assembly. and
submitted to the voters for their adop-
tion as a Constitutional Amendment.
1t provides, that the State shall col
lect its taxes, through its own Tax
Commission, from such as Steam and
Electric Railroads; Electric Light and
Power Plants mot MunicipaD, Tele-
phone, Telegraph Lines, Express Com
panies, Steamboats, and other water
craft; Canals for transportation or ir-
rigation Oil Pipe Lines, Banks, Fire
and Life Insurance Companies. Sugar
Refineries mot meaning our facto-
ries), Rice and Cotton Oil Mills. Mines,
transfers of stocks, Cotton Exchange
transactions, Organization OF Corpora
tions, and Franchise Taxes. Aut omo-
bies (for good road funds) and In
heritance Tax. This is general
statement of the sources Of State Rev
enues without giving them in too
great detail. 1t is established that
these will furnish ample revenues for
the requirements of the State.
/ After withdrawing these sources of
revenues from local taxation. the other
properties are left subject to local tax
alton for local purposes only. In 9TH
er words, the property taken over to
the State will not pay the local tax,
and wee versa, the property left to To-
cal taxation will not pay the State Tax.
With that general outline, | submit
|, some of the main features OF the pro-
position, with some slight repetition
but only to make clearer the issue.
First: Inc central idea of the plan
is separation of State and local
sources of revenues. The state will
cease collecting taxes from you. Mr..
Farmer, Mr. Landowner, Mr. Home
owner. and Mr.. Anybody not so fortu-
nate as to be the owner of railroads.
|, mines, telegraph companies or kind
red sources of wealth. The only tax
which you will pay will be to the Par
ish and the Municipality in
, which your property IS located,
and the basis of this taxation
cannot be any more than you are now
paying to the State and the Parish or
Municipality. There will be absolute
local self government in the matter OF
assessment and collection of these
taxes, and it will be your business to
see to the equalization Of assessment,
the honest expenditure of the money,
1.-THE fixing Of a proper rate OF taxation
and the honest expenditure OF your
public moneys. Under the home rule
plan you will pay these taxes to your
selves, and only as much as you need;
but no one can make you pay on a
higher rate than you have now paid to
the State and to the local authorities.
Remember, whatever you will pay
Twill remain with you.
Second: The proposed plan will cure
the inequality as existing between
Parishes under the system now pre-
vailing, wherein Parishes which as
sess themselves because of their own
needs, let us say. a basis of sixty per
cent of valuation, are forcing Their
E taxpayers to contribute twice as much
to the State as other Parishes assess
ing themselves on the basis Of thirty
per cent. Every increase IN the de-
r mands of the State for taxes. and ev-
! ely increase in the assessment of the
' Parishes. but increases the burden OF
those making the more honest assess
ment. and but increases the inequality
between Parishes. As the State will
t cease collecting taxes from properties
. subject to parish taxation II the plan
carries, you will be able to assess the
property in your particular Parish on
I such basis as you may locally deter
3 mine for your own advantage, and no
injustice can be perpetrated on you by
the inhabitants OF another Parish be
J cause Of their basis of assessment.
Third: The State will collect its rev.
enues from special sources. some OF
which have heretofore paid taxes and
some not; but these revenues will NO
LONGER be taken, as already stated,
from the merchant, home or land own
Ter or other citizen. Its revenues will
lie derived from such sources as cOrpo.
ration franchise, or organization taxes.
railroads, telephone, telegraph and
Iexpress companies, banks, insurance
+ companies, mines, cotton futures, IN
; Iheritances, and various other sources
of which these are illustrative. Inc
D demands of the State increase yearly
J. These sources also augment in keeping
4 with our development, and will fur
tnish ample resources without impoa
u ing any heavy burden on the special
Q Interests or properties to be taxed.
Many of these properties have no
J. lii aretofcre borne taxes for their fail
proportion. By reaching out and max
ling those who have escaped taxes pay
Them, in conjunction with sources
r Iheretofore drawn upon. the State vii
q sustain itself and at the same TIM
i free the taxpayers OF the various par
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