The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1912-02-02

the SIGIeS revenue WlLuOuI luSiSdoiiiS
the burden of taxation already resting
upon the shoulders of the taxpayers of
the state. That the source of revenue
must be widened everyone must admit,
the march of progress demands IT, the
plans for greater Kentucky de-
mand it and the exigencies of the per-
iod demand it; there has been apprc-
priations, necessary appropriations, for
commendable purposes, which demand
an increase in the states revenue in
order to meet them; many thousands
of dollars have been appropriated for
the new capitol, which is Just; approp-
riatlons for better schools. for the
training of and for better teachers, for
normal schools, to establish and main
tain a State University, ali of which is
eminently just and proper; for the
various charitable institutions of the
state, for childrens home, confeder-
ate home, all of which are necessary
ard Just and are but in keeping and
necessary to keep Kentucky up to the
standard Of other states; for various
officers and boards looking to the
health and Improvement of conditions
throughout the state, and for many
other equally as important steps which
tend to the improvement Of the state
and the welfare of the people; and to
meet these emergencies is a problem
which seriously confronts not only the
committee in charge of the readjust-
meut scheme, but the entire popuiace;
to acquire the revenue is an easy mat
ter, but to acquire it without increas-
ing the burden of taxation is where the
rub comes. Senator l.. W. Arnett of
Covington. who is chairman of the
committee, has introduced a bill in the
Senate, which to our mind, will in a
measure solve the problem. ard too
without imposing a burden of any
moment upon anyone, and will not in
crease the taxes of the people at large
by one penny. His scheme is to tax
the output of coal in the state to the
extent Of one cent per ton, one twenty
fifth of cent per bushel, seemingly a
very small thing Of itself, but when
: you take into consideration the fact
that there is about Is, 600, COO tons of
coal mined in Kentucky annually, you
will really see what an enormous am
cunt of revenue this method is calcu-
lated to bring into the state Golfers,
ard too, it is reasonable to suppose that
within five years this tonnage is reas-
onably expected to more than double
itself. OF this vast amount of coal
mined. only about one fourth of 1T is
consumed within the state, the other
three fourths being shipped out of the
state Of this vast amount OF coal
taken from the bosom of the state she
receives practically nothing, at least a
mere pittance; the operator or specula-
tor who leases. these coal lands, the
mining rights only mind you, for oft
times next to nothing. wakes rich on his
investment, while the poor devil who
owns the land from which the coal is
mined pays the taxes, it is true the
land is assessed at from only So. to $40.
per acre, and thus neither the state
nor the owner OF the land derives but
very little revenue from it.
The majority of the coal lands oper-
ated are leased or owned by nonresi-
dents of the state, they pay no taxes,
weak fat u on the hidd IN { asur- o; ths
state, and take their wealth elsewhere
to spend it, not even paying to the
state what should be a just quota OF
the taxes upon the treasure mined
therein.
We believe that as matter of state
pride, of patriotism. it might be
termed, that the citizens of Kentucky
who are interested in mining coal will
cheerfully pay this trifle of just taxa
ton into the state, and that others viii
be forced to do so.
Senator Arnett's bill provides thai
on or before the tenth day of January
of each year, each person, firm OF
corporation engaged in the mining OF
coal in the state shall file with the
Auditor a sworn statement of the
number of tons of coal mined during
the previous year and shall pay there
for license tax Of one cent per ton
and fixing heavy penalty for failuIt
or refusal to pay such tax or make
such report. Hon. John W. Holland o.
Shelby county introduced the measure
in the House.
There is such a law upon the statute
books of the state of Pennsylvania
one of the greatest coal producing
states in the Union, and if our lnfor
nation is correct, the real estate o.
Pennsylvania is not taxed one cent fol
state purposes.
Aside from the opposition of the in
terests, which may be expected to op
pose the bill, the principal argument
} against it will be that it will cause al
increase in the price of coal. Thi.
however, cannot be of much conse
quence, for tax of the twenty fiftl
part of cent per bushel cannot mat
erially increase the price of that com
modify, and the ultimate relief which
VII come to us in the way of removing
to some extent our burden of taxation
by creating another source of revenue
will more than recompense us for the