The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1912-10-26
NUMBER IL
RIGHT VEN OF TAX REFORM.

imperfections In Proposed Plan Nc
Reason for Defeating lt-Make 4
Start and Correct Defects as
: They Develop.
The following editorial copied from
! | the New Orleans Times Democrat OF
the 10th instant puts the tax reform
question up to the people OF Louisi-
ana ID conservative and sensible
manner that ought to command their
general appreciation and assent:
Il discussion of the tax amendments
mas now reached a stage where the
people OF Louisiana may wisely pause
Tor moment and take stock Of it.
/ We think it is established past dis.
pute, first Of all, that intelligent Lou-
islanians regardless OF faction Or
personal interest deem radical re-
form OF the states archaic tax sys-
tenn necessity. Advocates and on
4 ponents of the definite scheme of re-
form submitted by the tax commits
sion seem thoroughly agreed, too.
mat the principles upon which the
plan mas been based Is fundamentally
sound. The debate has developed,
we believe. no difference Of opinion
| upon either of these points. 1t is on
" when the details Of the compre-
nensive project are taken IN that
dlsagreements begin. Its critics are
~ no means In complete agreement
regarding their disagreements. One
Iinds q flaw in this specific proyi-
sion; another objects to that detail;
g third finds still a different feature
In his view Objectionable that the
two first have either tacitly approved
or overlooked.
The various objections have been
ably presented and argued. Most OF
tnem-eertainly the salient ones
nave been in our opinion satisfactor-
iIy answered by the proponents Of
the plan. There will be further dis
cussion and additional light, for we
are glad TO say that the Louisiana
press and public are both evincing d
livelier interest In the subject and
are arguing it much more freely pro
and con. 3ut when the last word
has been IFitten and spoken, there
Will inevitYDly remain certain mark
ed differences of opinion regarding a
So much may be taken FOR grant
ed. The ultimate question is whether
tax reform shall BIZ defeated at tie 3
pnlls bY tes offs eiti zens
Il based and agreeiTlg Ill lhe pres
ent system Is hopelessly unsatisfac-
tory, find IN the whole great pro-
ject one OF two details not entirely
% their liking. If the reorganiza.
lion OF the state taxing system must
wait npona complete agreement with
respect to fehe mnltifarious details Of
the laws ewing it effect, it must
wait forever. There never was
here never will be--a complete
meeting OF one hundred Ito say Moth
Ing Of one hundred thousand minds
upon a program necessarily complex.
t has taken years of agitation and
discussion to bring about the sub
mission OF the plan In definite form.
They are mistaken who contend that
5he commissions plan was drafted
TOO hastily, with no adequate con-
stdeTation or study of the subject.
We venture the assertion also that
40 tax commission could draft a plan
10 perfect in all Of its details as to
win universal Endorsement.
It seems to US that the essential
hing Is to make a start in this mat
.er Of tax reform. Since the correct
ness OF the basic principle and the
need Of change are both undisputed,
,he best and indeed the only way to n
est the theoretical defects In the
1etails Of the submitted plan is by
actual practice. Such details as
grove unsatisfactory in operation can
oe better corrected in the light of
practical experience. With all It's al
eyed defects the new system Is in
'initely superior to the old. It in
,ures the taxation of wealth that
low escapes taxation; it assures
lome rule In taxation; Its virtues
greatly outnumber the vices theoreti-
,al1y charged against it. Nobody as
,erts that the plan in all of its de-
,ails is perfect-nor will anybody
seriously contend that another plan
by another commission, con-
,ention or legislature one year or
EN- or twenty years hence, would ap-
eism. Let us make the beginning,
aWU GDrFGCL our IuiSEahGS dS LHSJ #AE~4##
reiop. Shall Louisiana march with
he progressive states or continue to
mark time indefinitely"
Election Returns Compiled.
Secretary of State Alvin e. Hebart
las completed the official compila-
ion Of the election returns from the
,ixth congressional district and the
ourth supreme court district, the
igures being as follows:
Sixth congressional district, full
erm Morgan 6273, Claiborne 1882;
aorgan's majority, 1891. The vote
II both candidates for the unezpfred
ERIN Is slightly in excess Of these
igures.
Fourth supreme court district
)'Niell f0,681, Reid 5785: O'Niell's
majority, 1896.
In the third railroad commission
district, where the result of the race
'etween B. A.. Bridges of Claiborne
nd Il. M. Wade Of Rapides was in