Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1912-01-12

county paying six mills GA its egn as
sessmeht Each Of the 20 counties have
widely varying standards of assessment.
differing from each other. as much in
character, as Go the 80 assessors in phys
ieal appearance. The provision Of the
Constitution that Taxation shall be
uniform and equal throughout the state.
Property shall be taxed in proportion to
its value is nulli6ed in many counties,
according to my information, by those
counties, through their assessors or SUI
pervistP or both, deliberately under
&ssesaA he real and personal property
OF the ATTY, sometimes fixing assess
ments IS per cent OF less of the real
value property, thereby relieving
thcmsi of q large part of their just
share r~xation, and throwing il upon
other , titles, upon the pretext that
other ! mites will perpetrate like
frauds The same temptation has had
the sal result in nearly all Of the
states { Letting a general revenue by
a sNed y on local assessments; and has
lie to Il condemnation and to its aban-
donment by nearly all progressive states
and countries. This system places q
heavy and unjust tax on honesty, and Q
high premium on fraud and perjury.
The state should either apportion Its
tax among the different counties in
proportion to the county tax they col.
lect, for lowering assessments and rails
ing county levies would not avail; or
through reflective state equalization
board, or by constitutional amendment
permitting the state to collect its nd
valorem tax from railroads, and banks,
or such corporations as can be readily
and accurately assessed throughout the
state on the same standard of value.
By a scientific classification of land,
according to its quality, and use, and
separate valuation of improvements, as
recommended by the International Tax
Association, immense improvement over
our present crude system could be made.
Finances.
The books and reports of the auditor
and state treasurer close with the last
OF September, the end of the fiscal year.
Neither of these reports has yet been
received. They have been expected daily.
Without them, detailed review and fore
cast OF matters financial cannot be def
nitely stated, for their biennial period.
Estimates are made by comparisons. The
future is gagged by past experience.
A Brief Review.
In giving to you information of the
state of government" l shall briefly
note a few of the many important and
beneficial achievements of the last leg.
i~slature and other departments of the
retiring administration, emitting many
important legal reforms manifest to any
n who will examine the legislation OF
the past four years. Among their re-
forms are:
The ratification of the sixteenth
amendment to the United States consti.
tuition, by which a just share Of burdens
of government can be imposed through
an income tax on many wealthy indi.
uiduals and corporations which par
TALLY, or wholly, escape taxes; and the
memorial to congress requesting the
submissirh of an amendment making
United States senators elective by O
direct vote.
The submission of three amendments
to u state constitution, which were
overwhelmingly ratified at the polls,
providing for: ~ popular election of
judges of the circuit and chancery
courts; (2) authority to every session
Of the Legislature to insert constitu.
tional amendments; and ~ the aboli.
ton of all restrictions Oh special ses-
sions of the legislature as to subject
matter of bills.
The prohibition of liquor selling, the
state refusing further to c~ountenance,
or participate in a traffic so frought with
spiritual, moral, physical and financial
destruction to its citizenship.
Bucket shop gambling was outlawed.
Child labor, in its evil forms, was pro-
hibited, and in other respects legally
regulated. A pure food law, just now
becoming operative, was enacted, for
the first time afrording protection to
grown folks and children from fraud.
ulent and poisonous adulteration of
their medicine and food. The state en-
tomologist was armed with authority
for aggressive warfare against diseases,
and pests injurious to gardens and or
chards. Agricultural high schools and
consolidated rural graded schools were
established. The public road system was
revised, and bettered. The counties,
through county commissioners, chosen
by themselves and the United States
department of agriculture, with politics
thus minimized, were empowered to CO.
operate with the federal government in
an effective campaign for diversified
agriculture, and against the boil weevil
and other enemies of plant life.
The Live Stock Sanitary Commission
and its efficient management is con-
clusively proved by its rapidly growing
popularity and efficiency. According to
the report of the United States Bureau
Of Animal Industry, cooperative cattle
tick eradication work, in 1901, was