Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1912-10-25

Inc FARMERS anu OtueF Suldll TAX
payers benefit most by the proposed
tax reform because they have suf-
fered most from the inequalities and
abuses of the present system, which
has made Louisiana a paradise for
the tax lodging corporation and
other concerns that can conceal their
wealth or the true value of their
property. The farmer cannot con-
ceal his property. He is therefore
taxed on his all, whether assess
ments in his parish be high or low.
The present inequality between one
and another in the same parish,
which in some cases has resulted in
one man paying twice the taxes OF
another on property of the same
value, will be wiped out by the pro-
visions of the amendment. The sit
uation created by the tax reform
amendment is admirable from the
point of view of the farmer, both
personally and as the beneficiary OF
the services performed by the par
ish and State governments. These
assertions are easily proved by the
facts without complicated argument.
Most of the parishes levy the full
ten pills permitted by the constitu-
ton. The State tax, once six mills,
is now five mills. The good roads
tax is one-fifth mill. As the other
special taxes are not in any way
affected by the tax reform amend
ment, they need not be considered
The farmer is therefore paying q
total in taxes affected by the amend
ment of the Is 9-20 mills. This is
of course less in the parishes that
levy less than 10 mills.
The new tax for the Confederate
Pension Fund raises their tax from
fifth to a whole mill. There is
not the slightest doubt in the mind
of any reasonable person that Louis
lana will vote this one mill tax fol
the old soldiers. 1t is therefore GER
tain that if the tax reform amend.
ment be defeated and the Confed-
crate Pensions tax added to the
farmers present taxes, he will pay
As of mill more. That will make
total of Is $40 mills, or 16 IA
mills.
1t is therefore plainly evidently
that l6 IA mills will be the farm
ers' taxes, not considering the spec
ial parish taxes for roads and school;
etc.
The tax reform amendment per.
mits the parishes to levy their owr
benefit. The parishes are therefore
allowed to levy Is mills for theil
own purposes. In the parishes that
! do not levy the full 10 mills to-day
| it will probably not be levied in The
future. But the difference of a Ia
of mill remains the same anc
by the adoption of the tax reform
amendment the farmers save it fol-
their own pocket books.
The roads and schools will b,
better taken care Of than they ART
to-day. This also is easily proved
The tax reform amendment givel
the road $4,000 a year from thu
State directly and another 500, 00t
from the special automobile tax
Half the automobile tax will b
spent on the roads by the State gov
eminent and the parishes get thu
other half and are directed to spenC
it in the same way. All the specia
road taxes in the parishes (excep
the State tax of IA mill mentioned
above) remain the same. They viii
be collect as at present on the prop
erty taken for State taxation anC
may be voted and levied on all prop
erty, just as they are now, in thu
future. 1t is thus evident that th'
roads will be better taken care o
than they are to-day.
The schools are guaranteed 81,
030, 900 as minimum yearly APP
preparation from the State. Thi
amount is the same as provided il
the appropriation bill passed by tn,