Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1912-08-23
POSITION CLEAR
 ON l. J. BILL Governor Robinson Speaks at Charleston and Reviews
 the Obnoxious Law. BURDEN TO THE POOR
Says Under it Poor People Will Not Have An Appeal in Matters
 Involving Taxes.

ueClafeS To De the most important measure to be considered under the Initiative and Referendum. In his ad- dress here, he asserted his belief that it would be defeated by a large ma jority.
 Its former advocates, even Gov. Donaghey, seem to have abandoned it, said MT. Robinson s'The measure is mixture of good and bad proyis- ions. Vital objections are found in the fact that it's primary purpose is aVoWed to be reduction in the rate of taxation, when as a matter of fact it provides for the same total rate as now collected.
 Tt diminishes the state school rate.
 "It decreases the Confederate pen- sion rate.
 Ut increases the general revenue rate at the expense of the state school rate and the Confederate pen sion rate.
 The burden of the Turner-Jacob- son bill will fall on the poor and the humble.
 Under it, farmers must assess their property for taxation February 1 lntead of June 1. Thus they will pay on corn, meat, cotton, and other products of their toll. These are not now taxed because the farmer usually sells them or consumes them before June 1.
 1.-The right to appeal is a sacred safeguard established firmly in our Jurisprudence. s
 Under the Turner-Jacobson bill ap- peals concerning taxes are substan- tially denied the poor At present appeals may De taken from the county boards of equalization to the county courts without formality or considerable cost. Under the Turn er-Jacobson bill, the county court is eliminated and appeais must hereaf- ter be prosecuted by every citizen separately, either to the circuit court or to the citizen, because they will require great expense for attorneys fees and costs. The fact that no ade- quate remedy by appeal exists for the poor will encourage an increase in their taxes.
 The ordinary citizen could not af- ford to appeal either to the circuit court or the Tax Commission. If an appeal is taken to the circuit court, a lawyer must be employed and all ap- peals prosecuted separately. If an ap- peal is taken to the Tax Commission, the citizen must pay the mileage and per diem of his witnesses to appear before the Commission. The mere statement of the facts shows conclu- slvely that the benefit of appeal is denied in ordinary cases under the Turner-Jacobson bill. A poor man could better afford to pay twice the just amount of taxes rather than in- cur, the expenses of an appeal.
 "The financial condition of our state demands careful consideration. The Turner-Jacobson tlll, while it concentrates power in the Tax Com- mission, which is advantageous in some respects, and objectionable ill others, IS not complete remedy in any view.
 The general revenue fund will be Ill debt probably half million dollars when my term begins. My adminis- tfatlon faces the task of paying the deficits due to the extravagance or mlsmanagement of preceding adminis- tralons. l want the public to know and understand that l am not respon- slole for existing conditions.
 Many of the state institutions are suffering from lack of funds. Upon assuming the office of governor, I shall lay before the public frank and fair statement and ask the coop eratlon of all in an effort to solve these problems which are coming down to me from my predecessors.
 'The Turner-Jacobson bill does not strike at the root Of the evils which underlie our financial policy. AS to the remedies to be adopted, shall speak at length upon another occas- ion. Let us adopt the Budget system and limit appropriations to the rev. enues, providing at the same time that She ls l!s rate H for the sgsnefal fund shall be such ass rate as will meet all author ibed appropriations.
 Thus will deficits be prevented and the responsibility for extrayasant
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