New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1912-09-28

Ar, Editor-It is well there
:, ,amld be some explanatory dis
'no s;on Of the Tax Amendments
.'' ~ be voted upon IN November
~ .,a hermit me to address your
readers. :, ~, a..
leasing demands for revenues
,w;th which to operate the affairs
q Tho State calls for more and
more taxes. These taxes. imposed
under the imperfect system hereto.
soro existing have always imposed
burdens unequally as between in
divluals as well as between par
;.hes Some persons have been
tsxed on q higher basis than 9TH
.rs. some have escaped taxation,
.bus adding to the burdens OF
those having taxes to pay; and
j between Parishes, those parish
a. with low assessments have
n fled their State Tax Burden
m those with higher assessments.
[Ineouality in assessments and in
sutiiciency of revenues for State
needs. are the chief marks of tho
present system of Taxation.
For eight or ten years thought
|has been given TO devising a plan
(which would equalize the burden,
bduce the revenues and not in
crease the burdens of the taxpay-
ers
This gear, the Tax Commission,
with the benefit Of the labor Of its
| Predecessor, oonfected thei plan
which has been adopted by an
| overwhelming vote Of the Gene
al Assembly, and submitted to
| the voters for their adoption as q
/ Constitutional Amendment.
Ii provides, that the State shall
collect its taxes, through its own
Tax Commission from such as
! Steam and Electric Railroads;
Electric Light and Power Plants
(not municipal,) Telephone, Tele-
eraph Lines, Express Companies,
steamboats, and other water
utafts, Canals for transportation
irrigation, Oil Pipe Lines,
Banka. Fire and Life Insurance
Companies, Sugar Refineries (not
naming our factories), Rice and
biton Oil Mills, Mines, trans
III Of stocks. Cotton Exchange
l1nnctions, organization Of
Drations, and Franchise Tax
automobiles (for good rcads
"a and Inheritance Tax. This
I eNneral statement Of the sour
r. Il State Revenues without
yine Them in too great detail.
p established that these will
& ample revenues for the
lrnnents of the State.
ler withdrawing these sour
revenues from local taxa
Do ~ other properties are left
1cf II local taxation for local
1<>oes only. In other words,
~ lrpperty taken over to the
~ viii not pay the local tax,
n4 ylee versa, the property left
J 1l taxation will not pay the
l6le Tsx.
ul(A that general outline, /
4 eome of the main features
a. pleposition with some slight
epel'llon, but only to make clear
y ~ tns.
The central idea Of the
4 eeparation of State and
nfees of revenues. The
N cease collecting taxes
M Mr.. Farmer, Mr.. Land
n Homeowncr, and Mr..
not so fortunate as to
er of railroads, mines,
~ &Cmpanies or kindred
wealth. The only tax
4 will pay will be to the
the municipality IN
i've, and the basis Of
y cannot be any more
~ now paying to thel
NY he Parish or Munici-
There will be absolute ,
overnment In the mat. |
DonDment and collection
n1ea and it will be your
y ~ to the equalization
] ut, the honest expend-
~ money, the fixing ofI
Sote Of taxation and the
Qenditure of your public
Under the home rule
W. pay these taxes to |
md only as much as
nj no one can make
, higher rate than YOU
Ma to the State and |
77u