The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1912-11-02
Square Deal in Taxes
Evils in Present System Cause ofDeand for Remedies
Proposed in Amendment No. 1.
By e.. e. NOISE

| The long continued demand for
square deal in taxes resulted som
years ago in the report of the com
mission appointed by Gov. Blanchard
That commissions report, which Re
commended segregation, was neve
considered by the legislature tina
went out in May. All three candid
ates for Governor advocated
change. II favor the segregation o
state and local taxation" said Johl
7. Michel Il believe that the segre
cation of state and local revenue il
the only remedy" said DR.. J. B
Aswell. eve demand a fundamental
change in our obsolete and unjust
system, said Governor Hall. Former
Governor Sanders and Theodore s
Wilkinson have expressed themseles
similarly.
Governor Hall brought together a
tax commission composed of member!
of the legislature and tax experts.
Their report went to the legislature
and the commission assisted the
legislature in perfecting the minor
details of the plan as it is proposed
in Amendment No. 1, and in writing
the other tax amendments not vital
to the reform of the present system.
The legislature spent the Is days
extra session on 1S bills and 13 reso-
lutlons, a total Of 81 items of legisla.
ton. It had attended to S33 items
in so days at the regular session.
Is days is one-quarter Of go days.
The legislature handled 2OS bills
and resolutions in is days of the
regular session and only 81 at the
extra session. 1t had no disinterest-
ed, expert advice at the regular ses.
sion. The good men had to fight
many lobbyists. The lobbyists knew
they would be very closely watched
at the extra session and the worst
OF them kept away. The figures show
that the regular session worked near
seven times as fast as the extra ses-
sion and without expert advice.
Figure it out for yourself. You will
have to conclude that there is
nothing in the silly statement that
the work was rushed.
That the people want change is
admitted. That the plan proposed
Is the we'll considered and carefully
worked out system of experts who
know other tax system than our own
and legislature that knows Louis
lana is clear, The questions open
for debate are these: Does the plan
benefit the whole people? Will it
stop tax lodging? Does it give home
rule in taxation, tighten the burden |
If the small property owner and load |
heir rightful share of the expenses
IF government on the corporations,
'alroads and other big interests"
hat have escaped? Does it tie the
DAD on so it will stay?
Lands in north Louisiana are more
heavily assessed in proportion to
heir value than in south Louisiana.
The north then pays more and the
south less than is fair to the state
axes. Lands will be assessed only
or local taxation. They will not be
axed by the state. This is home rule
n taxation and 1t removes the evil
Without hurting the south. What one
ection collects for and spends on its
ocal affairs does not concern the
ther. See Section 4 Of Article 2.
The state now levies mills on all
The road tax is Il mill |
nd the Confederate pension fund tax
IS mill. The adoption of the Con.
ederate pensions amendment No. 5
Increasing the tax to one mill, is alb
olutely certain. Then the state
axes will de 6A mills. In return for
he property segregated to the state
he parishes are authorized to levy
tx mills in addition to their present
ate. The taxpayers therefore save
1 mill that they will pay if Amend
cent No. 1 be defeated. See Sec
ion /, Article 6, Amendment No. /,
nd read your tax bills.
The state road tax is cut out. What
ecomes of the roads? See Para
raph D, Article 8, Amendment MOL,
hitch gives the roads $4,000 and
alf the automobile tax, which is
onservatively estimated to total
100000. See Section 4, Article 3.
he parishes are ordered to spend
heir half of the 100000 on the
Dads. The parishes can collect a S.
cense also on each automobile.
What ahnut tho Uoforanco Coo