The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1912-10-05
n lumber 9
THE TAX AMENDMENT.

] Capital City and East Eaton Rouge
Parish-Duty Of Voters to Study
the Pending Amendments.
i Says the Baton Rouge New Adyo-
Icate:
In another part of this paper ap-
pears a statistical summary of the
| probable effects of the proposed sstax
reform" constitutional amendment
proposed by the last special session
OF the Louisiana general assembly,
as applied to the city Of Baton Rouge
and East Baton Rouge parish
In yet another part of the paper is
/ the amendment itself, printed with
other amendments, it being Act No.
u Of the special. session.
Every voter owes it to himself and
to his community to study the amend
| ment--and then study the statistical
analysis Of it and summary of its ef-
| fleet on this local community, town
and city.
| The side of the state has been pre-
sented before. There is no answering
| the fact that the commemorative
needs have outstripped the old and
and that properly to care for the
schools, the roads, the institutions.
the commonwealth had to devise a.
new system. This new system gets
II creased revenue from persons who
inherit riches, from a share of the
natural products such as gas, oil,
sulphur. salt, which have not hereto
fore been taxed, from transactions in
grain and cotton futures, from trans-
fers of stock in corporations, FROM a
franchise tax On corporations, and
from more equitable tax rate on
railroads and all public service cor
.poraIlons under the domain of the
railroad commission.
The man who votes against the tax
reform amendment votes to let these
interests continue to escape their just
and proper share of taxation, and
votes to continue to keep the burden
of government on the small holdings
of real estate in town and country,
.Whereon iii is notorious that the heav-
lest proportionate burden of govern
ment has rested fol years, and Upon
the buyers OF It'd 4 neeess ties OH life
who at last pa all tbs oceupa ationaI
license taxes
his appeal - GA nt II no deraa
.gogic sense, or in any desire 10 arouse
Il
pnlic classes. III is meant fo arouse
an appreciation of what the tax com
mission termed an attempt to shift
the burden OF government expense
so that it will rest more eauitabIY,
and more justly than now, upon the
shoulders of those best able to- bear
it and those who derive the greatest
returns in service or opportunity from
the government! Z
The bank, the railroad, the cor
poration. exists by virtue OF special
creative act, is an artificial entity ex-
istent only by governmental consent,
and should properly bear heavier
burden, in proportion, than the small
realty holding whose occupancy by
the individual tenant is an exercise
Of what is srecognized In the English
speaking world as a natural right
These are the general effects of
the proposed tax reform:
More equitably to distributg the
burdens of government.
Put taxes on lnheritanees. natural
resources, and interests which have
heretofore escaped taxation either en-
tlrely or 10 great part, or some part.
To establish absolutely home rule.
in local taxation
To give more money to schools and
roads and institutions.
10 give practically every munich
pallty and parish In Louisiana sub
stant1al monetary benefits either in
Increased local revenues or I'm re-
duced local taxation.
Consider then the actual dollars
and-cents effect on the city and par
fsh OF East Baton Rouge.
1t shows more money, with reduced
tax rate, and RENTED license taxes.
IL shows a clear gain OF thousands
Of dollars for the city, for the par
lsl1. for the pockets Of the taxpayers.
The figures have been tested by
City Treasurer Il j. Rieaud, and the
premises and the conclusions ap-
proved by him
The other side of the question Is:
that II means an increased tax rate
ond the Z. & Ne. W, the u. Il. & N,
the B. Ri. r. railroads, as up
on all other railroads and upon the
Standard Oil Company. slightly II any
more upon the street car company,
upon the oil mill and upon the banks.
Al OF them together will not pay
5tll much Of an increased tax rate, and
the aggregate Of their Increased tax
es will not amount to the benefits
the parish will receive, nor will it
be unjust in view Of their heavier in
terest in the government and their
greater rights.
But the voters are to decide be-
tween the interests Of the parish, the
state, the city, as a whole, and the
pocketbooks Of these interests.
Which side will they take?
List OF Lettera
Remaining in tho postofffce at Don.
for week ending Oct. s.: