Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-07-17
GOVERNOR LEADS
FIGHT FOR TAX
EQUALIZERS
Confers With Legislators to Avert
Clash That Will Doom
His Reforms.

There is no doubt Governor John
NJ. Slaton fears for his recommended
tax reform measures, now that the
Ways and Means Committee has split
wide at the beginning Of the fight for
a State Tax Equalization Board.
All day Wednesday Governor
Slaton held quiet but earnest con-
ferences with various members Of the
House, urging upon them the necessi-
ty of harmony and concert Of action,
II any tax reform measures worth
while are effected this session.
The proposal Of the Ways and
Means Committee to eliminate the
State Board Of Equalizers from the
measures proposed in the House by
way of substitute for the Lipscomb
bill does not meet the approval OF
She Executive.
He wants a genuine tax equaliza-
ton measure, and he considers a
State board essential.
State Board Deemed Hopeless.
Whether he would consider a COM
promise now, with an eye to perfect
Ing the measure later, is problemati-
cal, but already there are those who
are saying that no bill carrying a
State board can hope to pass this
Legislature.
A strenus is effort will be made 70
get the Ways and Means Committee
to reconsider its action on the origi-
nal measure, and if that can be eff
fected a fight on the floor may be
averteG.
The nine members of the Ways and
Means Committee who dissented from
the majority report of the commit
tee turning down the original Lips
comb bill have filed a vigorous minor
ity report in favor of the original bill
and a State Board of Equalizers.
Tax Reform Massacre Seen.
The situation thus set up on the
floor Of the House, therefore, is acute
and possible of widespread and far
reaching developments and complica-
lions.
If the fight divided the House any
thing like evenly, and that seems
likely, it may mean the probable
slaughter of every tax reform meas
urr to be proposed.
If that happens. or anything APP
proXimatin the same, IL is virtual
certainty that Governor Slaton Will
accept the implied challenge Of the
Legislature, call il at once in extraor-
binary session, place squarely upon II
the responsibility for the failure OF
tax reform, and, If necessary, go TO
the people finally for an adjustment OF
the problem.
The Governor has set his heart
upon tax reform. He has studied the
States financial methods and status
He has matured and carefully thought
out ideas as to what is necessary ia
get the State cut of the financial
woods and into the middle of the big
road again
Can Fight if Necessary.
The Governor, moreover while
usually the most diplomatic and per-
suasive Of persons, impressing some
now and then as inclined to proceed
along the line of least resistance, can
fight hard, If be has to.
The keynote of his ante-inaugural
speeches was tax reform. About 1t he
has shaped his plans and hopes. To
see those plans and hopes wrecked
now, because of a bitter fight in the
Legislature is not going to please the
Governor considerably.
And he has let that fact be known
in his own way. He unquestionably
means what he says too. II the Gov
ernoTs tax measures are slaughtered
in the General Assembly, the General
Assembly will have to answer to the
Governor for IT,
Strong Powers AZ Work.
II is evident enough that there ar.
powerful influences at work against
the creation Of a State Board Of Tax
Equalizers, or any other effective
board OF equalizers.
A State board unquestionably would
bring TO light in short order hundreds
of thousands of dollars worth OF
property now concealed from the tax
receivers eyes. A State board would,
in other words, dig up the tax "dodg-
ers' by the wholesale.
There are some mighty big tax
dodgers in Georgia, SO the advo-
Gates Of the Lipscomb bill believe
and 1t is the purpose of the bill 10
ferret them out. Wherefore, say the
champions of the Lipscomb bill, the
present fight against the proposed
State board.
> A desperate effort is being made to
adjust the situation and bring some
sort Of order out Of the present chaos
Of proposed tax reform, but unless the
differing factions in the House are
brought together soon, the entire tax
reform program undoubtedly will be
in grave danger of defeat at this ses-
sion.