The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1913-03-07

are the changes wished. If any? The
only possible result of any change, as
appear to US, is who would get off with
less tax and who would be the unlucky
to have to contribute more freely to the
public treasury. 1t is pretty safe to
say that those who think that a change
would tighten their burden of tax will
be enthusiastic tax reformers. while
those who, perchance, get a glimpse of
larger tax bill will be down on the
new move. 1t may be possible that all
will indulge the hope that fortune will
place them in the lucky CLASS that
will be reduced in rate, and that all
will thereby be persuaded to help the
tax reformer do his work, when the
unfortunate may repent at leisure, while
the State would follow in the path of
progress, provided the promised remedy
of the tax reformer works out all right.
Those who have been interested in
have found that change in our State
Constitution is necessary in order to
have the kind of laws they want, and in
consequence of this agitation, our last
legislature provided for a submission to
vote of the people at the next regular
| November election whether the present
constitution should bs changed. The
section of the constitution as it now
exists is as follows
Taxes shall be levied and collected for
pnblic purposes only. They shall be Uniform
| upon all property subject to taxation
The proposed amendment reads
| thus
Taxes shall be levied aud collected for
public purposes only aud shall be uniform
| upon all property OF the SAME CLASS subject
| totaxation. The General Assembly shall have
power to divide property into CLASSES ana
determine what class or classes Of property
SHALL BE SUBJECT TO LOCAL TAXATION.
Bonds of the State and Counties, municipal
ties, taxing and school districts shall not be
subject TO taxation"
The amendment also provides that all
tax laws enacted under this section
IL adopted shall be subjec, to ratificat O
of the people by referendum vote.
Now, We are in favor of tax reform if
we can see in the move a real benefit
to the majority of the people. We do
not wish at this time to be understood
as either opposing or favoring the
adoption of this proposed amendment.
We are, however, sbying a little at
something's in the amendment as we
read it. Under the present constitution
all property be it real estate. including
farm lands and city real estate, or
personal property, including live stock,
notes, bonds, securities of all kinds OF
money all bears the same rate of taxa
ton. Under the proposed change the
legislature would classify property.
That is, they could put real estate in
one class or money in class, or live
stock in a class, notes in another class
and so on and fix different rate of tax
for each class. Then real estate could
| be taxed at fifty cents and money at 10
/ cents OF money at so cents and real
| estate at 10 cents CT each one hundred
dollars of valuation. This section of
the amendment
| determine what class or classes OF property
shall be subject to local taxation.
Is worthy of the consideration and
analysis of the voters before they act
upon this amendment. Under the
provision it seems pretty clear that the
Legislature would be authorized to
relieve a certain class of property from
local taxation altogether. We submit
for the consideration Of our readers, is
it best for any class of property to be
relieved altogether of taxation? We
again submit, is it not best for all
property of every kind and description
to bear the same rate of taxation?
Since this proposed amendment places
80 great authority in the General
Assembly. We would be pleased to know
the substance of proposed law or see
a draft of such, covering this tax ques-
ton under the amendment if adopted,
that some legislative candidate who
favors tax reform, would introduce or
support if sent to Frankfort as a law
maker. Such draft of a law that
would be satisfactory to the people
would we think make the proposed
amendment more popular. We are
waiting for more light.