Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1913-07-27
SHOULD NOT FAIL on TAX RE.
FORM

Georgia legislature at its present ses-
sion is likely to be passed up without
final consideration before the session
of the assembly closes. The progress
made toward tax equalization seems
slight when the preponderant impo--
portance of the matter is considered.
AS an exchange remarks in timely
manner:
The Legislature has made some pro-
gress in its efforts to give the state a
better system of taxation, but it is BY
no means certain yet that any tax re-
form measure will be passed at this
session. The Ways and Means Com
mittee has yielded to public sentiment
and reported to the House bill which
provides for a state board of equaliZ-
ers as well as county boards of asses
sors. The bill first agreed upon called
only for county assessors. 1t was evi =
dent to everybody that gave the sub
ject thoughtful consideration that
county boards of assessors wouldn't
improve the situation very much I'M
less there was also a state board of
equalizers since county assessors, like
tax receivers, would be responsive to
sentiment in their respective counties
The very general complaint is nov
that property in one county is assess
ed at a third or half what it is in an
other county, though its market value
in each county is approximately the
same.
This is a condition that it is desired
to remedy and it cannot be remedied
by having county boards of assessors
alone. 1t will be the duty of the state
board of equalizers to put assessments
all over the state on practically the
same basis. Knowing that their work
will be supervised and inequalities
wiped out to as great an extent as
possible county boards of assessors
will endeavor to assess property some
where near its market value.
The Ways and Means COMMITTEES
will have difficulty in getting the bin
as it is at present through the Hous !.
Il isn't expected that any real reform
in taxation can be effected without n
struggle. The Ways and Means Com
mittee is a strong committee AMI
should insist upon the bill it has re-
ported. We have no doubt that if il
puts forth its best effort it will sue
coed in passing the bill, and if the bill
gets through the House it is pretty
certain to be passed by the Senate.
The Legislature might as we'll make
up its mind that it has got to pass 2
real tax reform measure. No measure
that doesn't equalze taxation will be
satisfactory and no law that doesn't
tax every property owner on the same
basis will provide revenue sufficiert
for the states needs.
The bill as reported will be fought
hard and because of that fact it NAV
not get to the Governor at this SEES
sion, but it would be better to have
the tax reform question go over to the
next session than to pass a bill thIt
isn't a reform bill, that wouldn't rad
ically change existing conditions. Blu
the right kind of bill should be pass
ed at this session since the state is il
need Of additional revenue. 1t is up Il
the Ways and Means committee there
fore to take the position that it rec
ognizes no such word as fail If l..
members stand together and take
determined stand it will give the stat
taxing system that has long beef
needed and have the satisfaction tina
it has rendered the state a real ser
vice Equalization of taxation woul
be unpopular at first, but the epopl
would soon acquiesce in it. The
would acquiesce in it because of it
fairness.
THE GEORGIA WATERMELON