Crittenden record-press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1909-191?, 1913-11-06
UNJUST TAX LAW
IN KENTUCKY
low Unsatisfactory the Pres
ent Tax System Works
in This State
Nest Unequal System Ever Devised
and Most Of the Progressive States
Have Abolished the Plan Used In
kentucky.

be uniform on all kinds OF property,
and on the surface this seems to be
30 fair the average thinker can find
no fault with It,
In practice, however, It has been
found to be the most unequal tax sys-
tenn ever devised, and most Of the pro-
gressive states have abolished the
plan.
It's inequalities and unfairness may
be seen from the way it discriminates
in certain classes of property and ex-
plains why Kentucky seems to have
so little Intangible wealth as COM
pared with other states.
For instance, cash in savings banks
draws only three per cent interest.
gilt-edge bonds pay four per cent, real
estate notes six per cent, stock in
some foreign corporations ten per cent.
while the tax on all is the same for
state purposes. but varies for county
and city purposes according to the To-
cation.
Thus where the income Is only 3
per cent and the taxes 2h per cent
1t leaves the owner only " per cent
interest, and where the income Is 10
per cent and the taxes IN per cent
the interest is III per cent In this
uniform?
In some counties land 10 assessed
at 80 per cent Of its value, in others so
per cent. and In others 70 per cent.
The state tax Is the same in all the
counties. Is this uniform?
II an honest farmer lists his prop
erty at It's fair value and his I'M
scrupulous neighbor puts lower value
on his property the former pays more
than his share, while the latter pays
less.
II the state board OF equalization
raises the entire list for that county,
the honest man pays on property he
doesn't own, and yet our law 10 sup
posed TO be uniform.
That the personally owned by citi-
Gems of Kentucky Is vastly more than
Is listed for taxation is q well-estab-
lished fact; but the tax receipts don't
show It. In fact, certain classes Of
property, such as stocks, bonds, notes
and cash have almost disappeared from
the tax rolls, and these evidences OF
wealth apparently grow less each year.
II the present system IL allowed to
remain In force, 1t will result, as It has
In other states, In almost all kinds OF
personally disappearing from the as
SCISSORS lbooks, ana lands and houses
which can not be hid or moved will
have to bear the chief burden.
1t has been 80 in every state where
the general property tax" has been
the plan on which property was taxed,
and most Of the states have been wise
enough to get rid OF such an unequal
and unfair system.
The Ohio state tax commission, in
its 1908 report on the operation OF the
general property tax" says:
at is a failure for purposes Of rev.
enue or equality. Perhaps not s per
cent of intangible property is listed.
It Furnishes the honest. 1t rewards the
dishonest. 1t frequently results in
double taxation and lowers the stand
ard OF integrity"
The entire revenue Of the state of
Ii about 100000, while
Michigan, with about the same area
and population, receives $14,oo0.o00
from taxes, only a small proportion OF
which is paid on land.
In Pennsylvania there II no state
taG on farms or homes.
There are 100000 acres Of unim-
proved farm lands In Kentucky and
yet vast quantities Of farm products
have to be imported.
There are about twenty-five thou
sand square miles Of coal lands in
Kentucky, and yet We buy millions OF
tons OF coal from Pennsylvania, West |
Virginia, Indiana and Tennessee.
Kentucky raises thirty-eight per |
cent OF the tobacco crop OF the United |
States and manufactures only three |
per cent OF 1t.
These are significant facts and our |
people should consider them.
There may be other causes for our |
lack Of progress but It IL an estab-
Iished fact that no state has ever |
prospered under the general property (,
lax and II 10 also known that this de-
plorable system OF taxation has always
driven out capital, retarded develop
ment and caused untold losses in pop
alation-
The last general assembly passed
IN act amending the state constitu-
Hon -se-as 10 Nsfpuaf 4atnre 'iesfsiatisnd
On taxation which will 90 far towards
remedying the evils and It IL the duty
81 every citizen In the state to vote
Tor the amendment at the November
election, II It IL not ratified at that
lime It will be impossible to vote on
he question for another five years
md It has been delayed too long al
-oady. It 10 time for us to wake up
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