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

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 glimpse Of
a 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 70 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
what is termed the tax reform move
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 ard collected for
Pnblic purposes only. They shall be uniform
upon all property subject to taxation.
The proposed amendment reads
thus
Taxes shall be levied and collected ior
public purposes only aud shall be uniform
upon all property Of the SAME CLASS subject
to taxation. The General Assembly shall hav,
power to divide property into CLASSES an
determine what class or classes of property
SHALL BE SUBJECT TO LOCAL ION
Bonds of the State and Counties. municipal
ties, taxing and school districts shall not be
subject to taxation"
The amendment also provides that al
tax laws enacted under this section
il adopted shall be subject to ratificato
of the people by referendum vote
Now. we are in favor of tax reform il
we can see in the move a real benefit
to the majority of the people. We d.
not wish at this time to be understood
as either opposing or favoring tht
adoption of this proposed amendment
We are, however, shying a little a
something's in the amendment as W,
read it. Under the present constitution
all property be it real estate, includin,
farm lands and city real estate, o
personal property, including live stock
notes, bonds, securities of all kinds O
money all bears the same rate of taxa
ton. Under the proposed change tn,
legislature would classify property
That is, they could put real estate i
one class or money in class, or liv
stock in class, notes in another elias
! and so OH and fix different rate of ia
for each class. Then real estate coul
be taxed at fifty cents and money at
cents OF money at SO cents and res
estate at 10 cents on each one hundre
dollars of valuation. This section o
the amendment
determine what class or CLASSES OF propert
shall Ice subject to local taxation.
Is worthy of the consideration an
analysis of the voters before they &C
upon this amendment. Under tn
provision it seems pretty clear that tn
Legislature would be. authorized t
relieve a certain class of property fror
local taxation altogether. We submit
for the consideration of our readers,
it best for any class of property to b
Irelieved altogether of taxation? w
again submit, is it not best for a
property of every kind and description
to bear the same rate of taxation
Since this proposed amendment place
so great authority in the Genera
Assembly, we would be pleased to kno,
the substance of proposed law or Sc
a draft of such, covering this tax ques
ton under the amendment if adopted
that some legislative candidate VIII
favors tax reform, would introduce O
support if sent to Frankfort as a lay
maker. Such draft of a law tina
would be satisfactory to the peopl
would we think make the propose
amendment more popular. We ar
waiting for more light.