Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-11
GRADUATEDA AUTO
TAX IS PLAN Of
LAWMAKERS
Legislature Also May Instruct COL
lectors to Stop Evasion of
Ad VaIorem Tariff.
BY JAMES 3. NEVIN.


In seeking to reform the tax laws
of Georgia, it is likely that the auto
mobile will be taken into most Sc
rious consideration by the new Leg.
islature.
There are now more than 10000
machines in the State, averaging in
value about $1,000 each. These ma
chimes pay a fiat license tax to the
State of 81 a machine, and that is
about all the State gets out of them.
Not more than 10 per cent of the au-
tomobiles licensed are returned for
taxation upon an ad valorem basis.
Secretary of State Phil Cook says
nine machine owners in every ten be-
lieve the fiat iice1se tax of 50 per
machine is all the State requires of
them, and that many owners not now
paying taxes according to the value
OF their machines, are not so much in
tentional tax-dodgers as they are ig-
horant OF the fact that an automobile
IS as much property subject to gem
eral taxation as anything else.
1t IS likely that the license tax will
be graded according to the value of
the machine registered hereafter. It
is figured that it is not quite fair to
charge an owner Of a $500 runabout
the same license tax that is charged
against the owner of a $4,000 lin
CUISINE. Moreover, tax collectors
doubtless will be instructed by legis-
lative direction strictly to require the
return of all automobiles for taxa
ton, according to their value.
II these two reforms are inaugu-
rated they unquestionably will bring
fine revenue into the State Treas
ury.
Il seems to be realized generally
among members of the incoming Leg
islature that Georgia must increase
its revenues in every direction here
after, in order that the State may
meet its absolutely necessary expense
bills, and that the only way to do 1t
is through tax reform and not through
higher tax rate.
There is a great deal Of enthu-
siasm manifested among the citizens
of Winder over the question of the
new county OF Barrow, and It is GER
tain this proposition will be one of
the Invest to come before the new
Legislature.
4 well-known citizen Of that city
talking of its present unfavorable To-
cation at the Corners" of three coun-
ties-Gwinnette. Jackson and Walton
cited the following circumstances
to show how much confusion and an
hoyance arises from the same.
"A well-known citizen of Winder
passed away recently and left prop
erty in several sections of the city.
His widow had to take out admins
tTation papers in three separate coun-
ties in order to handle his estate le-
gally and properly" said he.
'Winder gets its school fund from
three counties, with a different pro
rata In every direction. one county
pave $2.75 a pupil per annum, while
another pays only $40. The children
of both attend the public schools of
Winder. with the same advantages
but & isn't fair.
Persons with things to sell in Win
der requiring a State license gener-
ally don't try to sell them They are
required to obtain a license in all
three counties Centering in the town.
Wilder is some 20 miles from the
county seat of every one Of the three
counties meeting there. That's a big
nuisance. and rankly unjust to Win
der and the surrounding territory.
IF any new county proposition is
is"
The statement that United States
Senator James Hamilton Lewis may
shave off his scintillant whiskers has
been accepted with great reserve by
his Georgia friends.
When the Junior Senator from Illi-
nois lived i'm Georgia his whiskers
were his pride. He looked upon them
much after the fashion of a good
Mohammedan. whose most sacred
oath is taken by the beard of the
prophet"
Jim Ham may shave those roseate
whis<ers from off his handsome coun-
tenanCe, of course, but GeOrgians
never will believe il until they see
it an accomplished fact.
Representative Robert Blackburn. Of
Fulton, is looked on generally as one
Of the leaders i'm the next House.
Blackburn is veteran in the
House. although he has been out for
several years. He is one of the ablest
parliamentarians in the State, and is
more than well qualified to take care
Of himself either in the running de-
bate Of the floor or In the committee
rooms.
The gentleman from Fulton is
rather small Of stature, but ne is loud
IN voice and sonorous enough TO be
nleasing when under full steam ahead
IN argument
There will he few men in the next
LEGISLATURE who know their way
around better than Bob" Blackburn.
A bill to require all railroads oper-
ating in Georgia to provide under
passes or overpasses at all grade
crossings, when so directed by the
Railroad Commission, is now being
prepared by a weli-knOwn member of
the House. and will be introduced
soon after the Legislature meets
It is designed to be fair 20 the roads,
and will require the counties affected,
in such instances as the commission
may undertake to regulate, to bear
reasonable part Of the expense of con-
struction-
This bill likely will have consider
able support in the Legislature, as
there is growing sentiment
throughout the State that such legls-
lation is needed
Whether the bill viii pass is prob
lematical but il viii be earnestly and
aggressively urged. nevertheless.