The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-04-25

the interesting subject, Mr.. Light said:
Here are some of the reasons why
am opposed to the separation of state
and county taxes, as proposed by the
tax commission recommendation:
The receipts from which the state
Is to get its revenue do not furnish
enough to pay the expenses of the state
government. The total disbursements
of the state in 1919 were S1919, 1889
for general purposes. The total re-
ceipts from license taxes and all rail-
way property was $1,760,000, thereby
leaving shortage of $159.000. The
commission proposes to overcome this
shortage by passing a bill transferring
the costs to the state of jury and wit
ness fees to the counties. thereby les
sening the shortage between receipts
and disbursements. The jury and wit
ness fees for the state in 1912 were
$4,000, still leaving a shortage OF
about $4,000. I contend that the state
receipts should always be at least
100000 more than disbursements, and
to legislate that there is a shortage
instead of a surplus is not wise legis-
lation. ! am opposed to the separation
of state and county taxes because there
cannot be complete separation owing
to the constitutional one mill school
tax, and unless the constitution is
amended repeating the one mill school
tax the counties will be compelled to
pay both state and county taxes. In
report of the tax commission on pages
81 and 80 is given a tabulated state
ment showing how the changes would
affect the different counties. This re-
port says the counties would gain
1882, 900. For these counties to gain
this amount others would have to lose.
The principle of taking from one county
to give to another is not right. The
published statement in the tax commits
sion's report as found on page 81 and
80, are not correct, therefore they are
misleading. In this report it is stated
that A1achua county would gain by,
separation of state and county taxes
$4.325. Mr.. Gray, of the comptroller's
Office, in a report published In the
papers, says Alachua would lose by
separation $1,1S1, this being a differ
ence of $5,506 in the two reports. The
tax commission report says Marion
county would gain $40. Mr.. Gray's
report says Marion would lose $17,073.
1t says Hillsborough would gain $33,627.
Mr.. Gray says Hillsborough would lose
1888, or there is a difference of $751;
400 in the two reports affecting Hills
borough county. The tax report says
Monroe would lose S25,381. The com
T..
gain $5,019,, while Mr.. Gray's report
says ST Johns would lose s7,133. The
report says the total net gain to the
counties would be $4,000. Mr.. Gray
says the total net gains would be $780,
900. The commission sent this report
broadcast over the land and it was
misleading.
The tax commission offers a consti
tutional amendment repeating the
present constitutional law, which for
bids the legislature from passing laws
allowing certain properties to be taxed
differently from other property. It's aim
is to allow the legislature to pass laws
giving certain interests bearing wealth
different rating in the milage to be
assessed. I am opposed to any meas
ure that says your wealth must be
assessed at a certain figure and another
mans at a different figure. I contend
that my wealth shall not bear heavier
burden of taxation than the wealth of
another. My dollar, invested in home
and lands is as good as any dollar in
vested in interest bearing securities,
and should have the same treatment as
other wealth. I am opposed to this
amendment because it discriminates be-
tween one class of property and an
other. I am opposed to the whole busi-
ness because it is an experiment. But
one state in the Union has separation
of state and county taxes, namely,
California BY a separation of state
and county taxes some counties would
be nearly exempt from state taxes.
Others would be largely increased. Now
offer the following remedy:
Create a state tax commission, which
shall have supreme control of the as
sessment of state and county taxes.
COyopeI all I1rODerties to be assessed
at a full cash value and all properties
assessed under the same milage, there
by increasing our assessments to eight
hundred millions or more, and cut the
miIage to supply the needs of both
state and count expenses. believe 1t
is dangerous to experiment. on tax
laws.