Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-07-07
SIOELIGHTS.
ON POLITICS.
BY JAMES 3. NEVIN

me I~Rlslature, even as a teDta-
tive proposition, already is finding the
matter Of tax reform perplexIng
problem, and one calculated to give #
much trouble before IT is adjusted.
Particularly is the question Of tax
equalization bothersome and full Of
difficulty.
Mr. Lipscombe, Of Clarke, has an
equalization bill pending in the
House, and Mr.. Cole. Of Barlow. and
Mr.. Swift, of Muscogee, have inheri-
lance tax bills
The former was drawn by one Of
the most eminent lawyers in Georgia
an ex-Supreme Court Justice-and
is thought to be as nearly perfect as
such a measure can be made. Mem
bers are non-commlttal with respect
to It, however
The latter two bills both carefully
| prepared, seem to have attracted con-
| siderable favorable attention. AMI
both have the backing Of the ai-
| ministrau on, In a general way, but
| whether either will pass Is problemat-
| iCal
! The Legislature plainly is inclined
| to reform the tax laws but Il tust
| as plainly does not know exactly how
to go about It or where to begin.
| "One trouble in the situation" said
| a Well-known member OF the House
| to-day. is the real or imaginary op-
position of the farmers to a board OF
tax equalizers.
las matter of fact. do not be
lieve the farmers, In any very large
| proportion, anyway, oppose the tax
| equalization idea Perhaps a few Of
them do but | fail to see where any
honest farmer-and the majority %
Georgia farmers are honest-should.
Instead Of putting up the farmers
taxes, an equalization act much more
likely would put them down. II as
sessments were adjusted in Georgia
| as they should be. the total would be
! so much larger than II Is now that
| taxes, in the average amount pai1
would come down rather than go up
and the farmer would find himself i'm
mensely benefited by this. Instead OF
| a State rate OF mills II taxes were
| equalized. we probably should be able
| to get along with rate of 21-2 or
3 mills.
so, II a farmers lands were raised
they might not be, and would not
| be in many cases, Of course-a trifle,
/ the total OF his taxes likely would be
| less than now
The purpose Of tax eQuarza ton
act Is TO catch the tax dodgers, and
to catch them in the open Such a
measure would catch them, too. And
/ II the dodgers were made to come TO
| time, the present taxpayers of the
| State would find themselves charged
/ up with less of the public expense in
stead of more.
| TT Is to be hoped that the present
! Legislature will pass some genuine
| tax reform measures, even II II does
| nothing else during the present SEES
sion
Contrary TO general expectation and
prediction. the Tippins bill, so called
In the last Legislature, has not been
re-introduced in the present House
1t has been stated, time and again.
that the prohibitionists OF Georgia
generally look upon this measure as
useless and OF doubtful judgment at
enough alone" sentiment appears 10
be spreading among temperance ad-
vocates
The truth Of the matter is. prohi-
bitionists seem fairly well satisfied
with the status of things in Georgia,
and agitation in the present Legisla-
ture-Or, anyway in the present ses-
siOn-seemS unlikely.
The Chattanooga News recently
stated, In an editorial praising At
lanta, that Georgia has the best en-
forced prohibition laws Of any prohi-
| bition State in the nation, and far
better than Tennessee. This seems to
be agreed to all around, and the fact
that the Tippins bill has not been re-
introduced, Notwithstanding the con-
fident predictions that II would be
| lends color to the thought that PROFIT
bitionists In Georgia incline to agree
with The Chattanooga News.
The old expression, Il wouldn't vote
for that fellow for dog catcher" has
no humiliating significance in Savan-
nah.
There the office OF dog catcher Is an
ancient and honoral lie institution. and
one TO which folks generally look up
in indicated awe
Announcement Of the appointing
Of E, H Henry as official dog catcher
for the city of Savannah. in compli-
ance with the ordinance adopted by
City Council at its last meeting. has
been made by Mayor r. J Davant
Bond in the sumo Of 500 has been
furnished by Henry. who begins his
official duties at once.
The catcher will be provided with
wagon, in which a crate will be placed
to retain the impounded animals A
net will also be provided for use IN
catching the dogs, and a pound" will
be constructed at police headquarters
AS soon as the CONTINENT can ne
completed the catcher Will start on
hi IL