Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-11
GRADUATED AUTO
TAX IS PLAN Of
LAWMAKERS
Legislature Also May Instruct COL
Iectors to Stop Evasion Of
AID VaIorem Tariff.
BY JAMES 8. NEVIN.

BY JAMES 8. NEVIN.
In seeking to reform the tax laws
+ Georgia. 10 is likely that the auto
mobile will DE 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-
leve the fiat license tax of 81 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
territorial taX-dodgers as they are ig-
Lorant Of the fact that an automobile
is as much property subject to gen
eTal taxation as anything else
il is likely that the license tax will
be graded according to the value Of
the machine registered hereafter II
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 linn
CUISINE Moreover. tax collectors
doubtless win be instructed by legis-
lative direction strictly to require the
Faf % al HF ail
ton. according 10 their value.
II these two reforms are inaugu-
rated they unquestionably viii bring
a fine revenue into the State Treas
ury.
II seems 10 be realized generally
among members Of the incoming Leg
stature that Georgia must increase
its revenues in every direction here
after, ia order that the State may
meet its absolutely necessary expense
bills and that the only way TO do II
IS through tax reform and not through
a higher tax rate.
There is a great deal Of enthu-
siasm manifested among the citizens
Of Wiuder over the question OF the
new county Of Barrow, and IL is GER
tain this proposition win be one Of
the Invest 20 come before the new
Legislature
4 well known citizen Of that city
talking of It's present unfavorable To-
cation at the corners" of three Coun-
tics-Gwinnette, Jackson and Walton
cited the following circumstances
20 show how much confusion and an
uOyance 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
tfation papers in three separate eoun-
ties I'm order To handle his estate le-
gally and properly" said he
"Winder gets us school fund from
three counties, with a different pro
rata In every direction one county
pave S2.75 a pupil per annum, while
another pays only 81 40 The children
o. both attend the public schools Of
Winder. with the same advantages
but e isn't fair
Persons with things 10 sell In Win
der requiring a State license gener-
ally don't try 90 sell them. They are
required 20 obtain "A license In all
three counties Centering i'm the town
wider 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 20 Win
der ana the surrounding territory.
m any new county proposition is
a good ore, the Barlow proposition
The statement that United States
Senator James Hamilton Lewis may
shave of his scintillaut whiskers has
been accepted with great reserve by
his Georgia friends
when the Junior Senator from llli-
go.s lived in Georgia his whiskers
were his pride He looked upon them
much after the fashion OF a good
Nohammedan, whose most sacred
oath is taken "by the beard Of the
prophet
"lim Ham" may shave those roseate
whiskers from or his handsome coun-
teuanCe. Of course, hut Georgtans
never will believe II until they see
It an accomplished fact.
Representative Robert Blackburn. OF
Fulton, is looked on generally as one
of the leaders In the next House,
Blackburn is veteran In the
House. although he has been out for
several years He is one Of the ahlest
parliameutarians in the state. and is
more than well qualified 10 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 he is loud
IN voice and souorous enough to be
pleasing when under fun steam ahead
in argument
There will be few men in the next
Legislature who know their way
around better than Bob Blackburn.
A bill TO require an railroads oper-
ating ia Georgia 20 provide under
passes or overpasses at all grade
crossings. when So directed 10y the
Railroad Commission. Is now being
prepared by a well-known member OF
the House. and win be introduced
soon after the Legislature meets.
II Is designed 10 bee fair 10 the roads.
anG viii require the counties affected.
In such instances as the commission
may undertake 10 regulate, 20 bear a
reasonable part of the expense Of con-
struCtion
This bill likely viii have consider
able support In the legislature. as
there is growing sentiment
throughout the state that such leEis-
lati0n is needed
Whether the bill will pass is prob
lematicaI but 10 Will be earnestly and
aEgressively urged. nevertheless
uopvyo I'D RI TpoiY