Crittenden record-press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1909-191?, 1913-10-30

Frankfort, Ky.-(Special)-Th eff
forts to secure a better system of taxa
ton for Kentucky have been per
sistent for fifteen years but owing to
the ironclad restrictions in the state
constitution 1t is exceedingly difficult
to secure any change.
Tax commissions have repeatedly
been appointed by authority OF the
legislatures and these commissions
have unanimously condemned the gen.
eral property tax which was adopted
by the last constitutional convention
and as the law is constitutional it has
been impossible for the legislature
alone to repeal it.
However, the last general assembly
undertook to amend the constitution
rs provided BY law and this amend
mept will have to be ratified by the
people at the November election and
If 1t fails to'Searry 1t cannot be voted
on again for another ave years.
The effect OF the present law Is to
drive people and money from the state
and to prevent other people and money
from coming In and building up our
industries.
This Is how the general property
tax Is regarded by outsiders as indi-
Gated in report Of a commission ap-
pointed In another state and 1t ap-
plies in all respects to our present
tai system.
THE personal property tax Ii
farce. 1t falls inevitably upon the
comparatively few who are caught.
The burden 1t imposes upon prodsc-
ton is out Of all proportion to the
revenue 1t produces.
Year after year state and local az
sessing boards have denounced 1t az
impracticable In its workings and I'M
just in its results. These recon-
mendations have for the most part
passed UNDECIDED or have led to in
snectual attempts to bolster up the
law. 1t Is time the situation was
faced sQuarely, and the tax in Its
present form abolished.
80 far as the personal property
tax attempts to reach intangible forms
OF wealth. its administration is 80
comical as 10 have become a byword.
Such method of collecting
revenue would be a serious menace
to democratic institutions were It not
so generally recognized as a bowling
farce.
But 1t is not a farce to those who
are fully assessed. These are chiefly
the widows and orphans who are
caught when their property is listed
nj the probate court, farmers, retail
merchants and others. incorporated or
unincorporated, with stocks Of goods,
AID the small investors who are not
skillful enough to make non-taxable
Investments"
The state referred to has changed
its tax system and already the receipts
from taxation have increased encr-
mously and the peculiar effect OF 1t
has been to lower the taxes on lands
and Improvements by securing a great
Or revenue from personal property
which had formerly produced little or
no rsturns-
Kentucky must increase it, revenues
to keep up its schools and public In
situations and Il would be mAnifestly
unfair to make the property at present
paying taxes sustain this added bur
den. but under tho present Law there
IL no other recourse.
II the amendment carries and tho
legislature IL empowered to classify
property 30 as to bring under, the as
SCISSORS scrutiny the vast amount OF
personal property now escaping taxa
ton the revenues can be increased
and taxes on lands and houses dimin-
ished and what 10 more important than
all we win be able TO develop our re-
sources. maintain our population and
attract capital and people who win
help to build up the state.
Ohio has recently changed Its tar
laws and has already been benefited
and Tennessee 10 about 10 renounce
the general property tax. Other
states have either long since abolished
Il or are preparing TO do 80.
The present system in Kentucky was
popular when the country was young
and wealth largely confined 10 real
estate which could not be hidden.
Wealth is now largely in personal
securities which the assessor can not
locate and'in consequence this class of
property escapes almost entirely.
+ Can we AFFORD to neglect this great
question and yet hope to compete with
neighboring states which are less IA
vored than ours naturally but have
the advantage Of cheap money and low
taxes?
II the amendment fails to carry the
next census will show that Kentucky
has moved down another peg or 30 Ia