Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-28
TAX SYSTEM
SCORED BY
SLATON
Revision of Criminal and Other
Laws Also Urged in Execu-
tive's Inaugural Address,

Drastic action toward the ret1ve-
nation and correction of Georgia's
laws, especially taxation and the
Criminal Code, were recommendations
which marked the inaugural address
of John Marshall slaton upon his
induction into the gubernatoriaI Of
flee in the House of Representatives
before the two bodies of the General
Assembly and hundreds Of visitors at
noon Saturday.
The new Chief Executive drew out
in sharp contrast the present SYSTEM
Of appropriations and taxation and
declared the system was wrong.
He brought up for bitter arraign-
ment the lack OF school funds, which
he termed the lack of a proper foun-
dalton for future citizenship of the
State. He advocated an Inheritance
tax, an increased occupation tax upon
corporations and a general euualiza-
ton Of taxation throughout the Com
monwealth.
Drain Not Checked, He Says.
He called attention to the loss Of
millions Of dollars through abandon
ment Of tax measures such as that On
liquor, the dog tax and others, and
declared that no substitute for this
drain had been made. He recon-
mended increases in taxation for the
school fund and the pension fund, and
in concluding pointed to a general
tide of prosperity which he declared
was to pass over Georgia
In part, Governor Slaton said:
Our system is wrong The Legfsla-
ture can appropriate what it pleases,
and the tax rate remains the same,
The Legislator has made himself a IA
yorite with his constituency by voting
for every popular appropriations and
nothing suffers but the States credit.
Unless some check be made. an IN
crease of revenue will be of no avail. In
preventing the financial embarrassment
Of the State. Under the enthusiasm of
the moment one appropriation bin NAV
exhaust it,
More than four fifths of the Statesrost
the Union derive revenue from what Isl
known as an Inheritance tax. I am in
formed that this tax is the subject OF
least complaint.
This form Of tax has been approveif
by the highest authorities and is one
Of the easiest borne and subject n.
FEWER hardships than any other. The
a mo- FaEy a..
receive.
Corporation Taxation.
Prior to the year 1905, many efforts
were made to collect an occupstion 4ay-
from corporations. Governor Terrell in.
his message Of the year 1905 RECON-.
mended tentative privilege tax bass1
on capital stock of $780, 900 per wear on
corporations having a capital of 81
100000. or over. He ANTICIPATED from,
this source more than 500. 900 a year
and thought that such sum could req,
sonably be expected without a hardship
The State, however, has not received
one-haH this sum, and during the year
1913 the estimated revenue from mis-
source is $4,000.
l recommend that the maximum occur,
patton tax on corporations having 81
ooVOOe capital and over be $500 per an
mum, and the tax on corporations of less
capital be adjusted accordingly.
Equalization Of taxes, either through
the enforcement of present laws. or new
correctives, so that each may bear his
proportionate burden, would not mean
the increase of taxes upon any one now
performing his duty, but would rather.
mean the tightening Of his unfair por-
ton of the load. commend this sub-
ject to your attention.
Bonded Debt To Be Refunded,
An additional reason for establishins.
and maintaining the States finances on
a sound basis is the necessity of max
ing provision for more than one-half Of
the entire bonded debt of the State. ma
turing in 1915 This is an Imperative
duty resting on this Legislature
No sinking fund was provided by law
TO retire the bonds aggregating $685.
eco which are due in 1915. The entire
States debt is S6,452, 500, which does
not include the obligations to the Uni
versity, amounting to 1921, 500. and the
Landscript Fund of $50, COO
All the debt of So, 452 500 is provided
for, or viii be provided for, by the sink
ing fund required to be raised annually
until the debt is paid off, except the