The Mena weekly star., 1913-01-09
DONACHEY IS FOR
 TAX REDUCTION
Would Cut Rate So That Total Tax for All Divisions Added Together Would Not Exceed 11s Per Cent
 Against Special School Levy

Little Rock. Jan. 1.-Governor Donaghey released another portion of his message to the next general assembly Tuesday afternoon, in which he treats with the taxation affairs of the state, declaring that the rate of taxation must be re- duced and the present method of assessing improved before the state will be on a sound financial basis.
 Speaking of the failure of the Turner-Jacobson bill to become a law, Governor Donaghey says, after lauding the work of the tax com mission, and saying it saved the state from a sore plight
 Tn attempting to make this up ward step much bitter opposition was encountered. A confusion of ideas prevailed and halt to fur ther progress was called. The best part of the tax commissions work is now at standstill, quivering in the balance for fear of a backward movement. This situation was brought about by an attempt to move upward with a progressive measure faster than the people as a whole could understand it. A law for the equalization of taxation was proposed, founded on correct prin- ciples. The opposition, from the very birth of the measure, adver- tised and magnified it's weaknesses, and at the same time suppressed the all-important and greatly pre- dominating factors of its strength. The proposed law had for it's great est claim the power of forcing an capitalized assessment, with sliding scale for the government of the rates of taxation. The sliding scale was always downward-never up ward"
 The principles advocated for the reformation of the system are: "I recommend that you reduce the rate of taxation for all purposes so that the maximum rate for the state, and every municipal division thereof, when all added together, shall not exceed 11a per cent tax. and then enact a law such as will compel an equitable assess ment of all property in the state. With the assessment of the states property at $800,000,000, or but little over 60 per cent of it's actual value, and a proper adjustment of the different levies, this rate would pro- duce more than enough revenue to abundantly provide for all the ne- cessities of the state"
 The governor further states that a provision could be made for ad- ditional levy in taxing unit of the state, by special election in that unit, which would permit greater tax in the poorer units of the state.
 Governor Donaghey also takes exception to the proposed increase in the rate of taxation for the sup port of state institutions, saying it would drive capital from the state; saying that the institutions are now being cared for under the general revenue fund, and an additional mill tax for these purposes would be direct increase of Si30,000 an- nually.
 Simply increasing the rate of taxation on our old dilapidated system of assessment" says the governor, would plunge the state into a mist of trouble, from which it would take another quarter of a century to redeem it. Increasing the rate, or levy, is simply adding to the burdens of everybody. In such a case the honest taxpayer should be forced to bear the bur den that ought to be borne by the dishonest tax dodger."