Putnam County herald. (Cookeville, Tenn.) 1903-1922, 1914-07-02
woRKMAN's COMPENSATION

WORKMAN'S COMPENSATION LAW
We favor a workman's compensation
law, fair alike to employer and en-
ploye, and we favor the proper regula-
ton of the rates and charges of all
public service corporations, and we op-
pose the issuance of passes by trans
portation companies, except to their
bona fide employees. And we favor in
creasing the powers of the railroad
commission so that the health, safety
and comfort of the travelling public
may be fully protected, and to compel
these corporations to perform the dut-
les they owe the public,
XII
BACK AND CURRENT TAXES
In the assessment of property we ia
vor policy having for it's object fair
equitable and just treatment of all
taxpayers alike. We oppose discrimi-
nation as among the different classes
of taxpayers, and demand that all prop
erty, real, personal, mixed, be compel
led to bear its proportionate part of
the tax burden, subject only to those
exemptions authorized by the consti-
tuition of our state. Especially do we
demand that personality of every char
acter not otherwise exempt, including
Intangible corporate property, be made
to bear its share of the tax levy as now
required of farm lands and other class
es OF real property. We conceive it to
be no greater detriment to the public
welfare to omit from the assessments
landed estates of prosperous farmer
than to permit the hidden securities of
thrifty capitalists and tax dodgers to
entirely escape the tax rolls. While it
must be admitted that many millions
of dollars worth of personal property
annually escape assessment in our
state, it cannot be denied that there
is scarcely foot of soil that is not
each year forced to yield a high tax
tribute that the laws demand. We de-
clare and instruct for the thorough
modification, revision and reconstruc-
tion of The laws of Tennessee with
reference to the assessment and col
lection of all taxes to +he end that all
property in this state may with least
expense and vexation to the people be
made to bear its proper and equitable
tax burden, and to this end we declare
and instruct for the passage of legisla-
tion which will insure:
1. That all taxes shall promptly, fair
ly and equally assessed, and that all
taxes so nearly as possoble be collect
ed while currently due, without the
necessity of vexations and expensive
tax litigation
2. That current assessments may be
so thorough and fair that necessity for
any back assessments, shall be re-
duced to an absolute minimum and
shall be limited to the proper and epui-
table and inexpensive back assess
ment of property which has been omit
ted entirely, and which as a result of
actual fraud has been nadequately as
Isessed.
3. We declare n favor of the pass
age of an act to the effect that after
property has been regularly enlisted
and assessed by the tax assessor and
it's value fixed and passed by county
board of equalization, and after having
passed the state board of equalization
such property shall not be made sub
ject to back assessments.
4. We favor the collection of such
limited back taxes as can by the result
of diligence be collected when due.
The collection of such back taxes
should be promptly and inexpensively
made by the county trustee, aided by
the county attorney, or attorney-gener-
al, and such revenue should be turned
into the treasury.
5. That tax commission be created
and empowered to make all tax assess
ments uniformly and thoroughly.
6. Back tax litigation should not be
expensive, vexa-ious or productive OF
burdens to he citizens. We pledge
our nominee for governor when elected
to appoint commission of six compe-
tent men, two from each grand divis-
ion of the state, and who will serve
without compensation, to carry out the
provisions of this platform with ref
erence to taxation. /
XIII.
THE FEE SYSTEM.
We are opposed to the payment OF
fees to certain public officers out OF
all proportion to the services rendered,
and we favor the payment OF salaries
to such officials and the payment OF
the fees into the public treasury.
XIV.
AGRICULTURE.
We favor liberal appropriations for
the advancement of the farming inte-
rests of the state and we pledge the
party to the development OF our agrl-
cultural resources.
XIV.
We denounce the republican party
of Tennessee in unmeasured terms Tor
laying false claim to every good law
enacted recently in Tennessee. AS
matter of fact the democrats OF Ten
nessee have been the authors and nm
ishers of all wholesome laws recently
enacted, and the only visible result OF
republican activity in Tennessee has
been the creation Of more offices, the
appointment of more off1ce-holders and
the establishment Of political ma
chine composed Of fire marshals, 1nsu-
rance commissioners, auditors and va
rious and sundry assistants, all ap-
pointed by the governor, and devoting
their time to his political interests
III.