Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-03-15

you concerning certain tax measures
that came before us, and l want to
explain my position on them. A bill
wSs introduced to raise the tax rate
for two years. / voted against this
measure. | am unalterably opposed
TO any legislation that seeks to in
crease our tax rate and impose heav
Ter burdens on our people. | am OPP
posed to an increase of the tax rate
for any length of time or for any
purpose 1t is a dangerous prece-
dent Our State Constitution limits
the tax rate to five mills, and the dis
bursements of the State should be
held within this limit
Again. a bill was introduced to limit
the appropriations to the old soldiers
Of our State to a fixed amount of this
five mills. This bill | also opposed
and voted against. A similar bill was
introduced to limit by constitutional
Limitation appropriations to the pub
lie school fund to a certain amount Of
the five mills tax. This measured
also opposed and voted against. Dur
Ing all the past years, since funds
have been set apart for these pur-
poses. it has been left to each Legis-
lature to determine the amount of our
funds that should be appropriated for
these purposes The wisdom of this
policy conforms to my ideas, and I
feel that succeeding Legislatures will
be as capable of determining the
amount of funds that should be APP
propriated for these purposes as the
present Legislature or any other Leg
tslature in the past.
Tax Equalization Stand.
Another bill of more Importance
probably than the bills above re-
ferred to, is the bill which is now a
law, and it is known as the Tax
Equalization Law" This measure l
also opposed and voted against. The
cry has been that we need more
money. ! grant to you hat this
measure will raise It, but whether or
not 1t will raise it from the right
source Is another question. If l am
not badly mistaken. the burden of
this law will fall upon the small
farmer and the man OF moderate
means Land is tangible-it can be
pointed out, 1t can be seen. Many a
farmer, to avoid being harassed and
publicly charged with false return,
will give in his property at higher
valuation than justice and equality
demand The unseen property, the
invisible property, notes, bonds,
money. etc, viii not be reached and
the expectation of the trainers of this
law will not be realized.
At last, gentlemen, the only founda =
ton that should permanently control
our appropriations should be the, en-
hanceme?t of property values, more
peopls and more wealth. We all full
well know that il the Georgia Legis-
lature had twice as much money TO
appropriate it would all be spent and
we would still hear the cry Our i'm
situations are being throttled for the
want of funds"
Where Will Expenses End?
Recently | made some investigation
OF the appropriation of public funds
for the past twenty years. In the
fiscal year 1928 expenditures by the
state OF Georgia amounted to S2,464,
1SS. and in the fiscal year 19l1-12 they
amounted to $5,625s25, an increase ir
| twenty years of S3,161 ,637. or at the
| rate of 12S per cent Between 1885,
and 1910 the population of Georgis
| increased from 1860. 900 to 2,609, 900
or $4,000 equal TO 33 per cent only
With approximate accuracy, It may
be estimated that the State eXpendi'
| lures now average S2.15 a year pei
each inhabitarit. compared with Sill
| twenty years ago, an increase of O.
per cent. 1t may we'll be asked where
will the increases of expenses In gov
eminent end?
Recently a writer used the follow
ing language. which, in my opinion. II
| pregnant with wisdom:
Under the sway Of new though
activities in all forms of American
| government have expanded nightly
| in recent years. and generally beyont
! the limit of safety for the people
! They have become possible because
| lawmakers and executives are thu
! choice in elections, turning frequently
upon the votes Of the individuals WHIT
are not taxpayers IN the sense o
| being obliged To pay money directl!
! TO the taXgatherers. and who, unde
the impression OF superficiality tina