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

you concerning certain tax measures
that came before us. and ] want to
explain my position on them. A bill
was introduced to raise the tax rate
for two years. | voted against this
measure. | am unalterably opposed
10 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 bin was
limitation appropriations to the pub
lie school fund to a certain amount of
the five mills tax. This measure
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 he appropriated for
these purposes The wisdom of this
policy conforms to my ideas, and |
feel that succeeding Legislatures will
be as capable OF determining the
amount of funds that should be ap-
propriated for these purposes as the
present Legislature or any other Leg
islature in the past
Tax Equalization Stand.
Another bill of more Importance
probably than the bills above re-
ferrad to, is the bill which is now a
law, and it is known as the TAX
Equalization Law" This measure
also opposed and voted against. The
cry has been that we need more
money. grant to you that this
measure will raise it, but whether or
not it will raise it from the right
source is another question. If ! 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. it can be seen. Many
farmer. to avoid being harassed and
publicly charged with false return,
will give in his property at a higher
valuation than justice and equality
demand The unseen property the
invisible properly. notes, bonds,
money, etc, Will not be reached and
the expectation Of the trainers of this
law viii not be realized
At last, gentlemen, the only founda-
ton that should permanently control
our appropriations should be the en-
hancemeRt of property values, more
peOpla and more wealth. We all fun
Wen know that ii the Georgia Legis-
lature had twice as much money to
appropriate II would all be spent and
we would still hear the cry, Our in
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 1922 expenditures by the
State of Georgia amounted to s., AGA,
lSS. and in the fiscal year l9l1-12 they
amounted to S5625.S95. an increase in
twenty years of $3.161, 631 or at the
rate OF 12S per cent. Between 1890
and 1910 the population Of Georgia
increased from 100000 TO , 500 600,
or Gas. 600. equal To 80 per cent only.
With approximate accuracy, il may
be estimated that the State eNpendi-
lures now average sells "A year per
each inhahitant compared with Slll
twenty years ago. an increase of "a
per cent. II may we'll be asked where
viii the increases of expenses in gov
eminent end
Recently writer used the follow
| ing language, which. In my opinion. is
pregnant with wisdom;
Under the sway OF new thought
activities in all forms OF American
government have expanded nightly
In recent years. and generally beyond
the limit of safety for the people.
They have become possible because
lawmakers and executives are the
choice I'm elections, turning frequently
upon the votes OF the individuals who
are not taxpayers I'm the sense OF
being Obliged To pay money directly
to the taXgatherers. and who, under
the impression OF supertciality that