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
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 10 a fixed amount of this
five mills. This bill l. 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 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 be 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-
proprlated for these purposes as the
present Legislature or any other Leg
islature in the past
Tax Equalization Stand.
=
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 that this
measure viii raise it, but whether or
not it viii raise it from the right
source is another question. If ! am
not badly mistaken the burden of
this law VIII fall upon the small
farmer and the man of modera te
means. Land is taugible-lt can be
pointed out. it can be seen. Many a
farmer, to avoid being harassed and
publicly charged with 81 false return,
will give in his property at a higher
valuation than justice and equality
demand. The unseen property. the
invisible property, notes, bonds,
money, etc. will not be reached and
the expectation Of the trainers of this
law will not he realized.
At last gentlemen, the only founda-
ton that should permanently control
our appropriations should be the en-
hancement of property values, more
people and more wealth. We all full
well know that If the Georgia Legis-
lature had twice as much money to
appropriate il would all be spent and
we would still hear the cry, Our in
stitutions 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 1929 expenditures by the
state Of Georgia amounted to 81, 464, =
ISIS. and in the fiscal year 19l1-12 they
amounted to S5,625,S25 an increase in
twenty years Of S8,161 .637, or at the
rate Of 12S per cent Between 1890
and 1910 the population OF Georgia
increased from 1860, 900 TO 1868 600.
or $40. 900. equal to S3 per cent only.
With approximate accuracy. il may
be estimated that the state expendi-
lures now average S2.15 a year per
each inhabitant, compared with S1.11
twenty years ago, an increase of "a
per cent IL may well be asked where
Will the increases Of expenses in gov
eminent end
Recently a 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 in elections. turning frequently
upon the votes Of the individuals who
are not taxpayers In the sense Of
being obliged 10 pay money directly
to the taXgatherers and who. under
the impression OF superiiciality that