The Adair County news., 1915-04-07

it's fair cash value, or that made a
different rate for different classes of
property, or if any county or town
should try to do the same it would be
contrary to the constitution and void,
so that unless the constitution is vi
olated there can be no legal inequality
in taxation, so that if under the
present constitution any person eS-
capes his just and equal proportion of
taxation, it is not on account of any
fault of the constitution, but because
he is violator of the law just like the
fellow that violates any other law.
What honest objection can there be to
every man or woman rich or poor,
bearing their inst proportion of the
taxes; be they high or low, for State,
county or town purposes? In other
words what objection can there be
honestly urged to equality among all
the people Oh the question of bearing
the burdens of our public affairs be
they great or small?
Now let us consider the vital points
in the proposed amendment. Here it
is. The General Assembly shall
have power to divide property into
classes, and determine what class or
classes of property shall be subject to
local taxation. Bonds of the State
and of counties, municipalities, tax.
ing and school districts shall not be
subject to taxation"
Why classify property, and why
should the Legislature be permitted
to say that one slaSS should be subject
to local taxation and another not, I'M
less there is to he some inequality?
If some class of property should be ex-
empted from local taxation, what class
of property is to be exempted and
why should one class be exempted in
prefer to another? All taxes are
local except State taxes County tax.
es, town taxes, school, county and
district taxes are all local. When the
local taxes are added up, they are al
ways much more than the State taxes.
Yet these taxes have to be paid.
Who is going to pay them, and whose
property or what class of property is
going to be exempt from their pay
ment under the proposed amendment.
If any is exempted, which is the ev-
ident intention of the promoters of
this amendment, then the burden will
necessarily be increased on those who
are not exempted, for the expenses
must be paid in some way. and by
some body. Now my idea is that this
| is a question in which all the people in
the State are vitality interested. 1t is
public question and a very import
ant one. Any man that thinks this
amendment should be adopted, should
urge its adoption either through the
papers or by speeches, but he should
deal fairly with the people, and III
stead Of cOntenting himself with pratt
/ ing about the present burdens of tax
alton tell the people how they are TO
be relieved If by a constitutional
amendment show up the amendment
and explain wherein the relief is to
come about by its adoption. If by
classification of property for taxation,
let him give his idea as 10 how it
should be classied, and why, and what
property should be subject to local tax
alton, and what property is 10 be ex-
empt from local taxes and why, and
what he proposes to do with the prop
erty that is not to be subject to local
taxation. Come out in the open, take
hold of and discuss the proposition as
it is. and not try to represent it in al
legories; as is done in the article first
herein referred to
j. Z. Montgomery.