New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1916-06-03
THE THREE FOURTH MILL
TAX.

up ~ certain quarters that Coy
Pleasant remedy to meet tn
States burdens is - higher rat
Of taxation.
The Governor has not propose,
Ia raise the rate three quarter
OF q mill ~ cover The cost vt run
ning tho government. u is hi'
intention 60 to reduce is expenses
hv cutting of sinocurcs and ~
plying economies as to hring lis
annual Expenditures within its ~,
nual receipts based ON the exist.
ing millage. But no enters office
to fnd Governor Halls predicted
deficit of over 100000 lao ia
his failure 10 prune t',e last Hp-
preparation hill. actually existent
and he has only proposed. rs one
of three remedies. the levy of 4
three quarter mill tax 10 wipe out
the deficit vt the previous Al
ministration aud permit his own
to begin with n clean slate.
The Baton Rouge Statc-Timos
puts the case clearly when it says.
The overdraft il fact that
cannot be argued about or de-
nicd.
II has been coming for years.
Coy. Hall in 1914 vetoed the ap-
preparation bin passed by the
General Assembly ON the ground
that il exceeded the revenue 300 |
600 lie called the extra session
Of 1913 to pass n revenue measure
to replace the old one he had We
toed. The General Assembly
handed him back the same bill.
which. after having said it would
cause n deficit Of $4,000 he re-
fused to sign. lie let it become,
a law without his signature.
Two months ago when the Gov
ernor read the statement Of State
superintendent Harris that there
was an overdraft and that the
agricultural schools had not been
paid. he issued a denial lie said
here was not an ovcrdraft.
However. in spite of dcnials.
he overdraft is there Just as
iov. Hall said two years ago It
vas going to be. and just as Gov.
'leasant SAYS today that it is.
The tc-Times might have
'dded that. when the OK Governor p.
flowed the bill to become a law, =
e knew there was no possibility ;,
# paying the deAcitc. except in ;,
me of the ways suggested by Gov. !
'lcasant or by providing new !
ources Of revenue; that he ex-
'ected to provide new sources by =
constitutional convention and =
hat II was his plan when the con- !,
cntion met to have II authorize :,
IAN Of 100000 to $500. 900 from =,
he fiscal agents to wipe out the =
eicit.
The convention. however. was .,
eaten. The deficit. created I'M =.
cr the old. Therefore, became an :,
'heritancc Of the new Admins. =
alton. n
1t must be met unless the State =,
to become a defaulter. The !,
festion is only how it shall be ~
ct. Gov. Pleasant has pointed "
ut three ways and one is a three -
'arter mill tax for 1916 only and =,
specifically stated in the bill. "
''ree-quarters Of a mill means :"
Nv 70 cents per 81 900. ~
Gov. Pleasant 3 plan to provide ".'
ore income for the multiplying ~
ants of the State and her public nc Nc
situations is very clearly out ~
led IN his message. It looks to )"
separation Of State from local
sessments. in order that any :,
crease Of assessments for the -
netit OF the State shall bear only VIZ
e small State rate ana not the cr'
lrdensome local levies. and this ="
thine IL to be supplemented VI
tn the necessary bills to carry =
into effect.
It is not the purpose Of the Is
'vernor to increase the taxes Of Il
yone who is bearing his fair :
are Of the expenses of govern -
mt, whether individuals or cor
rations. But the inequalities q
assessment are notorious aud
Governor feels that, with the
operation Of the General As =
n5ly. he can bring about eouali- -
ion to such mn extent, that the
reased revenue received nv the .
tie will warrant a reduction Of
rate.
This il patent to anyone who
take the trouble TO read His
cellency's message. There