Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1916-12-19
DECREASE KY.
TAX LEVY
Report Will Be Considered
At Special Legislative
Session.

mission has been turnedsover to Gov.
Stanley. In the report several bills
have been drawn up which are to be
submitted to the special session of the
General Assembly in January, and
they are so drawn as to try to relieve
Kentucky's citizens Of the antiquated
tax system, which has kept many in
dustries from the state. The most
important bill offered by the commits
sion is one reclassifying the states
property which, if carried out, the
commission declares, will bring about
an immediate reduction of the state
rate of so cents on the 500 to 40
cents on the 500.
During the past few weeks the
"wet" and "dry" question bobbed up
in regard to the coming report OF the
commission, and it was asserted by
the "dry" forces that an increased Ii
cense would be placed upon all sa-
looms in the state and that this would
be sufficient within the next two years
to wipe out the states indebtedness.
However, no reference is made to
saloons being taxed exceptas in form
err years, but the real burden is to be
borne will be by the land, coal and
timber barons OF Kentucky.
The old law is re-enacted in the new
one whereby real estate property
shall be assessed by the county super
visors at the price the property would
bring on the market. This means
that instead of paying taxes on land
in the Bluegrass region at the rate
of something like $50 per acre, the
farmers will have to pay nearly dou-
BILE that amount. 1t also hits the coal
and timber barons, who have gotten
away with only nominal taxation in
the past.
Intangible property will not be as
sessed, if the recommendation OF
the commission is needed. This will
allow raw materials in factories to
have more leeway in the matter of
taxation than formerly.
In the proposed law there is to be a
tax commission, a nonpartisan body,
composed of three members, not
more than two of them to be Of the
same political faith. These commits
sionersbare not to be less than sc
wears of age and by taking office
Office as commissioners are at once
disqualified for holding public Office
for period of four years after thu
expiration of their terms. The commits
sioners shall be named by the COVER
nor, at a salary of $4,000 per annum
The commission shall then organize a
the members see fit. A secretary, VIII
will receive $1,000 per year, will b
chosen by the commission. Suitabl
accommodations are to be provide,
| for the body in the capital. All eX
penSes of the commission shall nc
Exceed $4,000 per year. The CON
mission is to be in continuous ses
sion with the exceptions Of Sunday
and holidays.
When any amount is involved SUI
Ifcient under existing laws TO author
lie On appeal to the court of appeal.
the judgment of the circuit court sha
be subject to appeal to the court {
appeals by either party, subject to III
same costs, fees and penalties as
other civil cases. On such appeal
the encouragement willrepresent III
commission.
The section covering annual take
follows:
"An annual tax of 40 cents upO
each 500 of value of property direc
ed to be assessed for taxation, a
hereinafter provided, shall be paid b
the owner, person or corporation al
sessed OF the aggregate amount
tx reals I'd by all assessments 81
sety-hfths for the support of the CON
mon schools; two fifty-6fths for tn
use of the sinking fund; one-half {
one-fifty-ffth for the University {
kentucky; and FIVE fifty-hfths for tn
state road fund. The tax herein pre-
vided for the University of Kentuck
shall be in lieu of the tax provided b
Ian approved ril 20, $780,"
i On step in TIM posed law whicl