davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1916-10-31

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Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1916-10-31
A REGULAR Thing.

81 got in wrong terribly today. !
walked right by cousin of my wife's
and didn't recognize her"
How long have you been married? ?"
About a year"
Quit worrying, my boy. You'll
get used to that I've been married
ten years and don't know all my wife's
cousins now"
The broad ax., 1916-10-21
TAX AMENDMENT, WHY?
Tax System Now Makes Perjurers,
Penalties Thrift and Burdens
the Honne

What's the need of a tax amendment?
asks the ChicGso Herald.
Because Illinois is tied TO the gen.
eral property tax, under which personal
and real property are taxed uniformly
Doesn't that work unfairly?
1t doesn't work well as far as the
property is concerned. And if it did
work, it would be practically confis-
catory in character.
For instance?
Well, savings bank account paying
per cent is liable to taxation. To
impose the general property rate on it
would mean taking nearly two-thirds of
the income. The holder of per cent
bond would have to pay nearly half his
income in taxes. A widow with a few
thousand dollars from her husbands
insurance policy invested at per cent
would have to pay about third of it.
What's the net result of the general
property tax as at present admins
tered?
1t penalties thrift, it makes con-
structive perjurerS out of good citizens
willing to pay fair taxes. it makes eva
sion almost a case of self-defense.
Is that all?
BY no means. Instead of resulting
in uniformity it results in Grass inc
quality as regards personally assess
ments between individuals, between
different counties and sections of the
state. between the owners of personally
that can be seen and assessed and in
tangible personally.
Anything else?
BY failing to reach and collect
larger revenue from personally, It
throws an ineQuitable part of the tax
burden on real estate-on the owners
of the small homes. the farms as well
as other re- al estate owners. And that
doesn't end the Indictment.
viii the classification Of personal
property for taxation suited 10 the
various classes help 10 remedy this
situation
The experience Of other states leaves
no doubt On that point
The broad ax., 1916-10-21
An Initiative AND
REFERENDUM TEST
Tax Amendment Vote VIII Show
II People Give Attention to
Referendum Matters.

Here is case Of referendum" for
those who believe in referendum.
1t is also case of Initiative" by the
people, for those who believe in initia-
tive.
The constitution Of the state of IL
linois makes it possible for the gen.
eral assembly-representing the peo-
ple-to respond to the demands of the
people and initiate a change in the sys-
tenn of government by proposing amend
ments to the constitution. OF course,
there have been demands for an en-
largement of this method of initiative
and referendum-and they have been
looked upon with great favor by many.
The people now have a chance to show
what they will do with propositions
that are referred to them for action by
the legislature.
In order to adopt the tax amendment
it is necessary that it have a majority
OF all the ballots cast at the election
November z. There is no doubt about
its having majority of all who vote
on the Amendment proposition. The
only danger that confronts it is that
some, or many, will not take the
trouble to mark their ballots for it,
even though they favor it. Those who
believe in referendum and initiative,
especially should be alert to see to it
that this important referendum propo-
sition does not result in demonstra-
NA4N
tions-such as that involved in the
Tax Amendment-do not fail because
of the inattention of the voter.
The broad ax., 1916-10-21
BILLIONS UNTAXED
UNDER PRESENT LAW
Ex-Mayor Kern of Belleville and For
mer State Senator Magill of
Springfield Speak for Tax
Amendment.

Belleville, Oct. 6.-Former State
tendent of the Springfield, ILL.,, half
million dollar high school, told a
small audience in the Circuit Court
room last evening that Illinois cry
ing need was the constitutional
amendment, to be voted on in the
November election, by which the pres
ent constitutional limitations sur
rounding the restricted valuation of
all classes of property could be re-
moved.
That billions Of dollars of wealth
created under conditions which did
not exist when the constitution of
1870 was adopted now escape taxa
ton, and that as a result of this in
equitable system every humble home
owner in the state, every honest mer-
chant whose stock of goods is in sight
and every honest man who made an
honest return on his possessions must
bear the dishonest mans proportion
of the public taxes, was the conclu-
sion reached by Mr.. Magill
Mr.. Magill was followed by former
Mayor Fred ]. Kern of this city, who
made a vigorous argument in favor
of the proposed tax amendment and
said that he was satisfied to vote
Eyes" on the proposed amendment be-
cause the Illinois Bar Association and
a two-thirds membership of the Illi-
nois senate and the lower house, re-
CARELESS of partisan utilization, had
agreed to have this question sub
mitted to the voters of the state.
The amendment in question pro-
poses to enable the Illinois Legisla-
ture to establish a classification on
property of all sorts so that there
may be equitable assessment and
more certain law of reaching many
classes of property that are now con-
cealed and escape proper taxation.
The meeting was held under the
auspices of the Commercial Club.
The broad ax., 1916-10-21
PENALIZING PART-PAYMENT
PLAN HOME PURCHASERS

A conspicuous injustice which the
Constitutional Amendment, to be voted
on November z, will make it possible
to remedy, is double taxation. Discuss
ing this fact the Quincy Journal points
out that the taxation of mortgaged
property and of mortgages as well as
some other forms of intangible
value occasions frequent complaint Of
double taxation"
Most farms and most homes in IL
linois today are bought on the part
payment plaza little cash and a
note, secured by mortgage, being given
by the purchaser. A mortgage on land
is taxable, which in effect is double
taxation. Two taxable values are thus
created where only one existed before.
Suppose that man sell horse, for
say 5000, and takes a note for it, the
note becomes taxable. Suppose. fur
Their, that the buyer sell a horse to
another man for another note, this
second note becomes taxable. This
same horse may be sold indefinitely on
credit, creating a taxable value each
time that II is sold.
The broad ax., 1916-10-21
OUR REVENUE SYSTEM
0UTGROWN AND BAD
B. A. ECkhdrt Points Out that It
is like the Cradle, Sickle
and FIaiI in Farming.

The restriction of the constitution
Of 1918 are entirely unsuited to the
present financial, industrial and eco
nomic conditions of the state of
Illinois," said Mr.. b. A Eckhart, chair
man, speaking at the Tax Amendment
Campaign Committee meeting at the
Press Club, Chicago. October 5. The
farmers of the agricultural portion Of
our state" Mr.. Eckhart continued,
have adopted modern methods of pro-
ducing agricultural products: they
have long ago abandoned the harvest
ing of their grain with sickles or
cradles and thrashing with the fail.
In place of these Anticipated imple-
ments they are using the very latest
self-propelling harvesting machines
and the steam-propelled thrashing ma
chine Our old-fashioned revenue law
Is no more adaptable to our modern
conditions than the sickles. cradles
and fail would be to our agricultural
condition of today"
Chairman Eckhart declared. with
great emphasis. that the pending
Amendment is one of the most i'm
portant matters ever placed on the
small ballot in this state. He said
mo state or nation can exist without
an adequate and effective system OF
taxation that will not only produce
sufficient revenue with which to ad-
minister the affairs OF the state or
nation, but ii must do so in a manner
so Just as Ia satisfy the majority OF
the taxpayers. Nearly every state In
the union has been confronted with
the difficult question OF proper taxa
ton. Many state have enacted laws
enabling classification Of personal
property where all OF the people are
fully alive TO the Importance Of secur-
ing the adoption OF the amendment.
Mr.. Frank l.. Shepard spoke at
length. detailing the legal aspects and
bearings of the proposed Amendment
and pointing out that the present con-
stitutional provision for uniform tax
alton was devised when uniformity
was not only Just but practicable. He
said that 70 was necessary. In order 10
establish Justice and 10 produce proper
revenue that The Amendment BE- adopt
ed. Mr.. Clarence :. DIrrow explained
that under any and all circumstances
the collection ~ a just and equitable
tax l. rvcccIfu-,y difficult. .i ling that
under the uniform ~ r.Hui-"ment
provision % Tho Illinois constitution
II is not only difficult On, Practically
The broad ax., 1916-10-21

Some of the tax dodgers-deSiring
to have the present system continue
claim that the pending Tax Amend
ment might possibly, by some sort of
judicial mischance, be miscOnstrued
to make single tax possible under 1T.
Against this is the fact that no organ
lied and outright opposition to the
Amendment exists, except that of the
single takers. Thus il appears that the
TWO elements that are opposing the
Amendment are the tax dodgers, who
pretend to think that it might make
single tax possible, and the single tax
crs. who are vehement in their denuE
Citations of it because il appears ia
them to make single tax hol eleSS.
The broad ax., 1916-10-21
TAX AMENDMENT TO
REDUCE LIVING COST
President Chicago Real Estate
Board Explains to the Joliet
Rea! Estate Board.

Discussing the pending Tax Amend
ment to be voted on November z, Paul
Steinbrecher, president of the Chicago
Real Estate Board, in an address to
the Joliet Real Estate Board a few
days ago said, ''the Amendment, when
adopted, will put an end to tax dodg-
Ing as to personal property. Relieved
OF heavy and heavier taxation rents
VIII be more reasonable; and, this, in
turn, will tend to reduce the high cost
OF living generally" Mr.. Stein
Drecher said further that only ignor-
ance on the part of the voters may de-
reat the Amendment, and, he pointed
out that it has the endorsement of all
parties and of all of the leading econo-
mlsts and tax experts. Mr.. Stein
brecher also showed that the system
OF dealing with personal property
especially intangible property-which
the proposed Amendment will make
possible in Illinois-is now in success
full operation in twenty states. In
tangible wealth, as returned by the
assessors, now represents only about
per cent Of the total taxable wealth
OF the state. Estimates show that the
taxable intangible values in Illinois
are probably about one-third to one
half Of the total taxable value in the
state.
The incorporation of tax burden
borne by real estate everywhere
throughout the state tends to create
increased overhead expense for the
landlord, and the manufacturer, the
merchant, and the tenant A fair APP
portionment of the tax burden be-
tween tangible and intangible prop
erty would operate to reduce the tax
rates on real property.
The broad ax., 1916-10-21

In its condemnation of the general
property tax, the Illinois Special Tax
Commission quotes from the report OF
the Rhode Island Special Tax Com
mission: THE General Property Tax,
which for many years has been general
throughout the United States, and
is a constitutional provision
in many states, has proved Intellectual
in producing revenue; unjust because
1t places the burden upon the weak.
while it allows the shrewd and power
full to escape: inadvisable because 1t
brings the law into disrepute and de-
bases the morals of the community"
The broad ax., 1916-10-21
UnWOrkabIe Tax Laws of Illinois
Enable Holders of Accumu-
lated Wealth to Escape
Taxes Which Others
Must Pay.
TAX AMENDMENT IS NEEDED
Other Great States Have Changed
From the Old Systems To Plans
Which the Pending Amendment
Will Make Possible In Illinois.

1t is generally felt that the proposed
Tax Amendment law that the people
Of Illinois will vote on at the Novem-
Der election will be passed with the
unanimous expression of the voters of
the state, says the Waukegan Sun. 1t
is known fact that the tax laws of
Illinois have long been obsolete. This
state has stood back while other states
have forged to the front in the matter
Of revising their arrangements on tan
ing property, personal and real es-
tate. To date the real estate of l.
llnols has gone to the front of taxation.
Personal property has escaped in a
manner which is shameful and which
has forced the burden of taxation on
the common people. Under the pro-
posed tax amendment the laws will
be so changed that the taxing bodies
will be placed in a position to go after
the personal property of wealthy resi-
dents Of the state and they will be
made to share the burden of taxation.
As it now is, fortune upon fortune has
NS~SPNN any No-AAllAOA hAdlCNCIs Willie
the visible property, the real estate, is
forced to carry the heavy expenses Of
the state. The injustice of such a tax
alton should have appealed to the peo-
pie Of Illinois long ago, and therefore
voters seize the opportunity by which
they will be able to equalize the bur
den of taxation. Several neighboring
states long ago have adopted a change
in taxation by which burden has been
equalized and as a result nobody has
suffered. Under the proposed change
in Illinois, only the rich will be hit
and in a way the burden which has
been carried on by real estate holdings
will be alleviated to a great extent
This paper is most heartily in favor
Of the proposed tax amendment law
and from what we have been able 20
learn, it will in no way be a burden
on the ordinary people, but will be
step toward making the rich come to
and pay their just share of running
Illinois.
The broad ax., 1916-10-21

voting for the Tax Amendment to
the state constitution" says the Chi
cago Daily News, will not be spectac-
ular, but it will be highly important"
This states the situation exactly. 1t is
unfortunate that popular government
has to deal with phases of public affairs
which not only are difficult to under
stand but which are unattractive. The
subject of taxation is extremely COM
plicated, and presents great difficulty
to arrive at just conclusions. In con-
sidering the Tax Amendment, the
people should understand that two
general assemblies have dealt with the
question-one of them providing for
special tax commission, which was
appointed by Governor Deneen. An
other general assembly, acting upon
the recommendations of the tax COM
mission, submitted the Tax Amend
ment that is to be voted upon on No
vember z. Those who have not time
to study out all the details and bear
ings of the Amendment may take it for
granted that the proposition is the
product of mature elaboration by the
leaders of all parties-men who best
understand taxation matters-and that
it meets the requirements of the Hi
nois taxation situation.
The broad ax., 1916-10-21
ILLINOIS PRESS COMMENT

Mt. Sterling Democrat Messenger,
Old tax methods must go.
Chicago Post: The absurdity of
levying the same proportional tax on
land, banks, savings, bonds, house
hold furniture and mortgages needs
no argument.
Quincy Herald: Modern laws re-
gard mortgages and kindred values
as differing in character from other
property and tax them according to
ability to bear the tax
Tiskilwa Chief: Taxation affects
every citizen directly or indirectly.
Our present system penalties thrift
and industry and taxes the necessities
OF life, increasing their cost.
Rushyille Herald: The ratification
OF the amendment is making the
start. So impress on your mind now
to vote Eyes" on it when you are
marking your ballot November Z.
Mansfield Express: The State
Farmers Institute and many of the
farmer county Institutes throughout
the state have gone on record as IA
voring reforms in taxation, and the
question is one that can no longer be
evaded.
Champaign Gazette: All elements
in the voting population of the state
home owners, manufacturers, wage
workers and business men-ought to
Join in securing the adoption of the
much needed tax amendment to the
constitution.
Jacksonville Journal: If endorse
ments from party leaders and candi-
dates for Office give influence, the
pending tax amendment to the state
constitution should receive favorable
consideration at the general election,
November Z.
st. Louis Globe Democrat: The
only thing that can defeat the pro-
posed amendment to the Illinois con-
stitution will be the indifference of
the voters. The real danger is that
too many voters may fail to express
themselves on the question.
Springfield News-Record: The tax
system established in the days of the
OK cart is not suited to the age of the
steam engine and electric car. The
amendment will need active support,
for it requires a majority of all votes
cast at the election to be adopted
FreepOrt Standard: 1t need not be
feared that the legislature will aban-
don any source of revenue open to it
by making unjust and sweeping ex-
emptions of personal property from
taxation, for the very substantial rea-
son that the state needs and will al
ways need the money.
Edwardsville Intelligencer: Voters
of Illinois will be asked at the No
vember election to pass judgment on
an important proposed tax amend
ment to the state constitution. If
the amendment passes it will be pos
sible for the general assembly to pro-
vide for special taxes on intangible
property such as are now successfully
used in Pennsylvania and Maryland.
The amendment will affect only per-
sonal, not real property.
Decatur Herald: Farmers are just
as much victims as are other classes
of property owners to the vicious sys-
tenn of double taxation which the
present law promotes They, too,
take notes for payment in property
transactions and pay taxes upon the
note, although the original property
may have been taxed. Indeed, so
many farms are being bought on the
part payment plan nowadays that
double taxation is especially felt by
farmers.
The broad ax., 1916-10-21

Many who would have to pay taxes
on intangible values under a re-
modelled system are now escaping tax
alton altogether. Some of these imag-
inc that the present system of tax
lodging in Illinois can be carried into
the future indefinitely. There are
others who by their position and
knowledge know that a change has
got to be made that will bring about
the taxing Of intangible values at a
reasonable rate. Those who think they
can escape on their holdings of mort
gage notes, bonds and stocks and
other forms of intangibles, are op-
posed to any amendment or any re-
vision of the tax laws which will COM
pei them to pay even a small tax
such as that which intangible value
owners pay -, in Pennsylvania, New
York, Maryland and other states. The
opposition which comes from tax
dodgers of this sort is not outright and
direct, but is covert and insinuating.
They pretend to believe that the
phraseology Of the Amendment is such
that it will do harm and deadly things
to real estate owners. 1t is worth
while to take into account that all of
the leading real estate organizations
in Illinois favor the Amendment on
the ground that it will relieve real
estate of some of its tax burdens.
The broad ax., 1916-10-21

The most deplorable consequence Of
our present tax law is the dCmOraliz-
ing influence Of the hiatus between the
written words of the law and its actual
administration. which is well known
and recognized both by public officials
and our most highly respected citizens.
This situation inevitably leads 10 dis
respect of the Law i'm other fields. and
calls for farrrayhiug changes in the
present system Of taxation. Illinois
Special Tax Commission.
The broad ax., 1916-10-21

Illinois - Chicago is becoming a
great money and financial center. Soon,
if not already. the intangible wealth Of
the state will be greater than the tan
gible 1t should bear taxes sure to be
collected-and at rates that will not
drive it into other states where taxes
on intangibles are reasonable. Our
tax laws should help. not mar. the
economic growth of the state
The broad ax., 1916-10-21

Quincy Journal: Equal and rea--
Sonable taxation of modern forms of
wealth which escape today, will be
made impossible if the tax amend
ment to the constitution is adopted
November =.
The broad ax., 1916-10-21
ILLINOIS PRESS COMMENT

Moline Despatch: Tax reform Is
necessary.
Lew1stown News: There can be no
greater injustice in our revenue laws
than tax upon debts.
Effingham Review: Tax conditions
In Illinois are becoming intolerable.
No improvement can be mada
unless the amendment is adopted.
GaIVa News: There are many and
devious ways of hiding taxable prop
erty from the assessor, but they are
all closed to the poor man, principally
because he hasn't anything to hide.
hewanee Star Courier: The farmer
who has experienced the evils of
double taxation will vote for
the pending tax amendment next fall
and urge his neighbors to do like
wise.
Rockford Star: An amendment to
the constitution which will permit the
classification of personal property
will be decided step in advance, in
the direction of greater justice in
taxation.
Chicago News: The Illinois tax
amendment to be voted on November
z is expected to receive stimulus at
the Tenth Annual Convention OF the
National Tax association, to be held
at Indianapolis.
Chicago Examiner: We are to
vote next November on the tax re-
form amendment to the constitution
and attempt to bring Illinois into
the ranks of progressive states that
has modern tax laws.
Morris Herald: If the voters of
Illinois vote to amend and revise the
revenue article of the constitution
next November, they will not be
changing the present law; but they
will make it possible for a change
in the method of making assessments.
FreepOrt Standards: Other states,
similar in character to Illinois, by
modern and scientific methods, have
made tax lodging a rare offense in
stead of a common habit, and have
devised means for taxing effectively
and justly those classes of property
which largely escape in Illinois.
Peoria Journal: If the amendment
passes it will be possible for the gen.
eral assembly to provide for special
taxes on intangible property such as
now are successfully used in Penn
sylvania and Maryland; or to estab-
lish special recording tax on mort
cages such as now is in force in New
York and Minnesota.
Moline Dispatch: The old general
property tax is impossible of admins
tration. A classified system opens
the door for real reform in tax mat
tiers in this state, and the proposed
constitutional change which provides
for this should receive the over
whelming support of the electorate
on November T."
Edwardsville Republican: Under
the general property tax law, the as
SCISSORS in theory are required to levy
taxes uniformly on all classes Of
In practice this has been
found utterly impracticable, nor
would it be just and equitable even
were it practicable, for all classes of
cannot stand the same rate
of taxation. The>result is that we
have developed a most unjust and in
equitable system of taxation, under
which real property, and especially
real estate, is required to carry more
than its share of expense of govern
ment, while intangible personal prop
erty, in the shape of stocks. bonds,
mortgage, monev credits and all
kinds of income-producing property,
which can be concealed, escapes taxa
ton almost entirelv
The broad ax., 1916-10-21

OF the few who oppose the pending
Tax Amendment some say. Let the
present Law be enforced" This would
mean that every savings bank depos-
itor would have to pay about onc-half
Of his three per cent interest tn the tax
collector
The broad ax., 1916-10-21

AS 4 result 81 the present situation.
there is a notorious evasion Of the
terms Of the revenue law, which are
unjust in principle and uncnforceable
In practice" Special Tax Com
mission.
The broad ax., 1916-10-21

Il the present law Is enforced as to
the tax on MORTGAGES. II viii mean 4
higher rate q: interest whom you renew
your mortgage