The Mena weekly star., 1917-01-18


 money.
 Equalization Boards Useless.
 Township assessors. in order that personal inspection might be made, is another of Dr. Brough's recom- mendations. He also advocated the abolition of the Boards of Equaliza- tion, saying that these boards are now a useless expense, for they never add to the property value in a county, and what work they have to perform can be done by the Quo- rum court without expense.
 "The present County Boards of Equalization accomplish practically nothing, their members frequently having political debts to pay, both on the credit and the debit side of the ledger says Dr. Brough They ,are grossly ignorant of real value save in their immediate neighbor- hoods. and sometimes are guilty of eollusion with favorites that make Boss Tweed Rings and Whiskey Frauds pale into the light of ethere- al purity"
 Utility Taxes to State.
 The Governor spoke favorable to the plan for giving the state all taxes from utility corporations, and placing a tax of one-half of one percent on mortgages, and fix it SO that the mortgagee pay the tax. To do this a constitutional amendment would be necessary.
 X change in the manner of col lecting inheritance tax is also ad- vocated, placing the matter in the hands of the Tax Commission or ln a specially provided for States At torney, who will receive stated salary. He also wants law which will permit the state to tax corpora tions which are in the hands of a Federal court receiver. An increase of taxation on utility corporations from one fifteenth of one per cent to one-tenth of one per cent, is an- other plank in the Brough message. also the collection of fee for bond issues by railroads, Si for each $i000l in bonds, up to $i,000.000, and 50l cents on each additional thousand. l Missouri received $23i ,000 on the re- cent Frisco Railroad reorganization, | while Arkansas received only s2,03i, | due to the difference in tax rate. A tax of 2h per cent on bulk insur- ance collected, and the same per cent on fire insurance, after allow ing for reinsurance, is another re- form advocated.
 Tax on Actual Values.
 To equalize the taxation all | around, Dr. Brough would change the basis of grades-so that hill l land would receive a different vaiu- i alton from bottom land, a poor horse | would not be in the same class with | a Percheron, and common stock list | ed in the same numbers as booded
 Governor Brough asked the legis- | lature to grant him the privilege of | naming an honorary tax commission, | of five members, to make a study of | tax matters for two years and re- port with recommendation to the | next general assembly. He estimat- ed the cost of this at about $500, l and the value beyond estimation
 "A condition and not a theory eonfronts us state Dr. Brough in l dealing with the financial condl- | tion of the state Arkansas, it is | estimated, will he 1 S753.3lSi6 in debt on the first day | of July; our state warrants are be- ing hawked and peddled around at | q rate sometimes as low as 93 cents | on the dollar; our credit at home | and abroad is being seriously im- paired; and our state institutions l are compelled to buy their supplies at credit prices frequently 22ee | higher than cash prices"
 Put State on Cash Basis.
 Governor Brough then proposed | the S750,000 note issue, with the abo- lition of the State Capitol tax, main taining that building out of the gen. eral revenue fund, and applying the tax to sinking fund to protect the | note issue.
 T will take the personal and po- litical responsibility of whatever may attach to this short time note issue. believing as do that the protection of the hon. or of Arkansas is vital to her politi- cal and economic we'll being" stated | the Governor
 Pay All Warrants in Order Issued.
 A State Commission of Accounts | and Auditing, to be under the State | Banking or Educational depart mentS, to audit state, county. and | like state banks are now | examined by the Banking Depart 1 ment is another recommendation | Dr. Trough believes this will in | crease the financial standing of the | various counties. He would also pay | county and state warrants in the | order in which they are issued.
 Dr. Brough favors a budget sys- tenn for state departments. and | would reinyest the Sixteenth Section | fund of si.i3i,500, which is now in 1 iqo state bonds, by letting it out to school districts at 6@d, and thus saving the districts the expense of 1 bond issue.
 Educational Ideas.
 Educational matters took up a | liberal portion of Dr. Broughs ad- dress. He favored a reinvestment of |