The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1917-02-21
SPECIAL SESSION OPENS.
MESSAGE OF THE GOVERNOR.

Legislature called to consider the tan
laws met at high noon Wednesday
Governor Stanley sent a message
which was read. The following is the
message in full.
Gentlemen of the Senate and House
of Representatives Previous Legisla-
lures have generously provided for
many things, good and laudable in
themselves, for the improvement and
enlargement of penal and elemosyn-
airy institutions; for the pensioning of
aged and dependent Confederate vet
Grams; for more liberal compensation
for Circuit Judges; for the preserva-
ton of forests; for the cure and pre-
ton of contagious disease and for 9th
err purposes. 1t is to be regretted,
however, that at the time these APP
preparations were authorized no ade-
quate provision was made for the ne
cessary increase in revenue necessary
to meet them. AS result more than
| three-fourths of the revenues of the
State are absorbed by fixed appropria-
tions which cannot be curtailed by one
dollar.
"No human ingenuity, no possible
economy, under existing conditions,
over which this Administration has no
control, bring the necessary expenses
of the State Government, however,
economically administered, within it's
current revenues.
"This necessary and inevitable de-
felt is temporarily provided for by
the issuance of warrants having no
fixed date of maturity and bearing a
high rate of interest. At this date
such outstanding warrants amount to
S3,733,715.02. The fact that such
warrants cannot be funded by legisla-
tive enactment under the Constitution
of this State, is conclusive evidence of
the purpose of the trainers of that in
strument-that the General Assembly
should provide revenue adequate to
meet, without such deficit, all expenses
incident to the proper conduct of the
State Government at the time they are
incurred.
"The present taxing system of the
State is not only grossly inadequate
for the purposes for which it was de-
signed. In the language of the ad-
mirable report of the Tax Commission
now before you: There is now no adj
equate method of forcing all property
on the assessment roll, no adequate
method of determining or fixing the
proper taxable value, when the same
is listed, and no adequate means for
equalizing or equitably distributing
the burden of taxation
Need is Imperative.
"The imperative need of immediate
and radical tax reform has long been
| felt, and such legislation as you are
now assembled to enact repeatedly de-
manded by the people of this Com
monwealth.
"To that end the Constitution has
been amended that your powers might
be enlarged and that you be offered
every opportunity to give to Kentucky
a just, progressive and modern taxing
system-a system equitably distribut-
ing the burdens of taxation embrac-
ing every character of property, tan
gible and intangible. The Constitu-
ton as amended permits the adoption
of such methods as will enable you the
more readily to reach, for purposes of
taxation, property now practically ex-
| empt, and | have every reason to be-
lieve that when you have placed upon
the tax rolls hundreds of millions Of
such hidden and intangible property
the needed revenues for the proper
maintenance of the State Government
may be secured while at time
materially tightening theSSfssent bur-
den upon agricultural lands, which
1 L. %lxv in
equitable share of taxation.
"The task of putting into effect the
provisions Of our amended Constitu-
ton may be difficult. It Is, however,
no new question, and short review
of the history of this legislation can
leave in the minds of no unbiased citi-
zen any doubt of the plain and imper-
| alive purpose of an overwhelming ma
jority of the electors of Kentucky that
this work be done thoroughly and i'm
mediately.
"By virute of the record amendment
to which have referred
"'The General Assembly shall
have power to divide property
into classes and to determine what
classor classes of property shall
NC SuUIcCt W lOCdi ldhdllOlls
A Twofold Purpose.
A TwO.fOld Purpose.
"The purpose of this provision are
"First-By imposing a rate collect.
able without being confscatory, tc
force from hiding hundreds of mil.
lions invested In foreign stocks anC
bonds, notes, mortgages, and accounts
now practically omitted from assess
ment; and
"Second-1n that way to relieve
visible. holdings - agricultural lands
SPECIALIZATION a disproportionate
and grossly inequitable share of the
tax burden of the State.
"No change in the organic law has
been more exhaustively discussed OF
more thoroughly considered. On Feb.
ruary 9, 1912, the proposed amend.
ment passed the Senate by vote OF
"a to 1. This amendment. with an
added referendum, passed the House
March l by a vote of IS to 8. Sub
mitted to the voters at the November
election, 1913, it was adopted by ma
jority of $500, more than two to one
of those voting favoring its adoption
"The Secretary of State had failed
to comply with the provisions of the
law governing the submission of such
amendments, it was again introduced
at the session of 1914, passing the
Senate, February 81, by a vote of. 2s
to 1, and the House March II, by &
vote of " to 16.
"This amendment being a SECOND
time submitted to the voters at The
succeeding general election, was a
dopted by majority of 32,O27.
Both political parties in their las
State conventions, have expressed tn,
fixed purpose of the people as un
equivocally as the electors at the polls
Both parties by platform declaration
favored immediate tax revision an,
the adoption of this amendment.
COngratulates Assembly.
81 congratulate the General Assem-
bly, that a part, at least, of the vita
| anA diff,c,,1t xvorly hafnro x,o,, ha haa