The Sentinel=record., 1918-07-13


of the law, but with the LAW itself.
Every student of taxation approves
! the proposals. The proposals are ap-
proved by the National Tax Associa-
1 tion and by the federal government.
| Even the supreme court of the United
| States says that all property should
| be taxed at the same rate have
heard the expression used on this
floor that what was good enough for
our fathers ought to be good enough
for us. have little patience with
that sentiment. My fathers govern
ment isn't good enough for me. The
old-time religion. so far as govern
ment Is concerned, isn't good enough
for dae.'
"The income tax has been suggest
ed here in the convention. i wish to
say that the income tax is coming.
ultimately 1t viii be the tax because
il is fair. IL a man cannot pay on
what he earns, rather than upon an
estimate of what he has, he cannot
pay on anything.
zone thing is certain, our present
system IA a failure which has been re-
pudiated by its own friends. | wish
this constitution written so that the
Legislature of Arkansas will have the
power to put on the tax books millions
of dollars that have escaped taxation.
Another thing is certain--the law Of
ficers have failed under the present
constitution.
"The legislature ought to be in
vested with the authority to employ
n commission to study out tax sys-
tenn. BY such a commission / have
not In mind politicians, members OF
the house or senate, who may have
assisted in framing some petty rev.
enue measure. for after all, Nv hat do
we know about taxation except in a
summary, superficial way? by such
a commission l have in mind such
men as Or Seligman of Columbia
| University rr Bullock of Harvard,
Dr. Fairchild OF Yale and Professor
Plehn of the University of California.
Il believe that the legislature is
| fitted to be trusted to work out this
! matter | am proud TO say that Pu-
laski county has elected one man to
| the senate who is thoroughly capable,
| who knows as much about taxation
/ as any man in Arkansas, George
| Vaughan of Little Rock"
In regard to the classification
| scheme, MIR. Rector has said that
every constitution since 1885 has
adopted the plan and that those states
| which adhered to the old plan were
| getting away from ii as rapidly as
| possible In reply to a question. Mr
Rector eN aimed classification by
calling attention to mineral and ore
segregation out west,
'Finally," said Mr.. Rector. "the time
has come for Arkansas to turn her
face toward better things to step
| into the very can of progress where
she deserves to be. the most progress
sive thlng in the Union
Delegate Mann of st Francis fol-
| lowed Mr.. Rector 10Y stating that The
| proposal as it now stands was con-
1
| unfortunate in. many respects. MIR
| Mann announced that he was OPP
posed to classification by subjects
The debate upon striking out article
| "A was resumed at 9 O'clock by Dele
gate Arnold of Miller, who approved
striking out because of the conflict
OF the article with Article ), Section
| 16 of the old constitution MIR Arnold
| Believed. however, that the people OF
he state wouldn't approve OF a low
, or of a different rate upon intangible
property,
Delegate King of Sharp county be-
lieved that the owners of money and
evidences of credit ought to be taxed
and that the system of taxation
ought to be uniform.
Delegate Hammock of Cleburne
county announced that he was OPP
posed to striking out the section. Tut
declared that he wished to have the
old constitution amended He de-
clared thai taxation of mortgages was
double taxation and that the five
mill limit on 50 per cent valuation
for counties must he corrected if
progress was to ne made in Arkansas
Chairman Head of the taxation
committee will make the final argu-
ment on the tax proposals, after which
the convention will vote on striking
ont Section 4 A.