Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1918-03-15


said, I don't know, when Mike
gets mad, he cuSses in Irish, and
don understand the language. "
A great many old members visit
the House, and they always ask
about the little Irishman. He
was quite popular with all.
We passed the University bill
this morning without opposition,
as it was an agreed bill. Presi-
dent Smiths speech and the
passage of the A. & NJ. bill took
all the fight out of the boys who
were opposed to giving the same
support fund as was done for the
'eding two years. and they
are making no fight against it
simply casting their votes no"
The majority have about agreed
to vote the same support fund,
but nothing for new buildings.
Bllbo's ne,million-dollar bond
issue for permanent improvement
for the educational institutions
has gone into "innocuous desue-
tude," as Mr.. Cleveland would
say.
We had quite a fight on a state
income bill. Asintroduced by the
special committee appointed to
draft this and other revenue
measures, it was to have be-
come operative in 1917, but an
amendment was offered and
adopted providing that it was to
take effect in 1919. We could
not nave pas ed this bill without
this amendment. | think a grad
ed income tax is the fairesr and
best way to raise revenue. 1t
makes the people who are most
able pay the most taxes. Both
papers here are bitterly opposed
to this tax, but they must look at
it from the standpoint of the rich
men. The following editorial is
taken from The News:
DIGGING THEIR OWN GRAVES.
The Lower House has been en-
g3ged for the past two days in con
sidering state income tax law that
is almost contiscatory in character
The measure proposes a gradu-
ated tax of from one per cent on
$1,000 to four and three-quarters
per cent or SIG 900, and five per
cent on all incomes in excess of
$4,000.
Fse sa2e3,~9As,n whirh-tw .c.nvs
have been wasted is going to prove
just as popular With the people of
Mlsslssissippl as a case of smallpox.
1t will be the direct cause of even
more political deaths than was the
famous fish and game law, or even
the much more famous secret eau
Gus.
The lawmaker who votes for this
bill and then goes home and tries to
explain why he did it, has our pro-
found sympathy,
| have a great contempt for
any legislator who votes or re-
fuses to vote for any bill for fear
he might not be reelected. Now
this bill provides that no single
man earning less than $4,000
shall pay anything and should he
earn 100000 he would only pay
$500, and it provides that a mar
ried man, earning less than $1,000
per year, shall not ray anything,
and besides this $1,000 exemption,
he is allowed an exemption of
5000 for each child, and then he
only pays one per cent on the in
come above this exemption until
it gets over $500, and then the
rate is increased to one and one
quarter per cent. So you see the
majority of our people know but
little Of this tax. Of course It'll
hits the rich with good large in
comes hinc lilac lGcrUnQe. OIL
course the people don't want the
corporations to pay this tax, but
we do. We have to have the
revenues, and this is the most
equitable bill | can conceive of.
Some Of my rich bachelor friends
might object to this if they were
actuated by selfish motives, but
since all Of US are only studying
the interest of the dear people, |
don't expect to hear a single OBJ.
lection to this most meritorious
bill, for it certainly puts the tax
on the big fellows. | am glad to
say that | am paying a Federal
income tax, and will as willingly
pay my share of this tax to the
state, for we must have revenues,
and | hope the Senate will have
the backbone to pass this bill.
The Governor has recommend
ed that we pass a bill forbidding
the head of the various depart
ments employing any near rela-
tives in his Office. am opposed
to this bill; think when they are
canablp q man cbO1ld cr;,,o II