The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1918-02-01
SPEAKER CONNER
DISCUSSES TAXATION,
Speaker of House of Representatives,
Gives His Views of Missis.ippi's
Fiscal Condition. A Readable Doc.
umcnt. Speaker Thinks That Most
Serious Thought Should BE Given
Tax Question.

| we have been repeatedly and cor.
rectiy informed that the most import.
ant problem confronting our State
government is the task Of providing
an equitable. efficient, and edouate
system OF raising ard disbursing the
States income, and to this problem
desire, with the permission of the
House, to address myself for q few
minutes.
This problem is ono neither new
nor peculiar to us. For years it has
bcen our foremost question, and il
is the one phase Of government that
has been and is now receiving moro
careful consideration than any other
IN almost every state of the Ameri-
can union: and still, think I may
safely say, no State has settled upon
any fiscal system that is entirely sat
isfactory. With US this problem is
stupendous in magnitude and critical
1T Importance, but this condition
should only more firmly fix our de-
termination to honestly and effect
lively work out IA solution. When we
sift from the proposition all political,
sectional, and selfish elements, and
frankly anaylze it, we do not find its
solution hidden in any haze of mys-
terry. Let the members of this Legi-
| stature regard the question as purely
business one, removed from politics.
and its proper solution is assured.
am persuaded to indulge in this
general discussion of the revenue sys-
tenn of our State because hold that,
in consideration of any particular
phase of the question, we should bear
4 in mind the system as an entirety in
order that uniformity and consistency
may result. have heretofore decl,r-
cd on. this floor. my belief that this
| Legislature will adopt some consist
cnt policy for effectively remedying
our fiscal system, and here and now
reafirm this faith, and propose to tell
you upon what it is based. will
discuss:'
Il The problem inherited by this
Legislature in 1916.
ID The policy adopted for the
solution of this problem.
uiD What remains for the pres
ent Legislature to do.
u Before prescribing the remedy,
the doctor diagnoses the malady; be-
fore choosing the relief, the lawyer
requires lucid statement of facts /;
and before solving the problem, the
mathematician demands clear state
ment of the proposition. Likewise.
we can not solve the revenue problem
or determine the propriety Of our
course, until we have thoroughly ac-
quainted ourselves with the defects
of the system in existence.
In 1916 we found our fiscal sys-
tenn defective in four general re-
spects: First, it furnished an made
Quate State income upon millage
rate that should have been sufficient.
For the fiscal year of 1914, the States
total ordinary receipts were $685.
264.3l, and its ordinary disburse-
ments were $4,254, ,620.96, deficit
of 1891 ,356.55, Notwithstanding the
bond issue of S1,25O, 100000 authoriz-
ed in 1914 prior 10 the beginning of
the 1914-1915 fiscal year The State
Auditors report to the Legislature
of 1916 showed that the deficiency
of the States income for the biennial
period ending October LIST. 1915, fig
uring ordinary expenditures against
ordinary receipts, was 1891 ,752.lS;
and the next report of that official
hows that the ordinary disbursements
We're S53l 5000 in excess of ordi
nary receipts for the 1904, 1905,
1906, 1907, 1910, 1912, 1914, 1915,
and 1916, and they were barely es-
capped in each of those few years since
iCV- WHcli tucH were Uot tCtUdiiy !
realized
The responsibility and blame for
these deficits should not be attributed |
to any particular administration, but |
are rather the result of defective |
revenue system; and do not pro-
pose to engage in the gentle and |
at those who have filled or are now I
occupying high places in our State
for that is an unjust |
and useless practice. am convinced
that these deficits are not so much
the result of waste and extravaganza,
though each has doubtlessly contrib
utter thereto. as they are of two other