The Tupelo journal. (Tupelo, Miss.) 1876-1924, 1918-03-15
For Circuit Judge
JACKSON LETTER

along and the indifference that has
characterized the work Of the body
continues. The attendance is now
so light that it is difficult to pass the
appropriation bills which are still on
the calendar A majority vote of the
whole membership in both houses is
required to pass these bills and the
attendance is so light that it is often
required to take several votes be-
fore bills are passed. The members,
like everybody else, are thinking of
fighting the war and are very anxious
to get down to work again at home.
The question of revenue is the prin-
cipal question yet unsettled. The
Ways and Means Committee report
ed a number of bills the past week
to strengthen the hands of the State
Tax Commission. The principal bill
reported was an income tax bill
which was passed by the house and is
now under consideration by the SEN
ate. The measure is rather drastic
and puts out a drag net that will
reach down pretty low in it's search
for revenue. Incomes above $500
if young men, and 1900 for married
men will be subject to this tax. The
rate increases as the income increases
and the man who makes money will
be taxed on his ability as a business
man. There can be no trade secrets
kept from the tax commission and
every farmer or business man is pen
allied unless he comes out with a
full statement of his business. The
act authorizes the employment of ex-
pert technical assistants, appraisers,
accountants, inspectors and timber
estimators. It gives the tax commits
sion two clerks at a salary of 81 500
EACH and also creates the Office of
assistant for each congressional dis
trict, making eight, the salary to be
fixed by the tax commission. Some
of the main features of the bill are
as follows:
Section l OF the bill provides that
the term Of office of the tax commits
sioner shall be four years. However,
the four years applies only to the
commissioners now serving. At the
expiration Of their terms their sue
cessors shall be appointed, one for
two years, one for four years and
one for six years.
Section authorizes the employ
ment Of expert accountants, apprais-
ers, inspectors and timber estimators
when such assistance is necessary to
the duties imposed on the tax COM
missioners. They may also employ
two clerks at a salary Of $1,000 a
year each.
They are charged with the duty of
accommodating library on revenue
laws, fiscal matters and taxation gem
orally and shall turn said library ov-
er to their successors in office.
Section 7 provides how and in what
manner the tax commission shall go
about obtaining Information as
specified as follows:
amount of fire insurance carried
on all buildings and on personal
property of every description.
''That all individuals, firms, cor
porations and partnerships engaged
wholly or in part in mercantile, man
ufacturing or any other business, and
anyone practicing any profession,
trade, occupation or calling, shall, on
demand by the state tax commission
in writing, furnish a sworn statement.
of their business as of Feb. l Of each
year. When the person of whom
such statement is required is conduct
ing business for which privilege
license is prescribed by law, and such
person fails to furnish such state
ment within 80 days after written
notice so to do from the tax commits
sion, the privilege license of such
person shall be revoked by the of
fetal who issued such license, upon
instruction from the state tax COM
mission. And another such license
shall not be issued except upon no.
tice from the state tax commission
that the offending person, firm or cor
poration has complied with the re-
quest for the statement originally de-
manded. Where no privilege tax is
required the person or concern fail
ing or refusing to furnish the infor-
nation required shall be guilty Of a
misdemeanor and shall be reported to
the grand jury by the tax assessor at
the instance of the state tax com
mission, and on conviction shall be
punished as for a misdemeanor."
Section 8 provides that the infor-