The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-07-10

The CHA
power to divide property into classei
and to determine what c'ass ol
classes of property shall he subject Il
local taxation"
The Inequalities of present assess.
ments as pointed out by the chief tag
statistician OF the state equalization
board will be featured.
The revenue agent will come i'm fol-
his part OF the knocks at the hands OF
the conference.
Department OF Taxes.
Among the features to be suggested
In connection with the proposed tax
| reforms is the creation OF a depart
| ment OF taxes or a permanent tax
commission. which shall be in charge
| OF all the taxation of the state and
made responsible for a just administra-
ton of all the tax laws. II is pro-
posed TO give this commission large
| powers and then hold 1t to the very
! strictest accountability. In order TO
overcome the difficulty which has given
most trouble. namely, the under as
sessnent OF real estate and the in
! equality of assessments OF the same. a
simple remedy will be recommended, in
that II is proposed TO make every
owner OF real estate his own tax as
SCISSOR by compelling him to file his
sworn statement fixing the cash value
OF each piece of his property. and by
providing that at any time during
twelve months thereafter the tax de-
partment or commission shall have the
rlght to take over the property for
the state on paying the cash valua-
tion fixed by the owner himself. This
method, IL Is pointed out, will abso-
lutely compel a fair cash valuation,
and It is not thought that the state
would be called upon to exercise this
right after one or two examples had
been made of would be tax dodgers.
This plan. 1t is pointed out. would not
violate the fifth and fourteenth clauses
known as the property clauses of the
federal constitution and would do
away with the necessity OF present
numerous tax assessors of realty.
Changes in the legislative system OF
the state will also be featured. Lo-
cal measures have become the bane
and curse of the legislative system and
trading and trafficking in votes to Sc
cure their passage a common practice.
Local measures which the people of the
communities affected should settle con-
sumo the time of legislators that
should be given to business of state
wide Importance. General legislation, It
Is pointed out, is in a measure subordi-
mated to the settlement of purely local
dhdh o. iic SAdI ttI Dill anu
the Nashville firemen's double platoon
bill are recent instances. The Sixty first
general assembly passed 1877 public
and 81S private acts. This is not the
exception. but the usual legislative
rule.
Local LeelsIatIon.
AS remedy for these conditions II
Is proposed to relegate all legislation of
purely local character to the respec-
tive cities and counties under consti-
tutional restrictions, however, that will
safeguard the public welfare. It is also
proposed and will be urged at thecon-
ference to abolish the bicameral sys-
tenn by providing for single house of
thirty-three members, three from each
of the ten congressional districts and
three from the state at large. These
members will be elected for four years
and will be paid a liberal salary. 1t is
proposed that the legislature shall meet
annually, have introduced and printed
such measures as are proposed, then
recess for sixty or ninety days, so that
the people may fully understand each
reject the respective bills.
The office of the governor will come
in for its share of suggestions as TO
changes. In order to prevent the Of
flee of governor from being used as a
mere steppingstone to the United
States senate. as has been done so
many times in the past, thereby ne
cessitating the building up of strong po-
litical machines, where individuals are |
selected by reason of their personal |
and political fealty to the governor, |
rather than intrinsic merit and abil- |
ty 1T will be proposed that the gov
ernor shall be elected for a term of |
four years and shall be ineligible to re-
election to an immediate succeeding |
term and also ineligible while governor
Tor nomination or election to the
United States senate. 1t will also be |
that the governor be given
full power to use the militia to sup
press riots and lynchihgs and that the |
office of lieutenant governor be created |
10 provide for the safety of the state
against the uncertainty of life.
A constitutional board of pardons
Mill also be recommended.
1t will be pointed out that the pres
mt poll tax system is radically wrong.
n that its effect is to restrict the ex-
arcise of the franchise. A compul-
sorry voting clause providing for the
payment of a $40 poll tax, only where
roof cannot be shown that a citizen
lid not vote in the last held state,
ity or county election, will be pro-
,osed.
Fee System.
The fee system will be attacked and
is adjustment urged.
1t will be proposed that a woman's
outrage amendment shall be submit
ed to a vote of the people when the
constitution is submitted by the con-
euton, not embodied. however, In the
itself, but submitted sepa-
ately. 1t is pointed out that such ac-
ion would not be a discrimination
gainst woman suffrage, but that it is
merely based upon the sound princi-
lie that a measure of such grave i'm
ortance should win on its own merits.
'y this action the people will be left
rec to consider and act upon 1t indie
of other matters. This ap-
lies equally to a prohibition amend
lent, which will also be recommended
eparately, although prohibition is con-
idered no longer an open question, as
he prohibition amendment to the
ederal constitution has already been
atifed by more than the constitutional