East Mississippi times. (Starkville, Miss.) 19??-1926, 1919-07-04
The State Tax Commission Raises
Taxes In the HIIls,

Taxes In the Hllls,
The scheming politician who tells
you that Johnston is against the tax
commission because he wants to save
taxes for the Delta is simping trying
to pull the wool over your eyes. To
see that this is so, you simply have
to remember that the present govern
or Of Mississippi went all over the
hills of north Mississippi four years
ago saying that he was going to put
into effect tax scheme that would
save money to the people OF the hill
counties OF Mississippi, and at the
same time put great burden OF tax
ation on the Delta. Today delta lands
are assessed at about $50 an acre
They are worth from 5000 to $500 per
acre and are bringing that price on
the market. They have increased In
value in the past four years until they
are worth two or three times what
they were worth four years ago
What has the Tax Commission done
to the Delta7 Absolutely nothing, In
comparison to what Il has done to the
hill counties OF north Mississippi,
Why doesn't the Tax Commission
raise the assessed value OF lands In
the Delta to where 1t belongs? The
answer is easy-it is because they
haven't the power to do it, and be-
cause some OF the Delta counties
stood pat and refused to make a raise
ordered by the Tax Commission In the
year 1916.
on the other hand, what has the
Tax Commission done to the hill
counties Of north Mississippi In Lee
County, which paid into the state
treasury $4,000 In 1915, the last year
OF Brewers administration, the tax,
es we're raised until In 1918 II paid
In A little over s4s,O0O, 10 this a Del.
Ia county, and did the present gov.
ernor'S tax scheme tako the load Off
the people OF the hills Of Lee County?
In 1915, Monroe County paid in lit
tie less than 5000; in 1918 1t paid in
$50, 900. It's taxes we're raised al
molssDff55 per cent. Is this a Delta
coilnty, and has the Tax Commission
helped this section OF the State?
In Prentiss county In 1918, $1e. 900
was paid into the state treasury; III
1918 a little over, $4,000 was paid in
Ia prentiss q Delta County? Ia
iowudes County IN 1915, $4,000 was
paid into the state treasury from
taxation; IN 1918 Lowndes paid In
nearly 1000. Is Lowndes q Delta
County, and has the present govern
ors tax scheme taken anything OFF
the people OF the hill counties OF Mis-
sissippi? In Clay County IN 1915, a
little less than $4,000 was paid intp
the state treasury from sources OIL
taxation; in 1918 the amount was
s3s 5000. In Alcorn County in 1915. q
little over $4,000 was paid into the
state treasury; in 1918 $4,000 wae
paid into the state treasury. Even In
Benton County $1,000 more was paid
in 1918 than In 1915, The same ap'
plies to Itawamba, to Pontotoc, and tc
Tippsh Counties, and IN Marshall
County $1,000 more was paid In TO the
state treasury In 1918 than was paid
In IN 1915,
These figures prove concluslvely
that the present Tax Commission has
raised the assessed valuation OF prop
erty In the hills Of Mississippi to
much greater extent In proportion tt
its actual value than Il hso In thi
Delta, and has placed upon the pee
pie Of the hills a greater proportion
Of the burden Of state government
than rightfully belongs to them
Thus II Is shown that the argurnen
Of the enemies OF Oscar Johnston, who
favors the repeal and absolute abeli
ton Of the Tax Commission, Is worth
less Mr., Johnston boldly declares
that the Delta should pay more II
proportion to the value OF Its lands
than what 1t Is paying at present, bu
he frankly admits that the presen
tax commission lie powerless to make
| the Delta pay any more than II n
paying at this time. The people d
+; the HIT counties Of Mississippi hav'
! been hurt more by tho TAX COmtnis
sion than the Delta will ever be hurt
The people Of the Delta can afford Il
pay a much larger proportion Of thu
/ takes of the state than Ia now phlt
BY them, but the people Of the hill
sections have been inflicted with al
unnecessary burden during the pan
four years Johnston ia the OIL!
candidate for governor who unquali
fiedly favors the repeal Of the Ia;
Commission, Russell ID openly for thl
tax commission and the Laurel Lead
or says that Governor LOnglho, whsi
in that section OF Mississippi, statet
that he was in favor Of retention o
| the pfesBnt tex system III hi