The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1919-05-30

opposed TO the pardon board because
the constitution conferred upon the
Governor the authority 20 grant par
Gons and that both the present Gov
ernCx and the Lieutenant-Governor
had granted pardons when the par
don board had failed 20 recommend
and in some cases before the pardon
beard had passed upon the applica-
tions.
Mr. Johnston stated that he was
opposed to the state tax commission
because it was wrong and because
almost the identical law had been
tried in Kentucky and had failed
just as it had failed here. He show
ed that the so called "equalizing"
claimed by the Tax Commission had
not "equalized" taxes and cited nu-
merous instances from the tax rolls
of the different counties to prove
this assertion. He said that it Mad
been charged that he was opposing
the tax commission because he
thought that with the commission out
Of the way that land values in the
delta where he lived could be lower
ed He said that he would be un-
worthy TO look any honest man in the
face if this motive attributed to him
we're true, and cited various acts in
his public life 20 show that he had
been guided by no marrow view, no
view that would antagonize or favor
one section Or that would give any
section OF the state ADVANTAGE over
other sections. But as an absolute
answer/to the charge as to his de-
signs on lowering land assessments
in the delta, he pledged himself, if
elected Governor, to veto any bill
that might be offered for the purpose
either directly or indirectly Of lower
ing Land values in the delta and fur
ther promised TO use all the powers
of the Governors Office to keep land
assessments in the delta from being
assessments in the delta from bein Q
lowered. He said that every inform
ed person knew that land assessments
In the delta were not too high But
as complete answer to all this, he
said that the state tax. commission
was pOWerless now TO enforce any or
der it might issue. lie said that the
tax commission might instruct the
boards of supervisors 30 raise land
values, or any other assessments, but
if the board declined, the commission
was helpless as a baby. AS proof of
the helplessness of the commission.
Mr. Johnston cited the Minute Book
u. page SO Of the State Supreme
Court.
Among other indictments of the
tax commission. Nh Johnston stated
that the man Of large means could
appear before the commission at
Jackson while the small property own
er would just pay what his taxes had
been raised to because of the expense
of a trip to appear before the board
He said that the assessment of near
ly every county had been considerably
raised by the commission and that
the only exception was in some coun-
ties in the southern part of the state
most of which were in the district in
which Gov. BilbO ran for Congress-
last year.
He said that the commission in or
der to justify its creation, had gone
before the Legislature and asked that
the State Tax levy be decreased
from 6 to A mills which was done and
by this act the corporations which
were assessed on their capital stock,
paid less taxes while the farmer and
..he merchant whose assessments had
been increased paid more.
Mr.. Johnston said that the thought
the wisdom of the next legislature
would work out some just and equit-
able tax plan and that he was ready
to cooperate with the law-making
body on any business plan and that
he was not going to undertake as
Governor to ram any special plan
through, yet he said that at present
he felt that some plan should be
worked out that would let every
county control it's own assessment
and keep the money therefor in the
county and that the money to sup
port the state government should
come from the taxes on railroads and
other specific forms of property.
Mr.. Johnston said that the friends
of one of distinguished opponents,
referring to Ex-Governor, Longino,
were claiming so much for him in a
business way as to entitle him to be
called "the wizard of finance. He
said that he had never heard of Gov.
Continued IN paoa tunl