Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1919-06-20
THE STATE TAX COMMISSION
RAISES TAXES IN THE HILLS

The scheming politician that tells
YOU that Johnston is against the tax
commission because he wants to save
taxes for the Delta is simply trying
to pull the wool over your eyes. 10
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 system that would
save money to the people OF the hill
counties of Mississippi, and at the
same time put a great burden OF tax
alton on the Delta. Today Delta lands
are assessed at about $4,000 an acre.
They are worth from $4,000 to $1,000
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 Delta? Absolutely nothing, in
comparison to what it 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 it belongs? The
4 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 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
$39, 100000 in 1915, the last year of
Brewers administration the taxpayers
were raised until in 1918 it paid in a
little over $4S,00000. Is this a Delta
county, and did the present governors S
tax scheme take the load off the peo-
pie of the hills of Lee County, In
1915, Monroe County paid in little
less than $38,000; in 1918 it paid in
100000. It's taxes were raised almost
rs per cent Is this a Delta county
and has the Tax Commission helped
this section of the State?
In Prentiss County in 1915, $4,000
was paid into the State treasury; in
1918 little over $4,000 was paid in
Is Prentiss Delta county? In Eown.
des County in 1915, $4,000 was paiC
into the State treasury from taxation
in 1913 Lowndes paid in nearly $751;.
900, Is Lowndes a Delta County, anC
has the present governors tax scheme
taken anything off the people of the
hill counties of Mississippi? In Clay
County in 1915, a little less than $26,
900 was paid into the state treasury
from sources Of taxation; in 1918 The
amount was $4,000. In Alcorn COUNTY
IN 1915, a little over $4,000 was pai(
into the State treasury; in 1918 $32,
600 was paid into the State treasury
Even IN Benton County $1,000 NOR,
was paid in 1918 than in 1915. Tht
same applies to Itawamba, to Ponto
toe, and to Tippah Counties, and il
Marshall County $1,000 more was paic
into the State treasury in 1918 than
was paid in 1915.
These figures prove conclusiveh
that the present Tax Commission ha
raised the assessed valuation of prop
erty IN the hills of Mississippi to
much greater extent in proportion t,
its actual value than it has in tn
. Delta, and has placed upon the peo
pie Of the hills greater proportion
of the burden Of state governmen
than rightfully belongs to them. Thu
it is shown that the argument of tn
enemies of Oscar Johnston, who fla
\vors the repeal and absolute abolition
Uof the Tax Commission, is worthless
Mr.. Johnston boldly declares that tn
Delta should pay more in proportio
to the value of us lands than what
is paying at present but he frankl
admits that the present tax commits
sion is powerless TO make the Delt
ray any nor ttan it is paying at thi
time. The people Of the hill countie
of Mississippi have been hurt NOR
by the Tax Commission than the Delt
will ever be hurt The people of tn
Delta can afford to pay much large
proportion of the taxes of the stat
than now is paid by them, but the pee
pie of the hill section have been ii
fllcted with an unnecessary burde
during the past four years. Johnsto
is the only candidate for governc
who unqualifiedly favors the repe;
of the Tax Commission Russell
openly for the Tax Commission an
the Laurel Leader says that GovernC
Longino, when in that section of Mi,
sissippi, stated that he was in fave
of retention Of the present tax sys