Crossville chronicle. [volume] (Crossville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1919-06-11
RETALIATION OF PROPERTY.
Many Schemes Incubating by Taxdodg-
ers to Defeat Its Real Aim.

Clo W 6OlCOl tlOQt nun
Prof. ]. B. Brown, rural school in
spector for the state, was here from
Chattanooga and gave splendid talk
in the High School building recently.
In private conversation with Prof.
Brown we learned that there is an
effrot on foot to so intimidate those
who have the duty of enforcing the
new equalizing law that it will amount
to little or nothing.
Prof. Brown stated that the the law
that was passed was not SO good as the
first one presented to the legislature
and that the reason it did not become
law was that the monled men Of the
state swooped down upon Nashville and
the legislature and brought such pres
sure to bear that it was impossible to
pass the first bill presented and at that
same time virtually forced moditca-
ton.
He stated that it IS the custom
of many of the wealthy persons
over the state who hold large values
in notes, mortgages, etc., to make a
hurried trip out of the state just be-
fore assessment time and take with
them many millions of such evidence
of wealth. After the assessor has
done his work these securities are
brought back and thus evade the tax
assessor. BY that means the state is
cheated out of many thousands Of dol
lars in taxes.
The small properly owner cannot do
this tor all he has is right in sight and
he cannot hope to evade the assessor.
ONE SCHEME NOW ON.
While there are doubtless, many
scaaemes brewing to cripple the tax
adjustment. the main,tight is just now
being made in very adroit manner.
SSssTreag 0ppositien hss. been aroused
against Gov. A. Fl. Roberts in the
hope that he will SO exert his influence
as to have the equalizing done in
way to blind the people yet not injure
the large property owner.
Many democrats over the state are
declaring for a certain republican and
claiming he can easily defeat Gov.
Roberts for reelection. The main pur-
pose is that they wish to intimidate
Gov. Roberts and thus defeat the
equalization law. 1t is not that the
course of Gov. Roberts has been de
trimental to the people but that he is
trying to make those who have been
taxdodgers for many years pay their
just portion ofaaonductlng the affairs
of the state.
However, the worst feature of the
whole matter as pointed out by Prof.
Brown, is that this continued evasion
of the payment Of the proper amount
of taxes prevents the realization of |
the propose eight months school for
every child in Tennessee. In many
instances the wealthy man lodges |
enough in taxes to pay the expense of
schooling his child. In the mean time I
the child of the poor man musi be
denied his just opportunity for that |
education so necessary for his personal
success and the best interest of the
state as whole.
The people of the state should not
be blinded by side issues. or led of
after Will-o-the-wisps that will be
presented to them from time to time,
by the shrude and designing politicians
who are working in the interest of
the taxdodger.
The people can have present horrid
school condition changed if they will
make it clear to the powers-that-be,
that this property equalization must
be done thoroughly and in strict accor-
diane with the law. Without this sup
port. the effort is doomd and the
childeern of the poor, over the state,
will continue to grow up under such
schooling opportunities as are prac-
tically worthless.
BENEFITS COMING.
We are informed by j. W. Cooper,
who is employed by the state in the
equalization work, that five counties
have beeen completed and that if the
remainder of the state shows relatively
the same condition as these five
counties, the property uncovered will
bring in sufficient taxs to cut the
present state rate of rs cents on the
500 valuation in half That means
that our people here will not have to