Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1921-03-19

,ollowed q IenEthy debate. Il Rurk

~ OF time at rs disposal while await
lng the appointment Of committees
and pointed out mat MS resolution
provided that the addresses should be
delivered during the recess periods
Rural sections Of the state are be
ing heard from iB opposition to the
plan to abolish justices " the peace
and ward ronstables. Nemtsrs OF
the Constitutional Convention receiv-
ed memorial from 1900 justices u
the peace and Constables protesting
against the passage OF any ordinance
that would have the effect o. abolish
rug those Offices. Many ~ the dele
gates received personal letters from
country citizens streruOusiy ohJecunS
to the creation OK parish courts and
the abolition Of Justices Of the peace.
Women VIII be required TO pay poll
FAX for 1921 under am ordinance in
trulu..d before the Constitutions. !
Convention recently by Delegate Phil
Arr,. - The Niurh ward. Nv Or
leans This would b.. requirement
..r Thorn t1 vote in uuu-r. .aaal '.er.
-...s 100 1920 After that year hey
ulH ra nn 'Ia voting rolls under the
a.. requirements as men.
Payment u poll tax as requisite
.r voting viii not boz necessary under
.., provision OF an ordinance intro
4ueI tn rru Constitutional CuUy-u-
ION recently by Mr. olcombe Of East
Baton Rouge
Completely ovcrshadowing all other
issues. the problem of revision OF
Louisiana's taxing system promises to
furnishthe most hotly contested ques-
ton before the Constitutional Con.
ventiOn.
This is pointed out by the CONVERSE
ton OF the delegates inthe first week
OF the convention. Everyone OF them
has come to Baton Rouge with certain
fixed ideas Of taxation firmly lodged
in his or her mind.
Two ideas appear paramount among
the delegates. One Is that the rate
Of taxation has reached its limit. The
other is that more money is needed
for the government. both local and
state, to function properly.
The solution then lies in providing
means for catching the tax-dodgers
and also for the equalization OF taxa
ton in order that each person or con
Germ shall pay the fair shaEe Of taxes
due by them.
uniformity and equality OF taxa.
ton" is the theme uppermost in the
delegates minds. This is taking the
form of a demandthat every man pay
taxes in conformity with those paid by
-1Tuifs-- nfefss.s-5s. Among sne coadtf7
delegates there is a persistent stand
that the owner OF idle cultivabls lant
shall be assessed the same value a:
his hard working neighbor who keeps
his land in cultivation. With the cit,
delegates there prevails the same
sentiment that a man who is holding
property for speculative purposes an,
net developing it in accord viii
neighboring property shall be assess
ed on the same basis as his neigh
Der.
The suggestion made by the spo
cial tax commission appointed by t.t
last Legislature to study tax reforms
that an income tax be levied aroused
wave of opposition. AS the dele
gates arrived in Baton Rouge a weel
ago for the opening of the constitu
ton they made no attempt to hide
their disapproval The end of the
week, however, was featured by les
SEEMING of the opposition.
The tax commissions recommends
tions for an income tax received fur
Their back later when the Board o.
State Affairs in a report TO GOvernO
Parker and the Constitutional Conven
ton urged the adoption of AN income
lax in lieu of our present tax on in
tangible and certain kinds of persona
property"