Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-08-09
HARDW|CK SATISFIED
WITH RESULTS Of
GENERAL ASSEMBLY


With the end of the legislature
in sight, at II o'clock next Wednes-
day night, Governor HardWick stat
ed Saturday afternoon that he felt
reasonably certain of accomplishing
the two main objects of the first
year of his administration.
These objects, he said, were:
1. To pay the deficit in the state
treasury, which he estimates be-
tween 100000 and $4,000, so
as to start the next year with a
clean financial slate.
2. To limit appropriations for 1922
and 1928 to very strict and con-
sentative estimate of the revenue of
the state, so as to prevent the re-
currence of another deficit.
With the accomplishment of these
two objects in sight, Governor Hard
wick expressed himself as being we'll
satisfied with the results of this ses-
sion of the Legislature.
In a general review of the states
financial situation, as presented by
Governor Hardwick to the newspa-
per men, he med it up in the fol-
lowing figures:
The Western & Atlantic rental
bill has passed the house and the
senate, and has been approved by
him, authorizing discount of the
rental for the next five years, which
he estimates will yield about $780,
600 in cash to pay the treasury def
cit, consisting principally of unpaid
Confederate pensions OF last year
and this year and unpaid appropria-
lions to the common schools.
The general appropriation bill as
passed by the house, ana " befort
the senate, carries an adding ma
chine total of $9,193,0 for each
of the years 1922 and 1928.
10 pay these appropi ions, Gov
ernor L. wick figured the states
revenue from sources and in amounts
which ne set out in this manner:
Ad valorem taxes 49,. ga, 493, 200
Public utility corporation
occu n taxes " oS6 6I 650I
Total .... 49,. ......$S,32o, OOC
Less revenue tied up in oil
litigation go. go. &C.. 100000
Leaving a net estimate of $4,000, O0C
To which Governor Hardwick add
| ed prospective revenue to be obtain
| cd from revenue legislation passed
or pending at this session, as fol
| lows:
Gasoline retail sales tax 100000
| Increased occupation taxes and WON
ems poll taxes, $350,000, bringing UP
| the total of estimated revenue from
| ter figure is $4,000 in excess OF
| the total appropriations passed by
| the house of $9,173,000.
| Governor Hardwick said he was
willing to take a chance" SO to
speak, on this excess of $14S,O0O, but
in approving the general appropria-
| ton bill unless some further addi-
| tional revenue should be provided.
In this connection he estimated that
the revenue to be produced by the
proposed amusement tax of per
cent would be $375,O00 a year, which
would bring the total estimated rev.
| enue up to $9,425,000. or $4,000 in
| excess Of the total contained in the
| general appropriation bill.
If the amusement tax passes, Gov
ernor Hardwick said, he would be
ready to approve it unless it was
| conclusively demonstrated to him, by
| a showing of facts, that such a tax
would break down some line or lines
of amusement. He indicated that he
be made.
AS for the possible $232,0OO mar
gin. he said, he would be glad to see
| Georgia Tech, which appears to be
greatly in need of additional main
tenance, be given a part of this
money.
The Income raz
"The states financial difficulties
all come back to the question of
sCid u1~I1 ri,1Iy
The general appropriation bill as
passed by the house satisfies hardly
anybody. 1t represents a horizontal
reduction of 10 per cent applied to
p institutions ard practically all
departments. a cut of $250,000 in the
cut of s1,0O0,0O0 in Confederate pen
sions, for the s1,250,000 pension ap-
preparation carried in the bill is ap-
proXimately $1,000,000 short of the
amount required to pay all pension
ers now on the roll the full amount
allowed them by law. With all of
these reductions we would still be
unable to make belt and buckle meet
unless we had revised the occupation
tax schedules, and had imposed a
poll tax upon women. and had pass
ed Il gasoline tax bill.
These facts must make it clear
to every thinking person that the
states present ssytem of ad valorem
taxation is hopeless failure, and
that some other system of taxation
must be established in its place.
Real estate is carrying ~"
of the load-almost all the load In
visible property is carrying only
three per cent of the load. Invisible
property cannot be reached by, any
form of ad valorem taxation. All
the states have tried and all have
failed. The inevitable solution of
the problem is an income tax. by
which the state can reach invisible
property and thereby shift a large
part of the burden off the shoulders
of real estate"
The income tax bill introduced ear
ly in the session was postponed at
Governor HardWick's suggestion un-
til next year, and in the meantime
there will be appointed special
commission to make an exhaustive
study of the subject of taxation
Governor Hardwick said he felt sure
that the income tax would steadily
grow in popular favor. the more it
was studied and discussed by the
people.
2l,5O0,0O0 People in
Snoi,, Copo,.e SLo,,,c