The star-progress. (Opelousas, La.) 1917-1921, 1921-09-07
SURPLUS,

AS to the second of the six big
propositions, the fixing Of tax on
gasoline and devising a system OF
collecting it, that, too, is going to /
kick up a general row, unless the ru-
mors that have been going the rounds !
IRE far-fetched. 1t seems that there
is a general agreement that one cent
per gallon is the correct amount to
assess against gasoline, but in view
of the fact that a rather formidable
opposition to the tax is gathering
among the tractor men of the state.
sailing may not be so smooth after all
All. gasoline that will be sold for am
purpose whatever will casy the tax,
and this is the. reason why the trac-
tor men are kicking. especially those
who are using tractors in farm opera
lions. Their claim is that to tax ag-
rfcuItural tractors is not right and
that already the agricultural inter
ests have to bear up under tremen-
dous burden and to add further to the
load may cause something to snap.
The fixing Of a severance tax,
which is No. in the list, is also go
ing to prove a bone of strong conten-
ton. The constitutional convention
fought hard on this same proposition
when the principle was written N
the new organic law, and in that con-
vention, as there promises to be in
the legislature, the division of opin-
ion was sharp cut and there was con-
siderable shifting of lines before the
matter was wiped from the calendar.
The same row is going to spring up
in the special legislative session and
| how it will be settled no one can pre-
dict.
The fourth proposition is chiefly Of
concern to the rsnters living in the
larger cities and towns of the state
and is too complex to touch upon.
! No. 5 is, as generally expected.
stirring up some opposition as well
as support and its fate is also wrap
ped up in the Enexplainable. The
drys want it written in the statute
! books of the state, the dyed-in-the
wool vets are just vehement in their
assertions that the state government
has nothing to do with the enforce
iment of prohibition and should leave
the matter strictly in the hands OF
the federal authorities. The third
element, who are apparently riding
the fence on the issue, are opposed
, to considering the measure at the
special session and mildly state it
should be delayed until the regular
i session next May.
The sixth proposition has been d.
bated more or lsss in legislature,
constitutional convention and in the
state press. Monroe is about the
only city in the state which viii be
effected by any law prohibiting the
use of natural gas in the carbon black
| industry as that city is the center of
such manufacturing interests because
/ of the proximity of the tremendous
natural gas field located there.
The special session, when all is
said, is going to be a very interest
/ ing one indeed and according to how
it accompIishes its work will mean
much good or much harm to Louisi-
ana. The limit of the session is Sc 2
enty-five days but the governor and
members of both houses are trying
to get all work finished before that
time expires and reduce the sitting
/ to thirty or fortysdays. With what
luck the executive and his fellow
helpers in this mater are going to
meet with no one can say. The fact
is, the longer the session lasts the
more it will cost the state. =.