Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-07-29
TAX EQUALIZATION
FORCES VICTORIOUS

OHHV @O utO OEHRVV0
Advocates of the proposed state
income tax and advocates of the
proposed repeal Of the tax equaliza-
ton law came together in a head-on
collision in the house of represen-
tatives on Thursday and the latter
forces emerged victorious.
The issue presented was whether
the house should take a vote on the
income tax bill before taking vote
on the bill repeating the tax equali-
Zation law. The rules committee
raised the issue in a proposal to
bring up the income tax bill as
special continuing order. Support
ers of the committees report con-
tended that the house ought to pass
some substitute revenue measure be-
fore repeating the tax equalization
law. Those opposing the commit
be time enough to pass the income
tax or some other revenue measure
after repeating the tax equalization
law.
On these lines the issue was
fought out in a debate which lasted
an hour and 80 minutes. Among
those opposing the order of busi-
ness recommended by the rules COM
mittee were Representative Stovall,
of McDuffie; Rutherford, of Mon
roe; Williams, Of Walton, and
Wyatt, of Troup. They commended
that it was unfair to play the in
come tax bill against the bill repeal
ing the equalization law. They in
Dictated that they would be willing
to vote for the income tax if al
lowed to repeal the equalization law.
Among those who supported the
adoption were Representatives Cars
well, of Wilkinson; Culpepper, of
Fayette, and Landlord, of Toombs.
The ycontended that the finances of
the state would be hopelessly Grip
pied by repeating the tax equaliZa-
ton law unless some substitute reve.
nue. measure was put in its place.
They contended that it would be I'M
safe to destroy the only existing
revenue measure before creating a
new revenue measure. They ex.
pressed a perfect willingness to re-
peal the tax equalization law If the
income tax bill was passed by the
house.
On the final vote there were
lightweight votes in favor Of es-
tablishing the income tax bill as a
special order and seventy-four votes
against it. This was majority,
but was not two-thirds majority
as required to establish a special
order and therefore the motion was
lost.
Immediately following this vote
the house voted down the next bill
on the order Of business proposed by
the rules committee, which was the
bill providing for a separation and
classification Of property for ad va.
loren taxes. This is a companion
bill to the income tax bill. There was
no debate concerning this bill, as
the whole issue had been fought out
on the income tax bill discussion i'm
mediately preceding it.
The significance of the action
taken by the house Is that a ma
jority of that body evidently are de.
termined not to pass or even to con-
slider the income tax bill or any 9TH
er revenue measure unless and I'M
til the house has passed the bill re-
pealing the tax equalization law. It
was clearly demonstrated Wednes.
day in test vote that a majority OF
the house will vote to repeal the
equalization law.
Previous to it's action on the two
taxation bills, the house adopted as
a special and continuing order the
resolution by Representative Nc.
Michael, of Marion, providing for a
joint committee of the house and
senate to investigate the highway
department and adopted also as a
special and continuing order, the bill
to create Peach county. The latter
bill has been adversely reported by
the constitutional amendments com.
mittee and will come before the
house on q motion to disagree to
that report. If the report is dis
store the Peach county bill to a
place upon the calendar, from which
it automatically lost its place when
the committee adversely reported it..
Debate on the report of the rules
committee occupied practically the
whole of Thursdays session. Among
other matters was the resolution in
troduced by Representative Perry.
man, Of Talbot, providing for a
standing committee of the house ON
investigation and supervision Of the
state prison farm and other penal
institutions, including convict camps.
The committee would be composed
of five members named by the
speaker and would be charged espe-
cially' with the supervision Of the
prison fran and the convict camps.
The resolution was laid on the table
for one day.