The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1923-07-31
TAX REFORM LAW IS
CLAIMING ATTENTION
LEGISLATORS DIFFER WIDE
" HOWEVER, OVER PROG
pEsS THAT'S BEEN MADE.
GOVERNOR APPEARS OPTIMISTIC
MANY Members Think 1t Would Be
Wise to Delay Revision of Tax
System a Year. Representative w.
r Parks View of Matter.

neutrality-suspicious. of Georgia
LEGISLATORS, as to the progress made
nv the present session of the genera
assembly, range all the way from
nothing at all" to splendid work be-
mo done" Members of both houses
chosen at random in a days wander
nps around the Legislative halls free
" told Just what they thought of the
workings of this Legislature. They
praised, criticised and told where the
trouble, if any, is to be found.
Dividing the opinions roughly into
the class which is optimistic and that
which is pessimistic there is fairly
even vote. Almost all, however, seem
ed united in the opinion that every
member of the assembly is working
hard, and sincerely desires to accom-
olish constructive work for the good
of the state.
Il am feeling very confident that
this session will witness constructive
results in tax system revision" said
Governor Clifford Walker. Frankly"
he continued, my feeling of optimism
has grown considerably within the
past twenty-four hours. This is be-
cause have consulted with thought
fnl conservative members OF both
houses and as a result of what they
have told me 1 have had my faith
strengthened"
W. c. Neill speaker of the house,
is another of the optimistic clan.
Both branches of the general as
sembly are making splendid prog
ress," he asid. Il feel sure we will
complete a constructive tax program
before adjournment"
Parks Has Doubts.
Representative Parks, of Terrell,
sees some progress to date, but has
grave doubts as to whether a really
constructive tax measure can be put
through at this session.
"On account OF the wide diversity
of opinion on the tax problem" said
Mr. Parks, 81 doubt very much If we
can create a really constructive tax
measure at this session, We are max
ing some progress. However, there
is not so much to be gained by rush
ing a tax amendment, or BILL through
the Legislature this year. 1t might be
the part of wisdom to call into coun-
Gil with the legislators the outstand-
ing figures in the state, with a view
to shaping real measure, either at
the session of 1924 or at a special SEES
sion. Either would be in time to sub
nit a constitutional amendment to the
people at the general elections in No
ycmber, 1924"
Representative Fermor Barrett, OF
stephens. an old warhorse of the leg
islative lists, has definite ideas as to
what causes delay in the wheels OF
law making progress.
Too many of the members come
here with preconceived notions OF
their own, thinking that their idea is
the only right thing to do" he said.
There is too much pride of author
ship on the part of the authors OF
the hall dozen or more bills now IN
troduced, all claiming to offer the best
solution of the tax measure. Person
ally, l am not bound to any plan.
Too Much Time Wasted.
Lee Langley, representative from
Fl0vd county, saws the house has al
ready wasted too much time.
we have wasted altogether too
much time on non-essential matters,
he said. The only chance for real
good this wear is to side track all
these matters of minor importance and
get down to taxes and appropriations.
We probably won't get perfect tax
act at the first attempt, but we'll get
one that will do for few years and
by then we can reasonably hope to
perfect it,"
Mrs. Viola Ross Napier, of Bib
county, one of the two lady members
OF the house has discovered that men
can err on the side of too much talk,
Just as women are accused of doing.
Everyone seems to be working
hard said Mrs. Napier, but there
is altogether too much talking. l am
d new member, but | am beginning to
wonder, if the proportion OF useless
specch-making keeps up, whether IT
will be possible to do anything at all.
Representative Bussey, OF Crisp, au-
thor of tax measure now III com
mittee, said:
This general assembly is hard at
work. The results of its work will be
constructive. Although there is nc
pressing necessity that tax problems
be solved before next year, it IS quite
probable that a constitutional tax re-
form bill will pass at the present SEES
SION. The tax problem is so complex
however, and views are so varied, that
! personally believe its final disposl,
non should go over for solution unit
the 1924 session."
representative Elders, of Tattnall
author of another tax measure, doesn't
believe the house is making any prog
TesS at all.
DuBose Sees No Progress.
Ioombs DuBose, of Clarke county
mas seen no progress yet.
We haven't done anything at al
YET he said. However, it is possible
we may pass an income tax or may.
ne a classification tax, but at that ]
uoQ6t II the voters of the state vii
Iatiiy either. Which means we will
ead up by holding on to what we've
charlie Stewart, from Atkinson, ex
Poets to see the tax matter end in {
Jog talr between the different bills
ss lar as this session is concerned.
a dentist may not be society man