Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-09-20

he is gifted with a power of express
sion that enables him to put across
his ideas with force and effect. He
rather surprised members of the
commission with the assertion that
many of the occupation taxes levied
by the state are not collected.
''The occupation taxes are unfair
and discriminatory" he said. "They
are not uniform, because many per-
sons or firms at who mthey are di-
rected do not pay them. In some
counties certain occupations pay
taxes TO the state. and in other
counties the same occupations pay
no taxes whatever.
Taxes Not Paid
81 have looked up occupation
taxes in Rome, and / have found
that not a garage nor a hotel III the
city paid an occupation tax. You
must realize, gentlemen, that the
tax law provides no machinery for
the collection of these specian taxes,
and in some cases they are collected
or disregarded by favor"
Concerning a sales tax, Mr.. Zones
said it was his idea to do away with
all occupation or special taxes, and
to levy a tax of 10 of l per cent
on retail sales only, exempting farm
products, producers and whole
salers.
"Such rate on retail sales" he
said, would hurt no one, 1t would
amount to SIS per 81, 900 of retail
sales. That's all, The family spend
irg $500 annually would pay tax
Of only IS, ard that would be alb
sorbed in the price of the p,oducts..
The consumer wouldn't know ror
feel it. 1t would be a painless tax,
and that's the sort the people went
resist
Women Speak
Mrs. j. A. Rounsaville, speaking as
member of the Woman's club and a
practical farmer, favored a sales tax
as the most equitable form Of taxa
ton, and urged its consideration
upOn the commission.
Mrs. Annie Freeman Johnson, also,
favored sales tax.
Mrs. j. Lindsay johnson, speaking
Tor the woman's club, pledged the
aid and cooperation Of that crgani-
cation to the commission n It's WORK.
Congressman Gordon Lee. of the
seventh district. volunteered that he
stands ready to uphold the hands Of
the commission ard the Eovernor in
its work.
Il. A. Dean, former legislator, rep,
resent!ng the Floyd county farm bu
reau, favored an income tax "has ed
Oh divine authority" and not grad,
udted income tax, such as las been
suggested. The tithing system is not
graduated, he said, He asserted that
the farmer as a class want their
equitable burden Of taxation, and
cannot be justly classed as tax
dodgers.
d. D Bachman, speaking for the
Rome Chamber Of Commerce, advo.
Gated limited income tax and a
special tax on luxuries.
Ch2fles Adamson, the Cedarsown
huiactureT. advised the cor1nnis
son mat he had prepared and would
submit a brief. 0"'"
Judge u. II. Aubrey, member OF
the legislature from Barlow county.
advocated an income tax and the
classlhcation Of property TO rtaxa.
uon purposes. He declared that tho
legislature accomplished nothino a+
LIS regular session because if was
talked to death. He commended the
governor and the commission for the
work they have undertaken.
Home Rrle
Ihomas Colgace, of Rome SIG.
gested that home rule" in the mat
ter OF taxation might solve the prob.
lem. He thought that the state
should pass the buck" so to speak.
TO the several counties, and let each
county evolve a tax system of its
own, each contribution to the sun.
port of the state on the basis of non
ulatiOn.
Senator w. W. Mundy, of Polk
county, advocated a smaller adj va
lorem tax, properly levied and col.
Iected, and a small income tax
Wilson Hardy, OF Rome. suggest
ed the abolition of ad valorem taxes.
the substitution of an income tax.
reduced exemptions on inheritance.
increased poll tax and end the levy
of a sales tax.
JCn1us Hillyer, of Rome, declared
that in the last analysis the problem
Is TO catch the tax dodger," who
Will dodge" one law as readily as
another. 1t was his idea that the
remedy is to be found in devising
means of catching these people, rath-
er than the enactment of new laws.
Greens
The tops of summer heets and