Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1923-11-03
TAX REF FORM BILLS To
FLOOD GA ASSEMBLY
New And Old Systems VIII Be
Discussed At Session Next
Week in Atlanta


ISOLATED Press A prediction that
when the Georgia general assembly,
conYenes in extraordinary session
next Wednesday, i. will be flood
cd with all sorts Of tax reform
proposals" was made tonight by
Senator G. c. Smith, OF the TWEEN
ty-third district.
Il nave given the tax reform
question much thought and study"
said the senator, "and | have not
yet reached the conclusion that any
Of the proposed reforms will pro-
vide the relief our people aecd.
Unless the assembly passes 4 tax
reform program that will meet con
ditions now existing in the state,
do not believe the people will
rctify its action at the polls next
year.
Il am opposed to an income tax,
unless the law can be so simple
that the average business man,
farmer, or laborer, can MAKE out
his return without going to an eX-
pert. l believe an income tx law
would creates places for so many
employees to collect the tax that the
state would not receive much bene-
fit.
Il am absolutely opposed to
creating any more Offices in our
sta government, because | think
some we already have should be
abolished.
Il am in favor Of Ievyino a tax
that will work the least injury to
our states development, and unless
his can be done, We had better lei
"Fil enough alone and keen tho
'ystem we know and have tried for
a number of years.
You he@r so much about orr
TAX system in Georgia being unfair,
and unjust to many people. It is
not the states taxes that are hurt.
ing our people most; but it is the
local taxes We have to pay. | will
give an illustration. In TavIo,
county, my sounty, our rates for
the coun y is 500 per thousand
3I0 Tor school district tax: IS for
county wide school tax, and S7.5p
Tor city taxes, making a total OF
$4,000 Per thousand, and the state
OF Georgia gets the small sum OF
$500.
Il will ask, where is the burden
Of taxation?
Il an Of the opinion sh2t the
sales tax would solve the problem
IN Georgia, and if a committee OF
three good men was sent to Can.
ada to study its sales tax laws.
believe 1t could come back with
real tax reform which would moi
work any hardship on any Of GU,
people at the Same time brine in.
TO The state treasury sufficient
money to take care Of alb its de-
partments and institutions wen
i will undertake to get passed
at the extra session, privilege
recording tax, a law which has
worked we'll in some states. This
measure would tax The money
iehaefS' l. IS my OPINION that thr
large money lenders of the North
and last viii stand the greater
burden on this tax and estimate
1t will bring into the state treas
ury approximately $750,000 an
rally, | viii draw the bill . that
he lender must pay this tax and
net the borrower. Let US do moth
ing that Will retard our progress.
"ln regard to free text book
legislation, | wish to say that do
not believe the taxpayers should be
taxed for the purpose Of buying
school books for the children Of our
state. If this proposed free school
book lGw is put into operation, it
will not be long before the children
viii have hot lunches served at the
noon recess hour at the expense Of
the taxpayers.
eve already have free schools
and free buses to ride he children
to and from school. | say get our
expenses within our revenue and we
will not hear so much bowling
about taxes. We cannot do this
unless we put t stop to increasing
appropriations and raising taxes,