Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-10-23
GOVERNOR OFFICE
FLOODED WITH TAX
REFORM SCHEMES
Extra Session to Convene
November 7-LegiSIators
Stick to Pet Measures,
Walker Returns Tuesday

| Members of the legislature and
other Georgians who are, anxious to
aid in reforming the state tax sys-
tenn, are flooding the office of Gov
ernor Walker with suggestions and
plans to be submitted to the state
tax commission when it resumes alta
| hearings at the capitol Tuesday
morning. The governors desk will
be piled high with letters, resolu-
| tons and briefs on tax matters, when
he returns to his office Tuesday aft
er an absence Of a week, attending
the conference of governors at West
Baden, Indiana, and in Washington.
The extra session Of the legisla-
ture to consider tax reform is to
convene on Wednesday. November
Z, now less than three weeks off.
The tax commission has concluded
it's public hearings, and the meeting
this week is for the purpose of con-
ferring with the authors of tax meas
ures introduced at the last session of
the legislature. in an effort to reach
the extra session.
Several days ago Governor Walker
sent out letters asking that any
briefs or resolutions on the subject
of taxation be sent to his office by
October 20, and there has been a
veritable deluge. The governors desk
will be piled high with tax sugges-
lions when he returns to his office
Tuesday morning, after discussing
the tax systems of other states with
their executives.
| Practically every member of the
legislature who was the cuthor of
tax measure at the last session is
sticking to his guns and has pro-
posed that his original plan be adopt
| ed at the extra session. Representa-
tive Herschel Elders, Tattnall coun-
ty, will insist upon the North Caro-
lima plan; Representative A. S. Bus
sey, of Crisp county, will offer a sub
st1tute for the tax measure he in
troduced at the last session, with
only minor changes, and the various
authors Of income tax measures will
come back with increased confidence.
Governors Request
The letter mt out by Governor
| walker for the tax commission ask
| ed for suggestions on the following
tax plans under consideration:
1. Income tax.
2. Classification tax.
3. Sales tax.
4. Service tax, registration tax, or
poll tax.
5. A combination of two or more
OF the ABOVE, with perhaps a reduced
ad valorem tax.
nf
the return of Governor Walker
have not been made public, but it
IS said that the majority of them
favor limited income tax, in con.
nection with some other form of
taxation to reach those who would
be exempt under ordinary income
tax limitations. There is also a
strong sentiment for a classified.
tlon tax and a sales tax has many
advocates.
Governor Walker left for West
Baden last week with the an.
nounced intention of interviewing
governors of all states that are
using any Of the forms of taxation
proposed for Georgia. He decla1 ed
that he expected 70 gain valuable
information on the experiences of
the other states, for transmission
to the members OF the state tax
commission at their session here
next Tuesday.
Studying Taxes
The governor is to spend Monday
in Raleigh, N. c., interviewing the
governor, comptroller, tax commits.
sioner. and other officials of that
state, on the tax system that has
brought great prosperity to North
Carolina and attracted the attention
Of tax experts all over the country.
The North Carolina tax system was
the topic of much conversation at
the recent session of the legislature.
and this talk will be revived on the
first day of the extra session by
the introduction of eight bills copied
after the North Carolina laws, ac-
cording to an announcement by
Representative Elders.
Members of the legislature who
have been in Atlanta recently pre-
dict that the extra session is going
to accomplish something in the
form of tax revision, but they will
not predict what the reform will be-
It is the prevailing opinion that the
extra session will last three or four
Waol<S