The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1923-10-02
ME- OF BEST MEETINGS
THAT BODY HAS HELD
n,r17ENs GIVE THEIR IDEAS
Of WHAT IS NEEDED IN
TAX LEGISLATION.
VISITORS GREATLY PLEASED

Cookers Held Various Views, Some
Favoring Income and AID Valorem
Taves and Others a Sale Tax. All
ITrged Greater Economy.
Governor Clifford Walker and his
cav commission were given cordial
,nolcome to Dawson by a delegation
= citizens, headed by Mayor A. l.
Mel andon and r. R. Marlin, secre-
,,rv of the Kiwanis club, upon their
orriyal here Wednesday afternoon to
confer with the people and obtain their
Jews and recommendation in regard
TO the proposed reformation OF the tax
system of Georgia.
Between Is and 100 representative
business men and farmers of the city
and county were present when the
meeting opened in the superior court
Many Suggestions.
Various suggestions were made by
those who spoke, and the members
II the commission, who are to make
recommendations to the general as
semblv at the extraordinary session
in November, appeared to be deeply
IMPRESSED with what was said.
iohn c. Hollingsworth said that
he was opposed to sales tax, and
thought that moderate income tax
might help the situation if it was not
too expensive to collect.
l. A. LANG stated that what was
needed was economy, and declared
that we now have enough taxes. lie
thought it possible, however, that the
tax law could be revised SO as to be
helpful. -,
/ D. Weaver said he represented
10000 farmers belonging to the Farm
ers' Union, and was opposed to an m
crease of the poll tax. 1t was his
opinion that the farmers would not
object to a moderate income tax.
We will all have to realize, Judge
NJ, c. Edwards said, that taxes are alb
so1ute1v necessary, and without them
we cannot have government; there
would be no courts, no schools and
no roads. He thought the ad valorem
system properly administered would
meet all requirements, and suggested
that some of the so-called invisible
property, such as notes and mort
cages. could be reached by requiring
them to be stamped.
r. L. Savi1le said he knew very lit
tie about taxes except that 1t took
all he could do to raise money enough
to pay them; that one state department
alone is now spending more money
than the whole state government
spent in 1880.
!. R. Mercer said he believed a
sales tax would be the sureSt and ta1r-
est way to raise sufficient money to
meet the needs of the state.
The general trend of those who
spoke was that a moderate income
tax would perhaps be the best soiIu-
ton, retaining for the present also
the ad valorem system but reducing
the rate. The opinion also prevailed
that under no circumstances should
taxes be raised.
Some of the speakers emphasized
the Importance of economy and the
proper expenditure of revenues, as
well as providing a proper means OF
raising it. This brought from Gov
ernor Walker an inquiry as to how
much taxes the people here were now
paving. and when told that 1t was
S45.00 on the thousand he called atten-
ton to the fact that only S. OF 1t was
paid to the state.
The special tax commission, which
was recently appointed by Governor
Walker, is composed of State Senator
T. S. Mason, chairman; Representa-
tive R. C. Ellis, vice chairman; Rep
resentative F. S. Mcclure, secretary;
Senator ]. R. Phillips, Judge U. V.
Whipple, DR.. J. H. T. McPhersln, ).
5. Peters, Sam Tate and Courtney
Thorpe Included in the party were
Representative A. S. Bussey, Repre-
sentative A. ]. Woodruff, ]. w. Nor
ton and Peter S. Twitty.
The meeting was presided over by
Senator Mason, chairman OF the spe-
clal tax commission.
Governor Was Pleased.
Before leaving Dawson Governor
Walker expressed the opinion that the
meeting of the commission here wa,
one of the best yet held. He declared
that the farmer as all other citizens
of the state, would be given tull con-
HiuSl dtloH III tuS system "liiNii
be worked out. He pointed out that
there were men on the commission IN
timately acquainted with farm affairs
and that one of the special problems
would be to work out fair and just
system on the taxation OF land and
tangible property.
The commission has visited VARIOUS
sections of the state to gain first hand
information on the tax problem. 1t
was announced that the commission
will probably be in session throughout
October in Atlanta.
No conclusions will be reached. by
the commission until the hearings
nave been completed.