The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1923-10-30
TAX SCHEMES FLOOD
GOVERNORS OFFICE
LEGISLATORS STICKING TO
PET MEASURES FOR GRE
FORMING" TAX SYSTEM.
WILL CONVENE In ONE WEEK
Walker Sends Out Request for Sug-
gestions and Replies Show Members
Are Standing by Their Guns. Be
lieve Something Will Be Done.

heve Something Will Be Done.
ATLANTA, Ga.-Members of the
legislature and other Georgians who
are anxious to aid in reforming the
state tax system are flooding the Of
flee OF Governor Walker with sug-
gestions. The governors desk was
piled high with letters, resolutions and
briefs on tax matters when he return
ed to his office after an absence of
week, attending the conference of gov
errors at West Baden, Ind, and in
| Washington.
The extra session of the legislature
to consider tax reform is to convene
on Wednesday, November 9TH, now
| just one week off, The tax commits
sion has concluded its public hear
lngs, and the meeting this week is
for the purpose of comforting with the
authors of tax measures introduced at
the last session of the legislature in an
effort 20 reach an agreement on some
| program for the extra session.
Several days ago Governor Walker
sent out letters asking that any briefs
or resolutions on the subject of taxa
| ton be sent to his Office, and there has
been veritable deluge. The govern
or's desk is piled high with tax sug-
gestions.
Practically every member of the
legislature who was the author of a
tax measure at the last session is
sticking to his guns and has proposed
that his original plan be adopted at
the extra session. Representative Ell
ders, OF Tattnall county, will insist
upon the North Carolina plan; Rep
resentative Bussey, of Crisp county,
will offer a substitute for the tax
measure he introduced at the last ses-
sion, with only minor changes, and
the various authors of income tax
measures will come back with increas-
ed confidence.
Governors Request.
The letter sent out by Governor
Walker FOR the tax commission ask
ed for suggestions on the following
tax plans under consideration:
l. Income tax.
2. Classification tax
8. Sales tax.
4. Service tax, registration tax, or
poll tax
5. A combination of two or more
of the above, with perhaps reduced
ad valorem tax
The text of the letters awaiting
Governor Walker when he returned
have not been made public, but it is
said that the majority of them favor
limited income tax, in connection
with some other form of taxation to
reach chose who would be exempt I'm
der ordinary income tax limitations.
There is also strong sentiment for
classification tax, and sales tax
has many advocates.
While absent Governor Walker
spent a day in Raleigh, N. C., inter
viewing the governor, comptroller,
tax commissioner and other officials
of that state on the tax system. The
North Carolina 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 Car
DINA laws, according to an announce
ment by Representative Elders.
Members of the legislature who
have been in Atlanta recently predict
that the extra session is going to ac-
complish something in the form of
tax revision, but they will not predict
what the reform will be. 1t is the pre-
vailing opinion that the extra session
will last three or four weeks.
Tax Commissions Report.
The tax commission expects to fin
ish its report about the first Of No
vember The members of the com
mission are highclass men, They I'M
dertook the work with open minds
They seem to be pretty well agreed
on the main points
1t is generally believed that the
present adj valorem system will be re-
tanned for tangible property-houses,
lots, farms, factories and all other real
estate.
They will either oppose the repeal
of the tax equalization law or out OF
Difference to the governor remain dis
creetly silent on that question. They
will probably recommend a low grad
uated income tax, allowing the prop
erty tax as a credit Their plan will
be along the line of the Landlord bill.
They seem to favor classification of
property, because that is the only sys-
tenn, it is claimed, by which any con
siderable tax can be obtained from
what is commonly called hidden
wealth 1t is reported that the com
mission will not urge the sales tax at
this time although there is said to be
a great deal of public sentiment in its
favor.
1t will take two-thirds vote of the
| legislature to pass an income tax
amendment to the constitution. The
opposition claims majority in the
house
Will Attempt to Adjourn Session.
An effort will be made on the first
day of the extra session to adjourn
the legislature until ten days before
the regular session in June, 1924, it is
announced by DR. T. R. Whitley, vet
eran legislator from Douglas county,
Dr. Whitley says that he and mary
other members of the general assen-
bly, regard the present as most mop
perfume time to attempt tax reform,
and expect waste of both time and
money if the tax question is taken up
without further consideration.
Electric washing machines, with.
: folding wringers, are made to occupy.
1t i II L