Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-07-14
TAX PLAN
Gets APPROVAL. Of
HOUSE COMMITTEE

The bill Of Representative II. II.
, Elders, of Tatnall county, giving the
Georgia legislature the right to i'm
pose income, corporation, franchise,
license, inheritance, privilege, occu-
patton and luxury taxes, and ex-
empting property from taxation for
state purposes, was given the APP
prevail of the constitutional amend
ments committee of the house of
representatives late Wednesday by
vote of sixteen to six. Three of the
six opponents of the measure favor
ed the bill in principle, but sought
amendments.
Mr.. Elders, arguing for his meas
ure before the committee, stated
that it was patterned after the
North Carolina tax system, looked
upon as a model in every section OF
the country. He declared that plan
is not theory, but has been worked
successfully, and has made North
Carolina the most prosperous and
popular state in the south, showing
a marvellous increase in industrial
development because of the fairness
and stability of the tax system
To obviate the necessity of wait
ing until 1926 before the new law
could be put into effect, Mr.. Elders
proposed that the office of state au-
ditor be created, and an election
called for September or October, and
bienniallyS thereafter, to elect the
state auditor. He declared that such
an election would fulfill the require
ments of a general election, and i
constitutional amendment could be
voted upon at the same time. Later
the election date could be changed
to coincide with the date of the cleo
ton of other state officials, Mr.. FL
ders suggested.
Text of Measure
The bill, which Mr.. Elders read
to the committee, is as follows:
"All taxes shall be levied and col
lected under general laws ard for
public purposes only, and this ap-
plies to the levying and collecting OF
all taxes for the support of the state
government, and the taxes levied
by counties and municipalities. All
property in this state shall be eX-
empt from ad valorem tax levy for
state purposes.
1.-The general assembly shall also
have authority to levy taxes upon
net incomes, which tax may be grad |
uated, and the general assembly |
shall have authority to allow eXemp |
tons when leVying income taxes.
THE general assembly shall have
authority to levy a corporation fran
chise tax, and license taxes.
THE general assembly shall have
authority to levy inheritance taxes.
privilege taxes and occupation taxes.
which classes of taxes may be grad |
uated, and when levied may contain |
provisions for exemption.
1.-THE general assemly shall have
authority to levy special taxes upon
luxuries and the unnecessary things !
of life, such things as are used for |
pleasure and luxury only"
Called Beautiful Theory
Representative Barrett, of |
Stephens county declared that the |
theory of the Elders bill, dividing |
taxes among many activities, was
beautiful, but it would never
work out that way.
THE theory of the government /
income tax was to hit the rich, but
it doesn't do it," Mr.. Barrett stated.
THE rich fellows begin on Jan
uarY 1 20 plan for evading their in
come taxes the next January, and !
they hire experts who can enable
them to dodge"
Representative Barrett insisted
that the new system could not be
put into effect until 1926, as it
must be voted on at the regular gen
eral election in November, 1924,
and then ratified by the general as
sembly in the summer of 1925.
Representative Parks of Terrell
county, stated that the state has
hal two cpecial commissions inves
tigate tax conditions in Georgia, ane
both have recommended a classifi-
cation tax in preference to an in
come tax.
wisconsin was the first state in
the union to adopt the income tax,
Representative Parks declared. |
What happened there? The legis- !
lature went on a wild orgy of eX-
traVagance and excuses, raising
the appropriations from ten MIL
lions to thirty millions in q single
year. They have put on four sur
taxes already, and last week the
Wisconsin legislature had up
proposition to put on still another
surtax to raise $14,000,000 above tho
regular appropriations for the state
university. The income tax will
breed the same sort of extraVa
gance in Georgia"
Elders Defends Measure
Representative Elders replied to
Mr.. Parks by stating that mich COWS
in Wisconsin are assessed for taxes
at higher total valuation than all
the property in Georgia, and also de-
clared that a trip to New York made
by the state treasurer of North Caro-
lima recently to borrow five million
dollars, was to secure money on
bonds for highway purposes, and not
for the general funds of the state,
as Mr.. Parks had inferred.
At this point in the argument, Rep ,
resentative Sutlve, of Chatham
county, announced that he had an
other committee engagement, and
asked to be recorded as voting for
the Elders bill.
Representative ELS, Of Tiff Coun- .
~, stated that he was for the in. /!
como taY becai1Se if ia tina hardest |