Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-03-17
GOV. ELECT WALKER
SUGGESTS GEORGIA
INCOME TAX LAW
Only Alternative, He Says, Is
That Some Means Be
Found to Make Invisible
Property Share Tax Burden

MACON, Ga. March 15.-An in
come tax law in Georgia to reduce
the burden on real estate was sug-
gested here Wednesday by Cover
ner-elect Clifford NJ. Walker as a
probability unless the owners of IN
visible property in the state can
devise some plan to make returns.
The income tax plan was looked up
on by Mr.. Walker as the only solu'
ton
Mr.. Walker passed through Ma
con enroute to Dublin, where he
went to make an address Thursday
before a Kiwanis convention. Dur
ing his stop in Macon, the governor
elect discussed various questions
freely.
Gasoline. oil and fertilizer inspec-
tors were spoken of by Mr.. Walker
as "sinecurists." The duties for
which they have been appointed re-
quire so little time. he said, that
people are coming to consider them
as political liabilities.
Invisible Property Escaped
Invisible property, of which there
is much, Mr.. Walker pointed out,
is escaping taxation and thereby
making the burden on real estate
This condition should not exist. he
said, because it is hampering trade
In realty holdings.
Pointing out various approprla-
lions amounting to approximately
S6.75O,00O to which the states
tax money goes, Mr.. Walker stress
ed the need for economy and every
possible restriction on the states
expenditures.
Mr.. Walker said he hoped that
the coming legislature will on &C
count of the long experience and
intimate knowledge of j. ]. Brown,
commissioner of agriculture, listen
attentively to recommendations Mr..
Brown can make for the improve
ment and undermining OF the de-
partment of agriculture, which he
believes can save the state from
s15O,0OO to 100000 a year,
Mr.. Browns familiarity with the
agricultural conditions Of the state
places him in an enviable position,
the governor-elect believes, to lay
program suggesting needed econo-
my in the inspection of gasoline, oil
and fertilizer.
The state has a splendid system
Of county demonstrators. said Mr..
Walker, and he suggested that Mr..
Brown may recommend inspections
of gasoline and oil and probably fer
silizer by these county agents, al
ready employed. The additional du-
ties, he said, would take little Of
their time.
Where Taxes Go
Under the present rate of taxa
hon, the Macon Telegraph recently
stated in an article that of the five
mills collected by the state for taxes,
only 1 IA mills is left after all dis
bursements and appropriations on
which to operate the various de-
partments of the state government.
Mr.. Walker commented on the rate
of taxation, showing that so per
cent of the states money goes back
in the shape of appropriations to
common schools in the communi.
ties from which the money original
w comes. The states tax rate in
every county is five mills and Mr..
Walker pointed out that in many
counties, especially where there are
large cities, % or 80 mills is col
lected for city and county taxes,
total, he said, OF approximately 80
mills in many counties, Of which he
showed the. state gets only one
seventh.
In addition to so per cent of the
states tax money going back into
the common schools he also spoke
of three-quarters of mill which he
estimated S1.500,000 going back into
the counties of the state in the
shape of Confederate pensions. An
other million goes to the state in
situations at Milledgeville, he said.
Discussing the various expendi-
lures of the states tax money, Mr..
Walker said he was not minimizing
these appropriations but was calling
attention to the small per cent Of
the total amount, on which the
state government has to be operat-
ed. Economy is necessary, he said,
but the burden on real estate must
be raised and prevented from BE
coming neatec.