Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-11-13
IMPORTANT ACTION
SLATED THIS WEEK
ON TAX PROBLEMS
Equalization Report and Ad-
verse Recommendation on
Commissions Income Tax
Proposal Scheduled

Although. ire Georgia general as
sembly is still sailing upon unchart-
ed seas, administration leaders were
encouraged Saturday at the prospect
of avoiding the tax equalization
storm and the stand-patl reef, and
reaching calm waters before the end
Of the present week.
The decks have been cleared for
consideration ot the two big issues
Tuesday. The ways and means COM
mtttee already has reported back the
Stovall bill to repeal the tax equall'
cation law. with the recommends
ton that it do not pass. MIR. Stovall
had the measure put on the calen'
dar to move that the report be dis
agreed with. In the regular course
of business this measure will come
I'D Monday, as it stands number one
on the list.
The action of the constitutional
. amendments committee Friday III
voting to report out the tax commits
sion's income tax measure with the
recommendation that it shall be
passed places that measure in posi-
ton for action Monday The report
OF the committee will be made to
the house upon that day. There are
three other income tax measures on
the calendar, differing in form from
the committee bill. and if the pro-
ponents insist upon the honors OF
authorship, there will be fight on
the committee bill.
EQUALIZATION Is Key
The speed with which an agree
ment on tax reform is reached is be-
lieved by observers to depend upon
the attitude of the supporters or
the tax equalization law, headed by
Repres4n alive Stovall. of Ebert
county. with a steering committee
consisting of Representatives Stew
art. cf Atkinson county; knight. OF
Berrien county. and Haddock. OF
Early county"
At meeting held IN the kimbal
House Thursday night more than
fifty repealis;s voted to adopt the
role of stand patters and insist upon
TIE passage of the repeal bill before
considering other tax reform meas
ures. This attitude is bound to bring
the house in conflict with the senate,
which refused at the last session to
pass the repeal bill before some sub
stitute revenue measure had been
adopted. and Is of the same opin'
ion still.
The repealists were claiming sat
urday that they have sixty-tWo iron
bound pledges for support of the tax
equalization repeal bin until it is
PASSED, to the exclusion of other
revenue measures. If this strength
can be mustered, it will represent
mere than one-third of the usual at
tendance at house sessions, although
the total membership is 2O6. The
claim also IS made that the pledge
st will be augmented before Mon
day.
Administration leaders held con-
ferences with the repealists Friday
and Saturday, and expressed en-
enlargement at a reported attitude
OF Cancellation. Governor Walker
who made the repeal of the tax
equalization law one of his main
platform planks. declared he is as
strongly as ever in favor of the re-
peal measure, but is willing for de-
lay, in consideration of the attitude
of the ma iority in the senate. The
governor recognizes the repeal issue
as the one upon which the tax re-
form program might come to wreck
through a deadlock between the two
branches of the general assembly.
Try to Avert Breach
II the danger Of n break is as i'm
minent Monday as 1t was Fflday'
it is probable the leaders in the
house will make an effort to have
the general tax bill taken up for
consideration before either the III
come tax or the repeal measure. The
general tax act has been reported
favorably by the ways and means
connittee, aud copies ordered
rr:nted for the members. This meas
ure tied up the house for more than
a week a. the last session, but only
q few changes have been made in
the original draft and its passage
can be expedited. However, it If
foris a splendid opportunity for
tactics to delay proceedings, if any
member so desires.
Representative A. S. Bussey, OF
Crisp county, who was member OF
the advisory committee of the state
tax commission, and toured the
state with the commissioners. has
announce that he will introduce
one or r~aore tax bills when the
house cohvenes Monday. Mr., Bus.
fCoutinue don Pare G. Column al