Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-07-17

Governor Walker and legislative
leaders were agreed Saturday that
an amicable and satisfactory solu-
ton of Georgia taxation problem
is in sight.
A striking unanimity of opinion
strengthens the belief that the leg.
islature will submit to the people a
constitutional amendment, author
izing the levy of a limited income
tax and the classification and segre-.
cation of taxable property.
Pending ratification of the amend
ment by the people at the general
election in November. next year. the
equalization law will continue in
force.
Approval Of the constitutional
amendment at the general election
will be followed Immediately by
call from the governor for an extra
ordinary session of the legislature
to be convened within ten days after
the election.
The extraordinary session of the
assembly will frame a law providing
machinery for putting into effect
the mandate, and thereafter the
people of Georgia will pay an in
come tax not exceeding per cent
and their property vii! be segregta.
ed for the purposes Of ad valorem
taxation, so that different classes of
property will be taxed at different
rates.
Gives Assembly Glory
In announcing his conviction that
the foregoing program will be
adopted by the legislature, Governor
Walker disclaimed responsibility for
the solution, and credited the legis-
lature with full glory for the antic-
ipated adjustment of the vexing
question.
The plan Is the legislatures and
not mine,' said the governor. But
I welcome the prospect. l will call
an extraordinary session OF the as
sembly within ten days after the
constitutional amendment is ratified
by the people"
Governor Walker, IN the interest
OF harmony, is willing that the re-
peal of the tax equalization law, on
which he made his campaign, shall
be delayed for a year, and it is I'M
derstood that his friends in the leg
islature and, in fact, rost of the
enemies of tax equalization, will
offer no serious opposition to the
compromise.
That RE governor is firmly con-
vincsd that the problem is i'll the
way Of being amicaD!y and salts
factorily solved is evidenced ~ his
declaration that within the week he
has ascertained that q majority of
the senate has determined upon the
course outlined. He has been con-
WINGED, further, that the rank and
file of the house membership in
clines very strongly in the same di-
rection. He is extremely arXicus
that the spirit of harmony between
the two houses be not disturbed, to
the end that the legislation may
have unobstructed passage.
COnfers With Members
II have discussed the question of
taxation with many members of The
legislature, particularly the senate,
since my Inauguration, said Gov
error Walker. Il have entertained
many of them at my home. and it IS
my hope to entertain others. J. have
been impressed with the fine spirit
that prevails and with the earnest.
ness that marks their individual and
collective consideration of tie sub
iect. L have found that a clear ma
jority Of the senate faVo"s a limited
income tax and the classification
and segregation of property for the
purpose of taxation"
Although the language and form
of the constitutional amendment
has not been perfected, it is under
stood that the resolution will follow
the recommendations of the DeJar-
nette commission, as follows:
All taxes shall be levied and
collected under general laws and
for public purposes only. The
general assembly shall have the
power to classify property for
taxation and to adopt different
rates and methods for different
classes of property and to segre-
gate different classes of property
for state and local taxation. But
all taxation shall be uniform
upon the same class Of subjects
within the territorial limits of
the authority levying the tax.
Taxes may be levied ad valorem
upon any given class OF prop
erty without regard to the meth
Cd used in levying taxes on any
other class Of property.