Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1924-02-25
Taxes and Politics

georgia TreSS HSSoCldlIOll'
Gently at Cairo, was the address
of Royal Daniel, editor of The
Quitman Free Press, one Of the
most widely known newspaper
men in the state and close stu
dent of economics.
Mr.. Daniel discussed the
growing burdens of taxes and
the cost of administration and
proposed as remedies for some
of the existing ills:
A business manager for Geor-
gia.
The creation of a commission
on law revision.
The curtailment of the Cen
eral Assembly to one organized
body.
To limit it's membership to one
member from each county in
Georgia.
Biennial sessions.
Surely, Mr.. Daniels has out
lined a constructive program,
one deserving the closest thought
of every Georgian.
A business manager for the
state would cut the cost of ad-
ministration to half the sum now
expended. One body in the
General Assembly instead of
two will facilitate matters and
stop much log-rolling. passing
the buck and petty politics.
The law-making body is I'M
wieldy. There are too many
men to be reckoned with. Wit
ness the way each year the Sen
ate completes it's work and is
held back awaiting action by the
House. which in point of num-
bers is vastly larger than the
Senate. s
Biennial sessions will give the
people rest from politics; it
wall cut in half the uneasiness Ie-
garding what may or may not
be done by the assembly.
Give US biennial sessions,
make it obligatory that the as
sembly remain in session until
all business has been completed,
but limit the pay of the legisla-
tor to say SO or 90 days. Do
this and You II see action.
In support of his program
Editor Daniel said:
Il am quite sincere. / hope no
one will charge me with being inn
pulsive. wish to deny in adj
vance of any cricitism that I am
giving expression to destructive
ideas. Quite to the contrary, /
believe it a constructive pro
gram.
Il am of the opinion that you
agree with me that the restless
ness and resentment in the pub
lie mind today is the result of a
system as applied to the conduct
of our government-municipal,
county, state and nation-rath-
er than any spiritual evolution or
tendency toward a contamination
of our morals or degeneration in
our Christian civilization.
MAY / say it plainly and
bluntly? We are outlawed by a
multiplicity of laws; we are bur-
dened by taxation to the break
ing point; we are being ground
pitilessly but certainly between
the millstones of the personal am
bition of politicians and the evil
of an Anticipated and ubiquitous
system that makes these abuses
possible.
Consider the little cigarette.
You buy it. Ten per cent of
what you pay for it goes to the
State of Georgia in a direct tax;
the man who sells it pays a IL
cense tax for selling it and then
ne pays tax on his income; and
the man who manufactures it
pays a license tax and an in
come tax and a corporation tax
and personal tax; and the rail-
road that hauls it pays taxes of
every conceivable nature and
there you are!
Il pay city tax, a county tax,
pole tax, a state tax, a specific
sax, a corporation FAX, a street
tax and income tax whether l
earn money or not; tobacco tax,
gasoline tax, an automobile IL
cense tax, an. amusement tax
when ! enter a picture house; /
pay tax on my club dues,
telephone tax a telegraph tax,
tax on luxuries whether l have
any or mott pay taxes at every
turn. / try to render unto Gaze
sar what is Caesars but / will
tell you after that is done there
is mighty little left to render UNI
to Cod
MY exceeding regret is vast
hlidunt of these spoils taken
from the public is wasted, either
wantonly or ignoratly.
Tied to the coat tail Of the