The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1924-12-09
i've WARNING AGAINST
HEAVY TAX INCREASES
AND CIVIC EXPERTS NOW
POINT TO HIGH TREND OF
,rATE AND LOCAL DEBTS.
THROWING TREBLES BURDEN

s. , l n
ORROwINC TREBLES BURDEN
l.,o.+ions Are About $40, 5OO,ooo,ooO
Aide From Governments Cash Ne
...sitv. Increase of 1913 Per Cent.
Where Money Is Going.
4 vAcHINGTON, D. C.-Warning
IN is being sounded by federal Oh
f;,ls and by authorities outside the
Il eminent that the public indebted
:. increasing, Notwithstanding the
4 ,3n,I reduction OF the national debt
3 This increase. it is pointed out, is
entirely to the enormous obliga-
W. issued by states, counties and
,n;cioalities, all taX-free securities
n ali laying a heavier burden upon
oeople OF the country.
H. i, estimated by the National In
..triaI Conference Board that the in
Ess.e in long-term bonds sold by
,,e and local authorities during the
Hendar wear 1924 will exceed $780,
H0000. and the total may reach ST.
&O0OO,O00.
Nearly Trebles in IL Years.
The same authority estimates that
H. NET indebtedness of state and local
(. .arn,nen+s is 5OO,000,000, COM
Ired with 1907 100000 in 1922 and
4 S22OO0,00O in 1912, the total having
ksrv trebled in II years.
Garrard B. Winston, under-secre-
4 nv OF the treasury, in statement
fade public a few days ago, pointed
NJ that while the per capita tax lev
N bv the federal government would
4 cut from $50 to S27 this fiscal year
h per capita tax OF the states and
tmcipalities was increasing.
With the states and municipalities
opposite tendency is disclosed,
Mr. Winston said in connection with
government tax. I'm 1913 their per
Epita tax was something over So.
4 the next four years it rose to ST,
EO $50 and $3S, and the latter flgures
|rdoubtedly will show further in
leases"
Where Money Is Going.
Much of the money which is being
proved by the states, government
&hcials have ascertained, is being de-
lbed to improve highways, and most
i the money being borrowed by mu-
Ecipalities is being expended on I'M
foyements.
Whatever may be the reason Tor the
kpenditures it appears from hgures
kmpiled here that local government
proving is going forward at an IN
leased rate, and that as a result the
Ter capita tax which the American
kople must pay, even with the reduc-
lon OF the governments rate, Will be
Hound $50 for every man, woman ana
bid.
The peak reached in 1920, when
/ e governments per capita alone was
g. may be reached again II the IN
Tease in local taxation continues as
has for four years, largely because
/ the enormous loans hoated.
Warns Against Burden.
State and local taxation is assum-
! g dangerous proportions, the In
|ustrial Conference Board SAID IN
|atement made public here. While
be net debt OF the federal govern
ent is S20,000,000,000 larger than be-
| re the war it is being reduced con-
(antIy, but the state and local gov
fnmehts continue to pile fresh lndeDt-
Einess from month to month III an APP
Erently endless fashion.
In study of public Indebtedness
Ehich forms a part of the same CON
frn's Investigations into the tax Dul-
Fms OF 1923, the board points out tnat
fe increasing Indebtedness OF state
Hd local governments tends to place
| gher and higher taxes on owners on
|pmes, factories and other real prop
Fty which in turn, tends to broaden
Pc redistribution OF the tax burdens
Debts Increase 12S Per Cent.
From 1912 to 1922, it is added, the
Ptal net Indebtedness OF state ana 10
p governments in the United States
fCreascd 128 per cent. These hgures3
Fmprehend all funded and hNed
|ebts, special assessments, bonds
Fmporary loans, outstanding war
fnts and all other debts, less, now
yer, the amount held in sinking
Ends and other assets for retirement
bhgations.
Indications are, the board says, that
Re amount of bonds sold by state ane
peal authorities in 1924 will exceed
Pc amount OF the present year. lhere
as been an increase in long-ter1n
onds alone of $31o,000,000, compared
'ith the same period of 1928, and the
rdustrlal Conference Board estimates
pat plans for new financing which re-
tyed popular approval at the NO
ember election call for additional IS
les OF no less than $500,0O0,0O.
Despite High Interest Rates.
This widespread practice OF borrow
Is Is not discouraged by the increas-
g cost OF money, it is set forth, al
rough it is admitted that the rate
hdoubtedly would be higher were 1t
ot Tor the federal income tax exemP-
'oa state and local issues enjoy.
Eliminating Implications and al,
p"hg Tor retirement in sinking fund
esets, the board says, st is est.
.a'ed that the net indebtedness OF