Pocahontas star herald., 1924-05-16

assessment the man who has the most
cannot escape taxation so that the bur
dens falling upon the little owner are
lessened While it may be true that
in the adjustment Of the rate to meet
public requirements the small property
owners tax will be slightly increased,
the tax of the larger owner will be
considerably increased and the added
revenue viii inure to the benefit Of the
small property owner. There is moth
ing complicated about this and the
small property owner should be willing
to pay dollar more tax we will say,
i'm order that 500 additional revenue
may come from the man who has it
and in this way the state and schools,
etc, win secure ample revenue without
the burdens falling upon those who
are unable to bear them and each coun-
ty win then contribute in equal pro-
portion to the maintainance of the
state government while. as it is now,
one county pays ON 20 per cent basis
of assessment and another on a 40 per
cent basis; in fact there are some
counties where the basis of assessment
is different in each section Of it or in
each community of the same county.
In fact | know of instances where mer-
chants assessed themselves on 10 per
cent valuation and business property
yielding large revenue ON a 20 per
cent basis. Who then is escaping? Is
1t the person who has or the person
who hasn't anything to escape with?
Our great trouble has been as was
said in medical parlance, we have been
trying to treat the symptom and not
the disease and we will never get this
matter settled until it is settled prop
erly and we viii be in constant tur-
moil and debt until it is so settled.
There is no difference between running
the state and running a private busi-
ness. The principle is identical and
both must be conducted on sound
basis in order to be successful and
until we put Arkansas upon this kind
of basis we cannot hope to attract
capital to help us develop our re-
sources. In former days our legisla-
ture in order to attract capital sus-
pended payment of taxes for a num-
Der of years but it attracted no one.
Capital does not care for this and it
will come into the state and willingly
pay it's proportion toward supporting
the government if it can yield a fair
return upon its investment, but 1t
ought to be protected after 1t gets here
and ] am glad to say that the old hue
and cry against Wall Street in Arkan-
sas by politicians who appealed to the
prejudice of the public is passing.
Capital, corporations, business, institu-
tions whether foreign or domestic are
entitled TO fair and just treatment
when they come into our state to abide
with MS and the time should come
when the people should demand of the
office seeker. that he discuss his own
qualifications and not insult their in
telligence by running down his oppon-
ent or appealing to their passion or
prejudice. When these things come to
paes then the citizenship of Arkansas
viii he elevated and then. let us stop
singing the song Of hate that is being
chanted by self dubbed 100 per cent
Americans and let all the people of
Arkansas get together in peace, and
concord and harmony and work for
the best interest of our state that she
may take her just place in the sister
hood Of states.-Candid Opinion.