Evening star., 1933-09-24
LOUISIANA TO SEEK
TAX REFORM WHEN
ASSEMBLY MEETS
Long and Allen, However,
Hope OF Confine Action
to Repeal Election.
BY FRANK C. ALLEN.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW ORLEANS, La, September 23.-
With the Legislature scheduled to be
convened in special session early in
October to provide machinery for re-
peal Of the eighteenth amendment, the
clamor Of Louisiana taxpayers for re-
lief has been revived.
Announcement of the forthcoming
extra session, made first by Senator
firmed by Gov. o. K. Allen, said the
scope Of the call will be limited to re-
peal Of the eighteenth amendment and
enactment Of legislation taxing wines
and liquors.
Senator Long and Gov. Allen have
made it plain they intend TO ignore
recommendations of the Louisiana Tax
Reform Commission that legislation for
tax reform and economy In State gov
ernment be adopted.
Gov. Allen said the special session
will be called in time for the people
to vote on repeal by October Is.
Interested in Tax Relief.
The people of Louisiana are in favor
of putting the State officially on record
on repeal. The Governor has been
sharply criticized for his delay in
taking action in this direction, but
with conditions as they are the pri-
mary interest Of the populace at this
time lies in tax and school relief.
Thousands Of farm and home owners
throughout the State are facing the
immediate sale Of their properties for
State are confronted with a grave sit
uation-unless relief Is provided school
terms in many parishes will have to
be curtailed.
Conditions affecting taxpayers and
schools have reached the point that
political observers are unanimous in
the opinion that unless Gov. Allen ad-
heres to public demand and takes
steps to provide immediate relief, the
Legislature, once in session. will take
the matter in its own hands.
The Tax Reform Commission. in
report released last week, recommended
abolition Of the Office Of the supervisor
Of public accounts, now held by Miss
Alice Lee GroSjean, former secretary of
state and one-time private secretary to
Secretary Long. and the State Board
Of Liquidation.
The commission also urged the con-
solidation of number OF other de-
partments of the State government,
which would mean the elimination of
a number Of lucrative positions. And
foremost OF all, II recommended 1mme-
diate relief for property owners and
schools
In the report the commission pointed
out that by action Of the Legislature
the taxpayers of the State could be
given immediate relief in the sum OF
more than Sl0000,0o0; that unless
prompt action is taken to carry OF
recommendations contained in the re-
port, there can be no relief for the
taxpayers for the year 1884.
Scarcely had announcement that the
scope of the forthcoming session VII
DE restricted to the prohibition que
ton gone out from the capita, when
three of the five members Of the Tax
Reform Commission-all Members G.
the Legislature-announced they VIII
insist that tax relief measures be con-
sidered at the extra session.
The demand of the Tax Reform
Commission members was quickly
strengthened when other legislators
voiced their support of the movement.
The report of the Tax Reform Com
mission was made public over the
strenuous opposition Of Senator Long.
Gov. Allen has announced he will flx
a date for a special election of sue
cessor to the late Representative Boli-
var E. Kemp Of the sixth congressional
district to coincide with that on the
repeal OF the eighteenth amendment.