The Augusta Courier

AID TO SCHOOLS IS DEAD, TOO
By M. L. ST. JOHN
From The Atlanta Constitution Sunday, January 1, 1950

The Minimum Foundation Program for Education also died today.

One of the four major items for consideration by the January session of the Legislature, financing of this minimum school program at this time was killed when Gov Talmadge's Tax Revision Committee came out against any new taxes. There is a probability, however, the General Assembly will be called into special session to finance the school program if, and when, the Irwin County Negroes win a Federal Court suit for equal educational opportunities.

The Talmadge-dominated State Tax Revision Committee owes Atty. Gen. Eugene Cook an apology. Back when the Committee first began its hearings, Cook a potential gubernatorial candidate, came out against new taxes, stating that some $20,000,000 could be raised through proper enforcement of existing taxes and elimination of waste. This aroused the ire of the Talmadge leaders, who charged that Cook was spouting off for political purposes without anything to back up his contentions. They summoned the Attorney General before the Committee with curt demands that he "put up or shut up." Nothing ever came of it.

Now today, the Governor's Committee has adopted Cook's suggestions. No new taxes, they say, until the present laws are enforced better. The Committee, in a contradictory set of general recommendations, says that very little money can be saved through better administration--and then concludes that millions of dollars can be picked up through better enforcement.

It is true that Georgia could increase its collections by millions of dollars by hiring more and better trained tax collectors. It is estimated it could get an additional $5,000,000 from income taxes, an additional $6,000,000 from property taxes, and upwards to an additional $12,000,000 from liquor. So $20,000,000 is not a bad estimate. That will offset the $20,000,000 the State will lose when its emergency tax hikes expire in 1951.

These interesting suggestions for better law enforcement were not what the people thought they were paying $107,000 to obtain from the Tax Revision Committee. They are not new suggestions. They have been made before by former State Revenue Commissioners, who appealed for funds to add more and better tax men.

Certainly Gov. Herman Talmadge didn't have to pay Chairman Herman Talmadge's Committee $107,000 to tell the Governor to carry out his campaign promises for better government.

What the Legislature instructed the Committee to do was to bring in recommendations and bills for total tax revision. What the Legislature is getting is a political recommendation that no tax revision be attempted. The Committee, composed of capable persons, worked hard ... made a fine study ... assembled pertinent tax information ... and then turned tail and retreated in political fright as it neared home plate.

It seemed as though someone sneaked in and wrote a watery conclusion to what started out as a good story.

The Tax Revision Committee was not all in vain, however. The work of Secretary Bill Lester in assembling detailed information for the Committees through the Thompson and Talmadge Administration was outstanding. This information can prove valuable to the State when the people finally demand more courageous action.

Delayed for the present, Tax Revision takes its place at the head of the campaign issues for the 1950 gubernatorial and legislative races. (For the record, Senators Walter Harrison, of Millen, and Lee Purdom, of Blackshear, voted against the Committee's report. So did State Auditor B. E. Thrasher, who offered his own plan).