The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1859-02-04
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TAX COLLECTORS AND TREAsURERs M rHr
BOARDS OF COMMISSIONERS, AND THEIR
COMMISSIONS

custom to write for the press, but with vour
permission will offer some suggestions throurl,
the columns Of the Banner. l have rece,t,u
seen list OF the Acts passed by our last Log.
's'ature, and whetherany weoe passed that should
not have been l shall not attempt TO say: but 7
will endeavor to show that they failed to pass or
amend Acts that should have been, and in con-
sequence of which. the Tax Collectors of the
State aud the T:easurers OF the Boards Of Com.
missioners will this year receive of the tax paw
er's money, the sum of Twenty Five Thousand
Dollars, over and above a full compensation for
their services. This, I have no doubt, will be
regarded as rather bold assertion. | shall at-
tempt however, by fucts und figures, TO prove it
The Comptroller General Of the STATE. US I
th'nk' very properly, recommended to the Leg.
lsIature in 1887. the propriety of reducing the
rate of Commissions allowed 10 the Tax Colec-
tore. stating the present rate of Commissions
was affixed when the amount of Taxes was one
inlt less than at present. Since the lurge
increase of the Taxes Of the State. to retain
the old rates Of Commissions is unfair and
ungenerous. thus TO pay Que set of officers double
the value of their services, while others are poor.
ly paid.
lhe Legislature, however, tailed to carry out
The Comptrolers recommendation 1 think.
however it was generally expected that the
Legislature in 1853 would act on it, but the,
failed to do So Aud although they raised the
Taxes OF the State One Hundred and Fifty
Thousand Dollars. the old rate of Commissions
was continued, which will give the Tax Collec
tors this year upwards of nine thousand dol.
lars additional pay over last year, a,d 1 shall
endeavor to show they should have received
that amount less than last year, making
eighteen thousand dollars this year. over and
above full compensation for their services
There are forty six Tax Collectors in the
State, one Qhe Tax Collector Of Charleston) re-
ceves, us commissions. four per cent. on seventy.
| five thousand dollars, and one per cent on the
balance of his collections; ten collectors receive
FIVE per cent thirty three receive seven per
cent. ; and two receive ten per cent.
find the average will be about six and n
fourth per cent
Now, sir, | have no doubt but the General
Taxes Of the Stute will amount to six hundred
thousand dollars, and the District Taxes, two
hundred thousand dollars more, making the sum
| OF eight hundred thousand dollars This at six
and fourth per cent. will give the round sum
OF fifty thousand dollars as commissions TO be di
vided between forty-six men. who, in discharg-
ing their duties. will occupy time varying from
th'ee TO ten weeks each. (perhaps the Collector
OF Charleston may require twelve weeks. for
which he will receive upwards Of four thou.
sand dollars) But will carry the calculation n
little further: have no doubt but an uyernp. of
seven weeks will cover the time Of each Tax Col.
lrctor, making the entire time occupied bv the
lax Collectors Of the State, about three hundred
and twenty weeks, for which they will receive
this year fifty thousand dollars, paid in advance.
Now, sir, my position is. that the lust Legis-
iature should have reduced the rate of Commits.
slons TO at !enst an average of four per cent
which would have paid The Tax Collectors OF
the State the sum Of thirty. two thousand dollars
or one hundred dollars for each weeks services.
paid III advance. Is any reasonable man pre-.
pared to say that one hundred dollars a week ia
not ample pay. And this would have saved TO
the State the sum of eighteen thousand dollars
this year. *
Now. sir, having. as link shown that the
last Legislature should have amended the Act
which provides the rate Of Commissions TO the
Tax Collectors for receiving tue State and Dis.
trict Taxes, l now come 10 say something Of
the amount of commissions received by the
Treasurers of the Boards of Commissioners
| throughout the State take it for granted that
the law is uniform, and that the Commissioners
in the different Districts aud Parishes of the State
receive The same rate of commissions. shall
hoca pIot,. A.
Commissioners Of Abbeve District.
And would just here remark that If the Alb.
bevle delegation had taken glance ut tile Re-
ports made last October Court by the Treasur-
! ers Of the Boards, and especially tho Report of
the General Board of the Commissioners of
Roads, whose Commissions amounted 10 the
sum of four hundred aud thirty dollars, for about
one days labor. they would have seen the
propnety of amending the Act which gives
.uch pay. The Treasures of the Comm lssioners
| Of Poor and Public Buildings as their published
Reports have shown, receive five per cent. com.
MISSIONS for receiving the Taxes from the Col
ector and paying it out.
have sren no published Reports Of the Com.
missioners Of Roads. for several years. until last
years the Treasures Of the eneral Board have
received five per cent. commissions on the whole
| amount Of the Bridge Taxes which they receiv-
ed from the Tax Collector and paid over 10 the
Treasures of the Sub Boards. The Treasurers
of the Sub Boards have each received twenty
dollars annually, md the Secretary of the Cen
eral Board, ten dollars, (l discover in the Report
that the Treasurer Of The Uppsrsaluda Board last
yenr only charged ten dolIars.)
have no Doubt. sir, but it has cost an
average Of seven per cent. for the last FIVE
years to disburse the Bridge Taxes of Abbe-
Vile District And as the Bridge Taxes are
usually as much as the Poor and Public Build.
ings both, place the average commission Of the
Treasurers at six per cen. in our District on
which Is tho basis Of my calculation for the
whole State, and supposing that tho Taxes, as
sessed for District purposes in the State. amount
to two hundred thousand dollars, find the
sum of twelve thousand dollars for the Treasur.