The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1859-12-02
COMMUNICATED.
COMMUNICATED.
TAX COLLECTORS AND TREAsURERS OF
THE BOARDS OF COMMISSIONERS, AND
THEIR COMMISSIONS.
(rUDLIsHED DY REQUEsT.)
COMMUNICATED


islature, and whether any were passed tha
should not have been shall not atempt t.
say but will ehdeavor to show that the,
failed 10 pass or amend Acts that should have
beer, and in consequence OF which, the Ta1
Collectors Of the State and the Treasurers O
the Boards of Commissioners will this yea,
receive of the tax payers money, the sum o
Twenty Five Thousand Dollars. over aud above
a full compensation for their services This
have no doubt, will be regarded rather q
bold assertion. shall attempt, however, by
facts and figures, to proyeit.
The Comptroller General of the State, as /
think, very properly, recommended to the
Legislature in 1857, the propriety of reduc ing
the rate Of Commissions allowed to the Tax
Collectors stating the present rate Of Commits.
sions was affixed when the amount of Taxes
was one half less than at present. Since the
large increase of the Taxes of the State, to re-
tain the old rates of Commissions is un fair and
ungenerous, thus to pay one set of officers
double the value of their services, while others
are poorly paid.
The Legislature, however, failed to carry
| out the Comptroller's recommendation. think
however, it was generally expected that tire
Legislature in 1853 would act on it, but they
failed to do SO. And 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 Col.
lectors this year upwards Of nine Thousand dol
lars additional pay over last, year. and, I shall
endeavor to show they should have received
that amount less than last year, making eigh-
teen thousand dollars this year over and above
full compensation for their services.
There are forty six Tax Collectors in the
State one (the Tax Collector Of Charleston,
receives, as commissions, four per cent, on
seventy ive thousand dollars, and one per cent
on the balance of kis collections; ten collectors
| receive fivc per cent; thirty three receive
| seven per cent, and two receive ten per cent
find the average will be about six and a
| fourth per cent
Taxes of the State 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 conf
missions to be divided between forty-six men
who, in discharging their duties, will occupy
time varying from three to ten weeks each,
(perhaps the Collector of Charleston may re.
quire twelve weeks, for which he will receive
upwards of four thousand dollars.) But will
carry the calculation little further; have
no doubt hut an average of seven weeks will
cover The time of each Tax Collector, making
the entire time occupied by the Tax 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. nay position is, that the last Legis
lature should have reduced the rate of Commits.
sions to at least In average of four per cent.
which would have paid the Tax Collectors of
the State the sum of thirty-two thousand dol
lars or one hundred dollars for each week a
services, paid insadVance. Is any reasonable
man prepared to say that one hundred dollars
week is not ample ray. And this would
have saved to the State the sum of eighteen
thousand dollars this year.
Now, sir, moving, as think, shown tina. the
last Legislature should have amended tho Act
which provides the rate of Commissions TO the
Tax Collectors for receiving the State and Dis
trict Taxes, now come to 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 Commis.
sioners in the different Districts ana Parishes
of the StAtesEeceve the same rate of commits.
sions. I shall base my calculations on the Re.
ports of the Commissioners of Abbeville Dis.
trict.
And wouldju here, remark that if the Alb
beville delegation had taken glance at the
Reports made last Octobsr Court by the Treas
urers of the Boards. and especially the Report
of the General Board of the Commissioners Of
Roads, whose Comm issions amounted: to the
sum of four hundred and thirty dollars, for
about one days labor, they would have seen
the propriety Of amending the Act which gives
such pay. The Trsasurers Of the Commissions
of Poor and Publice Buildings, ss their pub.
lished Reports have shown, receive Eve per
cent commissions for receiving the Taxes from
the lcollsstor and piyingiit out
!. bsve seen no inblished Reports of the
E3mtpissiop Rssds for several years,
until last October. But understand for the
last ave years the Tfessarers Of the General
B9asrd have feceived fxs per cent. commits.
sio6s on the whose amount Of The Bridge Taxes
which lhsy:rsseived from the Tax Collector
||and Esysr # TO ths, ssfureis ois Tbs Sub
Boards The Treasures ef tha Sub DSards
fhayse essh ,redstf fed twsnty dollars Annually.
Iand ths sssts of NE General Board, ten
dollsse fI in the Report that the
Trea.uret 81 the Upper ssludsBeard last year
oaly charged tsn deliars:) '.7-,1
4 have nS assb tss,r. d hss cost an Az.
BIG 81 ,sss ST..
Esfet Ard ss IT, Bs5dgs Il tsxss ass ususlly as
Tssh. q hss Pod 6as Bqjl jldspss both, /
tplsse 81 svsrass esas @ rsssarsrs
g ssk k ~ 81 g bi SO.
bsEa "a M 1ssk ~ rs: