The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-01-11
CHI A r L ES TON
FRIDAY MORNING, JANUARY Il, 1867.
- go =
TAX ON .K.NO WLEDGE..

We had occasion few days ago to call at
tention to, some of thc:features Of the Tax Bill
recently passed by the General Assembly OF
South Carolina There is one Of its provisions
to which we propose to address ourselves IN
the present article, viz: It's influence upon the
spread Of useful knowledge. We read: "UPon
taking out charter, except for religious
charitable and educational purposes, the ap-
plicants sspay $40" we are glad to see that
the shumanities'' still 60 duty free, but regret
that the same liberal policy did not character
ize their action in regard to the greatest Of oil
civi.:zing agencies-we mean the Press. News
papers, already largely levied upon by the In
ternal Revenue, and gently tapped for the
benefit of our municipal "Ways and Means, :" Is
once again laid under contribution by the
State: "On the gross receipts Of newspapers
published in this State, So on every 500"
The IL tornal Revenue tariff isthree per cent,
but il reality less than the State tax OF two per
cent The former is on the gross receipts of ad-
yertisements only, while thelatter fails to make
this intelligent discrimination. City, State and
United States tax on~the gross receipts of
newspapers now, amount to 81 per cent,
or $3.50 per annum on gross income OF
100000. -s::. -: =
Have any Of these enlightened legislators
ever considered whether the article taxed can.
Exist under such q levy? Do they know any
thing about the outlay necessary to conduct
first-class newspaper; how much money the
type, sticks, cases, stands, galleys, chases,
rules, mallets planners, quoins, and other turnl-
ture costs how much imposing stones, rollers
and proof presses how much large HOES
newspaper printing press, and the steam engine
necessary to furnish the motive power DO
they know the length of our monthly gas bills,
when our printers are kept at work at the tele-
graphic dispatches till four o'clock in the
morning, and sometimes later? Do they know.
how much are our weekly bills to the printers
for scomposition )" how much the price of the
raw material of printing paper (the heaviest
of all the items enumerated); how much the
work ofthe press-room; the folding and the mail
ing room; how much the carriers, book keep
ers. collectors and clerks? Do they know the
price of telegraphy (?) Of from two to three col
umns daily dispatches over the wires? Have
they considered the vast amount of editorial
labor engaged on daily morning paper,-re-
ouiring several slocals," o news editor, COM
mercial and shipping editor and several political
and literary writer's; and that nearly all these
employees are engaged during the greater part
of both day ind night? Do they know how
much is expended for correspondence, foreign
and domestic? We know not; for if these
facts had been lin their possession, We feel
assured there would be no tax on s'the gross
receipts Of newspapers. 9
What is the natural consequence? While
the tax falls oppressively on the. proprietors
of newspapers its influence is no less felt by
every subscriber and reader. Wedo not refer
to an increase in the price of subscription, for
this is not always practicable, and is only done
as dernicr resort The proprietor, however,
must protect himself against positive loss, and
the subscriber receives less amount ofreading
matter. It is, therefore, clearly tax on
knowledge