The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-01-11
CHAR LIE S TON
FRIDAY MORNING, JANUARY Ii, 1867.
TAX ON KNOWLEDGE.

We had occasion q; few days ago to call at
tention to some Of the 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 y the ap-
plicants s.pay $40" We are glad to see that
the '.humanities" still go duty free, but regret
that the same liberal policy did not character
ize their action in regard to the greatest Of all
civilizing 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 etways and Means, is
once again laid under contribution by the
State con the gross receipts Of newspapers
published in this State, So on every $780,"
The Internal Revenue tariff is three per cent,
but in reality less than the State tax Of two per
cent. The former is on the gross receipts of ad-
vertisements only, while the latter fails to make
this intelligent discrimination. City, State and
United States tax on the gross receipts Of
newspapers now, J, amount to So per cent,
or $3.50 per annun on. gross income Of
100000.
Have any Of these enlightened Legislators
ever considered whether the article taxed can
exist under such levy7 Do they know any
thing about the outlay necessary to conduct
frst-class newspapaper; how much money the
type, sticks, cases, stands, galleys, chases,.
rules, manets, planners, quoins, and other furni-
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
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 y how much the price of the
raw material Of printing paper (the heaviest
Of all the items enumerated); how much the
work Of the 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-
quiring several ''locals," news editor, COM
mercial and shipping editor, and several political
and literary writers; and that nearly all these
employees are engaged during the greater part
Of both day and night? Do they know how
much is expended for correspondence, foreign
and domestic? We know not; for if these
facts had been in their possession, we feel
assured there would be no tax on sthe gross
receipts Of newspapers.
What is the natural consequence? While
tho tax falls oppressively the proprietors
Of newspapers, its influence is no less felt BY
every subscriber and readers We do. not refer
to an increase in the price of subscription, for
this is not always practicable, ard is only done
as deraier resort. The proprietor, however,
must protect himself against positive loss, and
the subscriber receives less amount of reading
matter. 1t is, theSafaaHfEa fly tax on
- !,