The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-05-28

Seato 0oStU VI 04uoA@0AVn oooSV ~
$40, ,o46, ,0ss to the original return Of real
property, bringing up the total, ss before
stated, to $164, o2a, ,342.
The pc roentage of the amounts added by
the Board of Equalization show o wide va
ration. In Orangeburg the assessment
was,raised from $1,444,069 to 81, SS2, ,207,
or 800 per cent. In Kershaw and Marl-.
boro' the assessment was doubled. In the
City Of Charleston the increaseis 25per cent.
We have no means Of knowing at present
whether the increased assessment was made
by simple rule of thumb, or whether it was
founded on Information in possession Of the
board. Upon this branch Of the subject
the country papers can doubtless throw
some light.
After ell, the most important question in
this connection is, what will be the effect
Of the new system in distributing more
equally the burden Of taxstion?' This we
may be able to ascertain. For the year
ending October l, 1867, the aggregate taxes
were $474, $40, of which amount the City
Of Charles ton paid $157,1s or SS per
cent. For the year ending October l, 1858,
the sggregateta1es were $459,271, Of which
amount the City of Charleston paid $1l0,-
107, or "a per cent. For the present year
the total tax will be $1,2ao, 1853, Of which
amount the City Of Charleston will pay
$277, 1874, or % per cent. Richlsnd, inclu-
ding the City Of Columbia, paid in the year
ending October 1, 1868, the sum Of $l1,e2s
for taxes, or 2.53 per cent Of the whole.
In the present year, Riohland will Fay
$4s,5o4, or 8 81 per cent. Of the whole.
Without going into any further details,
we may remark that the rate Of taxation,
three.fourths Of one per cent, is far higher
than we had reason to expect, and far
higher than it would have been If the State
had had an honest and economical govern
ment. The convention which framed the
constitution under which we live cost the
State $115, 900. The special session of the
Legislature, the first held under that con-
stitution, cost $780, 900. The estimate Of
the supplies required for the current year,
as reported by the Comptroller General,
October 81, 1868, was but 1920, 400. But
the tax assessment amounts to $1,2300 600,
which is $28000O more than is au-
to be assessed by the Appropria.
ton bill itself, which says: provided there
shall not be assessed and collected under
the provisions Of this act an amount ex-
ceeding one million dollars"
These are the things to which We object.
We fetl that it Was necessary to resume the
payment Of interest ON the State debt, and
are willing to be taxed in Whatever degree
may be necessary for that purpose. But
We continue to protest against the shame
less policy which creates Office after Office
hat hungry Radicals may be sppssssd;
which keeps in session week after week the
negroes and hybrids who make up nineteen
.wentieths Of the Legislature, for no other
purpose than that the members may live
apon tho Slate; which treats South Caro-
Iins 40 mine In which svery xuuvu may
dig, and has no other object but to make
rich ths needy politician and d;uasorupulous
New England demasogus. For ths present
our hands ars tied, bat We have the oonso.
lstion Of knowing that the State Is becom-
Ing stronger daily, despite the stealing and
lying of the Radical officials, and that As
soon ~ tho government Is returned to tho
keeping pf upright men the rates Of taxa
ton will bs lowered, and there will be no
barrier bsswesh our people and substan-
tial and enduring prosperity.