The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-12-09

before. iu, first ,ay OF March, $50: the sum of
$4,000 expended on the same within twelve
months from the said FIRST day Of March, 1870;
aud that the TITLE To The canal shall revert to the
state on default hem. made IN any OF ihc
| lliions 81 imposed. Nash, colored, moved ~ sub
| sliutc twenty-five for the word trn-saying thu,
lie wanted 10 see the wO.k done on the canal, and
II WIS his intention to make a motion TO make
the purchaser give security in he sum OF Nifty
thousand dollars for the fhiihful compliance with
faltl condition. lie heard that parties In 1'hia.
dcphia, and also in Cincinnati, desired 10 rur-
chase the canal, but were prevented by those who
had control OF il, and they had not 'struck a
lick OH it,. After some remarks from Leslie and
others, in regard to the absurdlity OF the amend
| men, encred, ami the proposed motion, tic
| amendment Was voted down and the bill recon-
miitcd TO The Committee ON Public Lands.
PETITION OF CHARLESTON MERCHANTS.
Mention lus already been made IN THE NEWS
OF the petition OF Mcssrs. Geo. w. Williams & Co.
Rdwln Bates 4 Co, Crane, Boylston & Co., John
| sion, Crews Il Co., Marshall h Iurgc, North
Steele & Wardci, L. B. Sioddard 4 Co., J. +. Adj
ger Co., a. G. Goodwin Il Co., T. N. lIrlstOli 4
Co., ID. i. Fleming & Co., George W. Clark Il Co..
Henry u!sclior & Co., Bernard 0'Ncin and MN.
Gurncy, for relief from certain taxes upon mer-
chants stores, and showing that they have been
called upon 10 pay tax, first, on their sales, and,
secondly, OH their merchandise, from which said
| racs were made, dating from the frs; dny o: Sep
! icmbcr, 1867, TO the iirst day OF January, 1852
which, in fact, is double tax OH their business
differing only in tl:c mode Of assessment cmauat
ing from TWO authorities exercising the power or
| taxation nj the same time, the State, however,
| receiving the bcac:lis of both.
This petition was referred by the Senate TO the
Auditor or the state, who has made y long report
which. as it is Of interest 10 all merchants is ap
| pended:
REPORT OF srATE AUDITOR RELATIVE To PETITION
OF GEORGE W. WILLIAMS .SD OTHERS NRR-
CHANTS or CHARLESTON.
EXECuTivE DErAETYENT,)
OFFICE or AUDITOR or STATE,
COLUMBIA, =. e., December Il, lSGg.
To he Honor06ic He President or the Senate or
S0uh CGTOtinG.
SlR-In response to the resolution Of the Senate.
| referring 20 the State Auditor the petition OF
George VI. Williams and others, merchants OF
| Charleston and requesting Information as TO the
ties are entitled to in the premises, | have the
honor to state that. in my annual report, which
has been transmitted 10 the Senate, referred to
petitions Of Il similar character to this one under
consideration, which have been received at this
a,ss nx no.r and Tateh ~ Tint t. ala id not feel @ had
! fUre, referred the whole subject TO the General
assembly for us consideration. infer from the
Senate resolution, however, that the information
| contasned IN my rcpct. is not so fu as Is de-
General Orders No. 13o, from Headquarters Sc
con,l Military District, issued December 3. 1867.
/ read rs follows: "To provide for the support Of
the Provisional Government OF South Carolina,
for the year commencing on the first day OF 0c-
.oDer, 1867, and ending on the thir,ieth day of
10 raise supplies for the year eo,nmcncing y in oc
TONER, one tlonsand eight hundred and siNty-sS,'
| lnodided, he continued in force until superseded
ny leIisIatton, or until otherwise ordered by pro-
| Prom the sale Of goods, wares or merchandise
embracing all the articles Of trade sale barter or
| exchange, cotton taxed by the United States cX.
| .hpI
4 nrst day OF January and the thirty-lrst day OF
December, 1865, to be paid quarterly At the end OF
each quarter To- The several lax collectors, twenty
! cents on every hundred dollars.n
sec Secto. , OF me .Act TO provide fer the assess
Sn, SSn, ana a taXation ny OF proper" passed the a
| stance, that each merchant shall return for tax
@ ntion tlG value or goods, merchandise, monies
and credits nertaining TO his business .ls q mcr-
the first day OF September, lses."
The petitioners claim that the tax paid under
the act or september 1885, aud that paid under
General Orders l30, are upon the same articles
| and that therefore they have been double taxed.
| In making ts claim they overlook, in my judg-
ment, very evident distinction; tile tax paid
their sales; while that paid under the act OF 1859
ductlng the sale.
been, ln legal sense OF the term, 'douole taIed''
Tie military government OF the Stale found It
| and because it was thought those interests were
hest able to bear IT, as well as for the convenience
upon mercitants' sales, railroad companies and
! express and telegrnphc companies. III my
opinion there can be no doubt as to the right OF
tnc government 10 collect that tax which was laid
Tor the fiscal year 1867, TINT the present rsY-
ernment had the right to levy and collect q tax
That the tax to WEich the merchants have been
! subjected may have bcen incquItnbly laid upon
them, as compared with other classes OF citizens
question Is, whether, admitting that the mer-
chants c,a have been inequitably dealt With the
State Is in condition which will Justify the
funding the amount claimed to have been i'm
amount Of the next tax to be collected. These
are questions which. II seems to mo, the General
| Assembly alone can decide. As was stated I'm
my report. statement OF the amount of quarter
| ~ ta1 paid by merchants during :hc year 1868
WIN be sent into the General Assembly as soon as
Il can be prepared and thus furnish the inforna-
tion needed to q correct conclusion on the CUB
| jcct: havo the honor TO be,
Very respectfully, ycur obedent servant,
REUBEN TOMILNsoS,
State Auditor.
The IIouse referred the petition to the Commit
| tee on Ways and Means, which to-day reported
unfavorably, and the report was adopted. The
! Auditors report upon the petition has not yet
| been considered by the Senate.
TIB STATE coSsTABLIs.
The judiciary Committee, to whom Was re-
| ferred bill to protect from arrest the officers OF
| the State Police for any alleged offence commit
ted by them In the discharge Of their dutIes have
| rccopmended that 1t do not pass; while they be-
lievc that although the ofcers OF sad force have
been subjested TO no little Inconvenience from mr.
| rest on alleged offences, that II would be unwse
! to attempt to throw around them my shield, moi
common TO oil citizens, intended to secure them
against the responsibility OF their acts. All on-
cers, high and low, must act within the bounds
OF law, and Whenever they offend against the
law they should be brought to Justice in the
same manner IA the lowest and humbcst citizen.
Whoever accepts an ONCE, be 1t executive, nd
Ininiarative or judicial must be made to feel that
II 1t has its advantages, 1t also has its RESPONSE
billti,s. He must also be made TO feel that In ag
sumng public trust, he has become mark and
proper subject Of criticism, and only on his hon
| esty, good faith and pure cndeayor must he rely
| for the approval Of the country, whose servant
he ISL
GRAND JURY PREsENTYpNrs