The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-07-05
+ CHI A r J. ESaTON.
MONDAY MORNING. JULY s, 1863.
TIE News is published every day in the
year except Sunday, and will appear as
usual Tomorrow Tuesday, morning. 5a
shall the state Taxes .be Pasd /, .

The people Of the State are indignant
that the taxable value Of their property
should have been doubled and trebled with
out any sound reason; and in more than
one county there is q disposition to try the
question, whether the sworn statement Of
the property holder is not q better evidence
Of tho true vslue Of his properly than the
arbitrary decision Of Board Of 50 oallad
Equalization, having its sessions in Colum-
bia. The State constitution declares (arti
Gle /, section 36) that call property subject
to taxation shall be taxed in proportion to
its value" and the tax law Of 1868 provides
(seotion 48) that all real and personal
property shall be valued for taxstion at its
srue oaISe in money, which, in all cases not
otherwise specially provided for in this act,
shall be held to be tho usual selling price Of
similar properly at the place whore the
return is to be made" Under this aast
clause the sworn returns were made to tho
district assessors. They were then exam
ined by the State Board Of Equalization,
who added total amount Of $49, ,O46. .O68 to
to the returned value Of the real property
alone.
This addition presses upon the differ
ent counties with very unequal weight.
In Orangeburg, for instance, the revised
assessment is three times the original
assessment; in Kershaw and Marion twice,
and in Chesterfield and Edgefeld one and
half times. In some cases, lands had un-
doubtedly been given at less than their
intrinsic value, but it is very questionable
whether any returns Of consequence were
made at less than the price which the pre-
perty would then have sold for in open
market. The worth Of the thing is what it
will bring, and it was not incumbent upon
the Aolder to assess his property at one
cent more than its market price, however
low that price might be. And, besides, if
any returns were improperly made, what
justice is there in taxing whole county
for the shortcomings Of one man or ten
men? The whole action Of the State Board
Of Equalization was tyrannical and arbi-
trary Tyrannicsl, because they took
advantage Of the terms Of an incomproh hem
sible law to double and treble the amount
Of taxation; and arbitrary, because they
made their additions by rule Of thumb.
having mo means Of deciding whistler the
returns had, indeed, boon fraudulsntly
made The effect Of this equalization
must be disastrous. Men who had laid by
enough to pay taxes on 5000, the true
value OF their property, now fad thems elves
osiled upon to pay taxes ON $40, 900 il thew
live in Kershaw or Marion, and on $l5, 900
II they live in Orangeburg. This is enough
20 daunt any people, however industri-
GUS, and 1t 10 not surprising that more
than one Of the sounty papers advise their
readers to resist the payment Of taxes, or
to refuse to pay upon more than the orisi-
nal assessment Of their property.
In so serious matter the people will nts
act without deliberation and reflection. We
are In the hands Of goddess Drew who
have mo interest in the general welfare Of
the State, and who would find room for pro.
nsable jobbing In any movement which
might lead to the sale Of large tracts Of
lana under tax executions. Al square and
open resistance to the collection Of taxes or
any kind would probably bring tho Radi-
Gals to their Senses hut this csnns. b. h.a.
What is now needed is TO test the leaaIitv
OF the action Of tho State Board OF Eouai
ixation. and this can surely be done. i.
Nor should We hssitate to avail oursslvee
81 aii the tricks and tnrns Of the law In
rldding ourselves Of an unjust tex. The
tax law lssction 95) sayA that all taxes,
''shall be payable, annually, ON or before
the first day of March after their assess-
ment." IL was intended fo r,>lra ~.