Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1871-12-07

- 500 ne sa,,m3y9 nj
respectively, is more than five time
greater than that received by q mem
Der of the body in which they ar
subordinates, while the annual salar,
of each equals the highest received
9 by any officer in the State, except tn
chief justice. This is an anomal,
without precedentin any other State
and unwarranted by the present con
dition of the State treasury. ..
4 ADDITIONAL LEGISLATION REoulREl
TO REGULATE PUBLIC PRINTING
i recommend that the present sys
tenn for the public printing be chang
ed without delay, and, the great draii
upon the treasury, caused thereby
checked at once. The authority vest.
ed in the clerks of the Senate and
siouse, in regard to the printing,
should be rescinded, and a. proper
safeguard and a rigid system Of ac-
countability instituted, to oinsure the
strictest economy in this very consid-
erable branch of the public expendi-
lures. 1t should not be left tothe
discretion Of subordinate officers ot
the General Assembly however hon
est and judicious they may be in the
discharge OF such a trust The ex-
isting system has involved all expen-
diture for printing great as to have
proved real calamity to the State.
1t has certainly eventuated in a con-
tract for the public printing which
is q fragrant fraud upon the treasury,
and should be instantly annulled,
| have ascertained that the compa-
ny with which the printing contract
has been made, to-wit the Kepubli-
can Printing Company, neither owns
nor controls any journal or printing
establishment, and is even without
legal existence, but has the work ex
ecuted in this city al The regular
market rates, and thus derives ali
immense profit from the treasury o
the State, withoutany outlay on their
part.
STATE REVENUES.
Under existing laws for the assess
ment and collection Of taxes real es-
tate is made to bear an undue pro-
portion Of the burdens Of taxation.
For the purpose, therefore, Of raising
a sufficient revenue to defray the cur
rent expenses Of an economical ad-
ministration Of the State, and meet
its obligations to its creditors, while
at the same time lessening its tax on
realty, l make the Glowing recon-
mendations. These recommendations,
if judiciously carried out, will secure
the payment of taxes on classes OF
property hitherto practically exempt
from taxation, and tend to utilize f.li
legitimate sources of State revenue.
The bulk of the cotton and rice is
shipped from the State or sent to
market, in the interregnum between
the annual assessment Of taxes, and
is thus practically exempted from
taxation, contributing but small
share to the amount of revenue de
rived from the tax on personal prop:
erty. A tax on these important and
,vaiuble products, such as they may
reasonably bear without checking
production, and, according to value,
should be 4espeeially provided tos.
7 and the necessary measures enacted
to insure it's collection with GER
tainty.
THE PHOSPHATE DEPOSITS.
This vast natural source of reve-
nuc has not yet been utilized. but a
comparatively small revenue having
thus far been derived from it by tue
State. l recommend that some prop
er officer be designated by law whose
duty it shall be, by actual inspection
and measurement, to ascertain the
number of tons OF phosphate belong
ing to the the State, that are excavated
by tile several chartered companies,
aud to certify and to collect the
royalty due upon the same.
LICENSES.
I recommend that all persons en-
gagged in the sale Of liquors, and ali
merchants, factors, lawyers and ply
sicilns be requll ed to take out State
license.
INSURANCE COMPANIES.
A tax should be levied On all pre-
miums received by insurance compa-
MES.
TAX ON RAILROAD TONNAGE.
All the most important railroad
companies in this State pay no taxes
upon their property. ! earnestly re
commend that tax be levied OIL
every railroad company III the State
for every passenger and every ton Of
freight transported.
DELINQUENT Tax SALES.
To enforce the more prompt pay
ment of the taxes, and to check the
growth of the present enormous ar
rear list, recommend that the law
be so amended that real and personal
property, subject to taxation, shall
be sold at public sale, by the county
treasurers, within thirty days after
the same shall have become delin-
quent under the tax levy-the per
saonal property to be first exhausted,
if necessary, to satisfy the tax. before
sale is made of the realty-and that
bonds of the State be taken in pay
ment at par for all real estate pur.
chased at delinquent land sales. |
further recommend that the several
county .treasurers shall be author,
lied to give absolute titles to I'll real
estate and personal property so sold,
within sixty days alter the date OF
such sale; that the State shall war
rant and defend such titles, and they
shall be held and taken by all courts