The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-10-23
Tn. Proposed Tax Levy.

The Proposed Tax Levy.
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An act ofthe General Assembly, approved
March Is, 1872, abolished the office OF State
Auditor, and deyolved the duties Of that off,
ce. upon the Comptroller. General. This act
took effect on October l6, instant, at which
time, by the Law, the. Auditor was 'to turn
s.oyer all books, papers end accounts OF his
".oface to the ComptrollerG General" N:ap.
pears, however, thai: State Auditor Gary re-
fused to vaeate his Office, whereupon his
commission was cancelled by Governor
Scott One Of the duties Of the State Audi
tor: was the levying Of taxes, and this duty
With the rest, devolves upon the present
ComptrollerlGe General. 1t is now aid 70 Dc
the purpose OF that officer to levy at once a
tax sufficient to pay the interest on the
whole public debt; which levy might be
made. long before the meeting OF the Gene
raj Assembly on the fourth Tuesday IN NO
vsmber, at which time the new Comptroller
General, who was elected last Wednesday,
will enter upon the duties OF bis office. For
the payment OF n years Interest on the
whole debt, about sixteen millions, a tax
would be required Of at least ak or seven
mills on the dollar.
The proposed tax is explained and ac-
counted for In two ways. Looking upon the
administration with q reasonable suspicion,
the Conservatives fear that the tax Is q Job,
a i''i speculative dodge In the interest OF the
bond ring. The Republican officials, on the
other hand, say that it is the duty OF the
Comptroller to levy the tax, and that It's
levying will give every citizen an immediate
opportunity OF testing in the courts the
validity Of the Blk million conversion bonds
which are believed to have been fraudulently
issued. Our reaiers can judge for them
selves as to which.of these two conflicting
views ID the correct one. Meantime TIE
News will strive. to throw as much light
as possible upon the subject.
In the first place, the Comptroller has no
authority to levy and collect a tax except
at the time prescribed by law The tax
levy Is required to be made on or before the
18th oil November, and no levy could be
made after that day without special authorl-
ty from the Legislature. This may be a
reason why the present Comptroller does
not await the meeting OF the General Assem-
bly,. All taxes are, bylaw, made payable
con or before the fifteenth Of January after
.their assessment" and the county tfeasu-
rIes must be kept open 'ior the receipt OF
..taxss from November 20 to March 20"
%> ts7y a and object E a tax bs siSsssH sEs @ a!ssa |
Of the Legislature; which might instantly
put a stop to any improperproceedings which
The administration had: taken. The people
ready and willing to pay the interest on
The legitimate debt, which is about ten mil
lions. This was affirmed and declared valid
by the Ta1payers' Convention. And, II 1t
be really the intention to carry the question
the fraudulent bonds into the courts, the
proposed tax levy is stripped OF Its gravest
objection. ms
These, after all, are nothing but surmises.
It Is not known what the plans OF the old or
new administration are. What they
Is plain enough; time will show
what they perform. 1t is, nevertheless, the
part OF wisdom to refrain from prejudging
any OF the men who are about to assume
control Of the affairssof the State. An uni.
versai cry that'they are thieves, and will re-
main thieves, is very likely TO make them
thieves. Such q course, as TIE NEWS has
learnt by experience, does more harm than
good to the solid interests of the State. 1t
s best for the people now to make up their
minds to speak of these men as they find
hem; to blame unsparingly when they are
wrong, or praise ungrndgingly when they are
right. THIS wilfaencourage them to turn
over q new leaf, and keep it turned, II they
have any idea Of doing 30.