The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-12-07
To the LegislatuTe-Kead and Act'

To h Legislature-Kead and Act'
The Committee of Ways and Means have
agreed to recommend the levylng OF a State
tax of twelve mills, made up az follows
General expenses FIVE mills, free schools Two
mills. and deficiencies OF previous years nVe
mills i. e. seven mills for the fiscal year De-
ginning November 1, 1872, and five mills to
meet the legacy OF debt bequeathed to the
new administration by their predecessors.
The views Of TIE NEWS in regard to State
taxation lave already been expressed. In
our opinion a tax OF five mills, or S75O,0O0,
for the current expenses OF the government
Exclusive OF schools, and the interest on
the public debts an exorbitant tax, and
inconsistent with the promises of retrench-
ment contained in the Republican platform.
Again, it is an outrage upon the people that
a tax OF five mills, or $3.50, 600, should be
levied for the liquidation OF outstanding
claims, before those claims, many OF which
are believed to be fraudulent, have been ex-
amined and audited. Besides these conside-
ratious, there ia the further consideration that
it presses very heavily on the people to pay
the entire State tar in the lump. Suppose
that a State and county tax OF fifteen mills
be levied. That tax, amounting 10 ct least
So, $50, 900, will be due, as the law stands, on
on the 18th day OF January He1t, and must
be paid before that day. Now two millions
OF money cannot be Withdrawn, OF one
sweep, from the entire capital Of the State
without carrying serious embarrassment to
the planting and mercantile interests, which
embarrassment reacts upon every working
man In the State. The expenditures OF the
State Government are not required to be
made on one day, or in one month ; the es-
Inmates are for the year, and the payments
(apart from the proposed deficiency appro-
priatlon) must be distributed over the year,
unless the "grab game" is to be played once
more. It is the duty OF the legislature
to study the convenience Of the people.
Surely there is nothing e%xtravagant In the
request that whatever taxes may be found to
be indispensable, shall be so levied, and
collected, as to press as lightly as may be
upon the people who pay them! We,
therefore, submit four propositions, which
we urge the Conservative Democrats and
Conservative Republicans in the Legislature,
to adopt as their platform I:
l. That no tax-levy for the expenses OF the
current year be made, until a detailed esti-
mate OF the expenses Of the year has been
submitted, In such shape that every item
can DO scrutinized, every unnecessary or
extravaganza item be stricken out, and
the promised reduction Of salaries, &C.,
be made.
2. That the tax.levy, for current expenses,
when made, shall be made payable in
two or more instruments, as is done,
without Inconvenience, in the payment
OF the municipal lakes in Charleston.
8. That not q cent OF money shall be levied
for deficiencies until every outstanding
claim has been audited by o proper
committee, upon which committee there
should. be both members OF the Legis-
latare and private citizens.
4. That whatever tax may be found neces-
sary for the liquidation Of the just and
proper outstanding claims shall not be
made collectable at the same time as the
tax for the current expenses, but shall
be paid In instruments, covering one year
or more.
W believe that these four propositions
are 30 serong in themselves, and 30 fair to
all parties, that it will be difficult to reject
them If they be pressed upon the notice OF
the Legislature. They are ar expression OF
the fundamental principle that the just
debts and legitimate expenses (and none
others) OF the State Government shall be
paid, and that, In collecting by taxation the
money wherewith to pay them, the conven-
fence and interests OF the public shall be
weighed and regarded.
a Good Move.
The New York Herald proposes the rais-
ing OF a press fund for the benefit OF Mr..
Greeley's children, subscriptions to which
shall be TWENTY-FIVE dollars from zach OF the