The Greenville enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1870-1873, 1872-12-18

For other purpose. ..........,. sol .ssS
rrinting Cialms. $40, 900
Treasursrs' Notes. or Bile ! sya-
| oe. e...:.....-........ $50, 900
ray Certincates. es.......-....!. 10000
sI.2se,sss
| / have thns embodied, in short
form the information ] Lave do
rived from. the report Of the State
Treasurer, and / commend these
most important matters to your
earliest attention, in order that the
necessary tax levy may be made
without delay to meet the current
expenses of the present fiscal y ear,
and to supply the deficiencies OF
the fiscal year ending October 81,
1879. ALLOW me to suggcet that
the rate Of taxation should be de-
termined on the basis of as low an
estimated expenditure rs will be
consistent with the proper main
tenance OF the various depart
ments of the State government,
and the payment of the just and
questionable obligations of the
State.
! With view to ensure the spec.
dy payment of the taxes with the
least Inconvenience to the tax. pay.
era, and in order 10 encourage the
prompt payment by the citizens
OF his dues to the State, I recon-
mend that provision be made by
law for the granting Of a rebate Of
five per cent. under the pending
levy on all taxes paid in, on or
before the fifteenth day of Janu.
airy, 1873, and rebate of fifteen
per cent. on the. penalty already
attached in cases of delinquents,
provided that such taxes as are
now delinquent are paid in, on or
before the tenth day OF January,
1879.
Ny general messaee-based
upon the annual reports of the
several heads of the departments
will be transmitted at as early a
period as possible for the consider
alton of your honorable bodies
All of these reports have not yet
been received, and am unwilling
to make any recommendations
that are not founded upon speci lie
data, explicitly stated.
| propose in that message to
bring under review all the various
matters to which those reports
may relate-.inclusive of the bond.
ed debt of the State-and to in.
vito yonr attention to such remedi.
al measures as the necessities of
the State appear to demand. The
duty of retrenchment and eeono-
my imposed upon the Executive
and Legislative branches of the
Government by the expressed
judgment of the people, from
whom they derive their powers, is
also enforced by the impoverished
condition of the public treasury.
In this matter, fellow citizens of
the General Assembly, you must
guide and control, and it will be
the bounden duty of others to
obey. A judicious system and
wise economy in expenditures is
not inconsistent with a liberal
maintenance Of all the State insti.
tutions and a speedy liquidation
of its legitimate obligations.
All the taxes necessary to the
accomplishment Of these ends no
doubt will be levied, but a high
rate Of taxation can only be vindi-
Gated by a clear necessity, which
must be made manifest by plain
proofs of logical reasoning.
The highest tax on the lowest
basis of expenditure will meet
with the sanction Of the people,
That basis having been arrived at
the public necessity. ia good
faith, being the stanGard-the tax
should be promptly levied and
vigorously collected.
Whatever may be your action
in the premises it must stand as
the authoritative decision of the
)aw-making branch of tho govern.
ment by which the citizens must
be guided. ......
l therefore, trust that the people
whose delegates and trustees
we are--will be dealt with in a
spirit of candid unreserve, it being
right to know from their elected
agents the exact condition of all
their public affairs.
! Having performed this duty,
let US recognize our own responsi.
bilities, and fearlessly discharge
them, without regard to adverse
criticism. This is not the time to
recriminate, but to act.
F. j. MOSES, JR.,
Governor.