The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1873-10-02
A Word to the General Assembly.

A Word to the General Assembly.
The Aiken Tribune (Republican) gives the
following timely suggestions to the members of
the Legislature, upon the subject of exempting
manufactures from taxation:
son the 21st of October, if we are correctly
advised, the Legislature of this State will be
convened, in extra session, for the purpose of
taking such action in regard to the late de-
cision of the Supreme Court, in the bond case,
as will be most likely to secure the adjustment
of the question of the State debt upon terms at
once favorable to the citizens of South Caroli-
M, and equitable to her creditors. The subject
is one of profound interest to every taxpayer
in the commonwealth, and upon its determina-
ton will doubtless hinge much of the prosperi-
ty Or adversity that may be in store for us for
some years to come But there are other, and
scarcely less important, measures which de-
mand earnest and intelligent action on the
part of the General Assembly, not the least of
which is the disposition to be made of the bill,
introduced at the last session, to provide tor
the exemption, for term of years, of all capi-
tai hereafter employed in manufacturing enter
prises in this State. When the proposition,
contemplated by the bill to which we refer,
was first made in the Legislature, and, from
we zealously advocated its adoption, because we
advantage to the State. Subsequent observa-
ton has confirmed us in this view, and the
anxiety which we then felt for the passage of
the bill has been largely increased by watching
the benefits which have flowed from similar
legislation in other States, and comparing them
with the losses we have suffered by the want of
such law in our own. Had the sagacious
policy which prevails in Georgia, on this sub
ject, obtained in South Carolina, there can be
no reasonable doubt that many cotton manu-
factories would have been started this year,
and much of the capital, since then diverted,
would have been permanently invested in our
midst Gentlemen, who last winter were en-
thusiastic advocates of the erection of new
factories in this County, have now become
lukewarm on the subject. Some of them, in
deed, since the recent decision of the Supreme
Court, are bitterly hostile to making any fur
ther investments in State where taxes are
likely to- be largely increased, and the Legisla-
ture of which seems utterly Indifferent to the
best interests of the people.
"This is in striking contrast with our neigh
bors in Georgia, who not only exempt all man
ufactories from taxation for term OF years,
but, in some localities, at least, pay bonus
prise of the kind. AS q consequence of this
policy, several factories are being erected at
Columbus, which will employ many thousand
spindles. At Augusta, capacious one is ap-
preaching completion, and that city is making
considerable expenditures to enlarge the canal
so as to procure water power for others; whilst
at Savannah, where no water power is avaia-
BILE, steam has been successfully substituted in
the establishments of manufactures. Yet Co.
lumbia, in our own State, which possesses more
water power than any other point in the South,
has not single factory constructed, and 1t IS
very doubtful whether one ever will be built
there unless the Legislature exempts it from
taxation temporarily. Looking nearer home,
we see that the Langly Company has done
nothing towards enlarging the capacity of their
mill, whilst the Graniteville Company, which
had commenced preparations for doubling the
scope of their operations, suspended all work
in that direction as soon az the Legislature at
its last session, decided adversely to the bill
proposing to exempt manufactorieS from taxa
ton. And now we ask the intelligent members
of the Legislature whether they can afford to
persist in so unwise course9 1t requires no
extraordinary sagacity to perceive that the
restoration Of our State credit, the reduction
Of our taxes and the increase of our prosperi-
ty, which would naturally follow either or both
Of these results, must depend chiefly on the
development of our material resources and the
attraction of capital to our aid. We believe
that if the Legislature passes the bill, new
vitality will be impaired to all our industries,
and capital enough to place them in successful
operation will be easily obtained. If it re-
fuses to do so, however, requiem for all enter
prises of manufacturing character in our State
might just as well be sung at once, and the
cornerstone of an imperishable monument to
legislative folly be lain on the banks of the
Congaree, where, in sight of the Capitol itself,
the best water power in the South will flow,
unutilized, out to the sea-"