The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1873-11-27
Reckless Taxation,


strikes us As enormous, in the circumstances Of
the State at this time. The minority report
of the committee, in making levies for specific
purposes, and Keeping each separate and apart,
to be applied only 10 its legitimate and pre-
scribed objects, is better. Otherwise, it is
equally Objectionable. These bills call for
about s., 100000, sum large enough to carry
OH the affairs of five such States as this. we
do not preceivc anywhere the slightest regard
for the distressed condition Of the people. or
the Eantest tendency towards economy in the
management of our political affairs. Leaving
aside. for the present, the question of the cX-
orbtant amount about to be levied, there are
some contradictions and discrepancies i'll the
proposed bill which are worthy of notice.
This bill has section which levies three mills
for County purposes. Besides this, there are
Joint resolutions to raise a special tax OF three
or four mills in nearly all the Counties OF the
State. Take it at an average of three mills,
and the two will swell the amount to be appro-
priatcd in the Counties to most extravagant
sum What is it for? Experience has demon
strated that the larger the amount intended Tor
improvements. &c, in the Counties, the fewer
and smaller they are. :,
Again. The bill requires that the taxes shall
be paid in gold and silver coin, United States
currency, national bank notes and bills recely-
50 frightened the legislative soul when the
decision of the court which made them good
for all dues to the State was announced, seem
to have lost their tcrrors. Perhaps it Is now
supposed that the decision only affects the case
of the REALTORS which came before the Supreme
Court.
Again the extra printing bill which appro-
PIRATES $225 900 to the Republican Printing
COMPANY and which has passed one body. and
been iavorably reported on and received lts
first reading in the other, has clause which
provides that certificates of Indebtedness, re-
ccivabc for taxes, shall be issued in payment
of the claim. Therc is a conflict of Legislation
in this matter Bills Of the Bank of tile State
and certificates Of indebtedness are good for
taxes, but no provision is made IN the supply
bill to absorb them. Besides, We lind nowhere
in the bill any provision which looks to meet
ing the interest m the public dcnl, although
there is one or two mills Tor TINS purpose IN
the bill to reduce the volume OF the pubic
debt. And to crown the absurdlty OF the
measure it leaves out in the cold the floating
debt, making no mention of it whatever.
The bill is evidently crude and unsatisiacto-
rv 1t is put forth before any proper estimate
Of the cypenScS of the State Government has
been made, and before the amount OF taxable
he brOhr thhwartcd in the way We have shown. and to
,o no Lrourbt into conflict with other measures
whirh have been ulout,d, 1t docs not follow
an~ honest cflnr, to reduce expenses. 1t goes
unon tbe sunpo>i;ion that the p"".. half.iam-
;.I,nd C,oto II Snnth Carolina should have Il
magnificent establishment, q costly and luAu-
riotls government 1t utterly ignores the
straitcncd circumstances. the actual dc>ttutlon
of the people. Such legislation Is this in such