The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1873-01-09

To the Honorable the Mayor and Aldermen o.
the Clty of Charleston, IN Council assembled.
The memorial OF the undersigned insurance
agents, residents of said city, respectfully
represents:
That YOUR memorIallsts have observed In the
published proceedings of the late meeting oi
Council the provisions of bill now under
consideration for the raising OF supplies fox
the ensuing year, and their attention has been
more particularly called to clause In said
DILL, proposing to levy q license tax (inde'
pendent OF the regular tex on premlums) on
the business oil insurance agents, which tax is
excessive In rate, and unequal and oppressive
In Its operation.
II should always be the aim Of government
to equalize as far as practicable tue burthers
of taxation, as that will best tend 10 pro-
mote the general prosperity, and relieve
the government Of SOME OF the difhcultles
of the administration thereof.
Your memOrialisLs would further represent
that the effort To impose an undue aud une-
oual portion of the burden OF taxation on one
Kind OF properly, or one branch OF business,
TO lhe tightening of the same on another KIND
n nTor1srty, or branch Of business, Is apt 10
deteat itseIt, Taxation Is q part OF the eX.
nense of conducting business, and must be
provided for In the price required Tor what is
sold. or the business will not be remunera-
tive. If the tax be unduly Increased The
price of the article must be Increased also.
This principle will be found to hold good IN
the tax on Insurance. II an Insurance COM
pany sells It's policies below cost, and
continues TO do 30, It's certain
bankruptcy will be merely question
of lime. Taxation Is one oil the elements IN
the cost OF policy; and II the tax be Increased
to an excessive degree the difference must be
provided Tor by an enhancement OF premium,
40 that whatever may be saved by the citlZens
who may have their taxes reduced they would
be called upon TO pay In the increase VI ther
premiums OF Insurance. The effort, therefore,
10 relieve one at the cost of another would be
Intellectual and abortive.
But In addition to the foregoing objections,
on the score Of principle To tle proposed extra
tax on insurance, your memorlalisls would
respectfully submit TO your honorable body
that serious question has arisen as 10 Inc
legality of the measure; or, In other words, as
70 Ihe authority OF Council 10 pass license
law. The Legislature OF this state, finding
thai the license law enacted during the pre-
cpdIpy wear was 80 odious and unpopular that
they have abolished the law, and having
thereby deDarred the Slate from levy
ing a license tax, 1t Is submitted that
the CITY Council must be deoarred tnerefrom
also. Your memoralisls have been informed
that the opinion ol uleu IeSaI auIuoilIy uae
been expressed, that the City Council has not
the right TO levy license TAX.
Your memorislisls, therefore, beg leave 10
submit the matter TO the consideration OF
your honorable body, not doubling that 1t will
receive from your hands that serious delibe-
ration which its importance demands.
And your memorialsts will ever pray, &c.
Signed: VIM. B. Heriot d Co., 8. Y. Tupper,
A. L.. Tobias, e. Scoring Il Oo., HuLsou Lee, Hu-
ger l. kavenel. Col0urn & Howell, G.. T..
Iowndes d Co., A. h. Hayden-Agents Fire
and Marine Insurance Companies.
Signed: VIM. McBurney, President South Car
olina Department Life Assurance Company OF
America; Thos. Frost, Agent New York Lille In
surance Company; W. D. HasLle & Son, Gene
raj Agents Knlckerbocker Llie Insurance
Company Louis sherfesee, General Agent
Security Lille Insurance Company; Win. b.
Shaw, General Agent Equitable Lie Associa-
tlon Society-AgenLs Lie Insurance Com
panies.