The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-02-26

The committee on the canScS OF increase OF
State and municipal taxation and the mode ana
measure OF relief therefor, beg leave 10 report:
The committee being composed OF lnclnUerS
from every county In the state nave lau DcIolc
them full and detailed statements lS 10 the man
ner or assessing and enforcing the heavy taxes
which our people have been called upon TO pay.
Neither time nor space would permit Inc re-
ctal OF the particular cases which have becn
brought - tlelr attention. In all the colutles
or the Sl,tc the taxpayers are subject I'd tnc
arbitrary regulation OF the county auditor ana
or the board or equalization, governed III ni:tlll
instances hy one motive only, The raising OF as
much money as possible. In the majority OF the
counties, through the action ol the county audi
tors or the board OF equalization, Under the III
nuence 1t Is supposed ol ilc coilplrolicl
land, has been assessed 1T values far
exceeding those ruling at any period III
the history OF the state. In some OF the colln-
ties, notably In the counties OF Marion. Chester,
Union and Newbcrry. the rate OF taxation grow
ing Out or this assessment IS really cOliilscLtioll
These facts and others or like character arc
worth the knowledge or every member III inc
Convention. They 20 10 prove lllal lhc great
cause OF the enormous increase In the State AMI
municipal taxation arises Iroln the absence ol
any proper representation or the taxpayers ll
the General Assembly O1 the Stalc. Tie pracll,
cal operation OF our institutions has paced al
power In the hands OF those who pay no taxes,
and they have no interest in resisting rNtrlva-
Gance and fraud. The Immediate causes oI ililS
Increase III IdH;lIlOll are ~ We louHu III lhc ii"
under which taxes are assessed ana levied, ana
the ignorance, caprice, partlalltI ana lruu'i III
which the law Is administered The TAX Law VI
the State Is cllnbrOus, obscure and intricate. In
order TO comprehend 1t ability of no common
order IS required. It's execution with justice
and lmpartiality Is Impossible III Il
administered by appoint ces Or the Executive OF
the State-nen selected most frequently solely
from considerations Ol party, with no regard To
qualifications for Office. wluoc Interest lie III the
direction OF tie increase or taxation, and who
will have no motive To protect the interests OF
the nXDlyrrS. Ihc assessments are made with
out discrimination between productive and un-
productive property, AMI IN many cases withOu!
any Knowledge Of the property assessed, very
frequently in secret, and the law seer 10 afford
no other redress for fraud, mistake or Partially
fin the assessment, except the arbitrary Will Of
the comptrOllcrGcnCral. But, apart from ana
above this, the Increase In the burden OF taXa-
ton IS owing directly and Immediately To the
extravaganza, fraud and dishonesty which pre-
walls To such an extent among The state and
county officials The waSeful expenditure or
the public money by those highest IN au-
thorily the peculatiOn5 openly practiccd,
and the frauds pcrpetratcd upon the State
treasury by many OF the county ami State ulli-
Gals the abuse Of the authority Ol til" leglSla-
turc, the jobs OF the many rings which Iang
around the body polite, make such nrOadS upon
the finances Of the state that they cannot be
met except by enormous taxation. All the
available assets of the State have been disposed
OF and wasted. The credit Cf The state has been
utterly ruined and the ability Of The taxpayers
TO pay Is now the only source whence the pub
lie plundcrerS can draw their 1ll-sOtten gains. |
Corruption has so deeply tainted nearly all the
departments OF The government that those OFF, |
erleSs In resisting 1t. Extending through nearly |
every county, supported by so many who draw |
from 1t their only resource, we readily recognize |
the chief and present cause of tho evils which