The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-07-02
HoYT g. CO., Proprietors. AND]
The Tax Unions.

The most important duty entrusted to the
Executive Committee of the Taxpayers Con-
vention was the preparation of constitution
for the Tax Unions, the bodies which, in the
opinion of the Convention, would give to the
taxpayers the unity and strength needed for put
ting an end to the organized robbery by the
present government of the State. There were
many difficulties in the way of forming a con-
stitution which should be both sufficiently broad
and sufficiently restrictive and which should
provide for raising in an equitable manner the
means for carrying on the work of the Tax
Unions; but it is believed that the form of
constitution officially promulgated to-day is
open to no practical objection that it simple
and comprehensive, and that under it the
Unions may be quickly and thoroughly cfgan-
lied in every county of the State. The Execu-
tive Committee debated the matter tor the
greater part of two days, and the result OF their
labors is now before the public.
1t will be noticed that the objects OF the Tax
Unions are declared to be "the reduction of
taxation and the honest appropriation and ex-
penditure of the public funds" There is moth
ing, therefore, of political character, IN
party sense, in the scheme of the Tax Unions.
They are not tied to any political party, but
can and will act with the party which is most
SSNAANNAA
ical administration Of the public affairs. The
Unions can, also, take such other measures as
may promise to be most effective in preventing
the continuance of fraud in public offices and
in the application of the public funds. No re-
striction is placed upon the Tax Unions. Each
Union is at liberty to do its appointed work in
its own way. Every taxpayer is eligible to
membership, and there are provisions for the
scrutiny of all applications in order that the
spies and emissaries of the Thieves Ring may
not obtain admission into the Unions. Among
other things it is required that the Subordinate
Unions shall keep roster of the members, and
shall prepare roll or record of the names of
the taxpayers in the township, ward or other
district in which they work. From the reports
of the Subordinate Unions The general returns
for the County and State will be made up. Such
returns will be of great value, especially as the
rascally political Rings refuse to order regis
tration of voters, which would place some check
upon repeating and fraudulent voting.
The County Unions consist of delegates from
the Subordinate Unions, each of which has
number Of delegates in proportion to its own
membership. This will make the County
Unions thoroughly representative bodies, and
will enable them to direct the action of the
counties intelligently and wisely. The State
Union will consist of delegates from the County
Unions, and will hold only one stated meeting
in the year. The first meeting will be held as
soon as the several counties shall have organized
meeting will be given by the Executive Com
mittee of the Taxpayers Convention through
its chairman.
Nothing can be done without money. Every
member Of a Tax Union is, therefore, required
to pay an initiation fee of fifty cents, and is
liable to an assessment not exceeding, in the
two per cent. on the amount of his
last general State and County tax. This fixes
and limits the liability of the members. A
member who pays this year State and County
taxes to the amount of one hundred dollars,
may be called on to pay an assessment OF two
dollars in the the course of the year. In this
way every member contributes to the common
fund in proportion to his means, asshown by the
amount of his taxes A morejust and equita-
BILE scheme the committee could not devise, and
it would have been manifestly improper to
make fixed and equal charge upon each mem
Der, in which case the wealthy taxpayer would
have paid the same sum as the humber citizen
whose whole fortune is the tract of land which
he cultivates himself or the modest house in
which he lives.
The delegations from the several counties in
the Taxpayers Convention OF 1874 are request
ed to organize the Tax Unions without delay,
and, of course, where Unions have already been
formed their plan of working can be made con-
formable to the constitution now promulgated.
There is no time to lose, and we hope soon to
hear the busy note of preparation in every part
of the State The Tax Unions will be perma-
nent bodies They will remain in existence as
long as there are taxes to be collected and pub
lie funds to be spent. Month by month and
year by year they should grow in numbers and
in strength, until they bear on their rolls the
name of every honest and discreet taxpayer
When properly organized and handled, they
will prove resistless, and before the ldes of No
can be made to feel the power Of plundered
people now, for the first time, organizing them
selves compactly and thoroughly against their
oppressors.- -Garleston News d Courier.