The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-04-16
From the Charleston NeUs and Courier.
Organization of the Tax Unions.

rs tne taxpayers are scattered anu lSolaCeu tne
securing of an honest State Government,
through their efforts, is impossible. Without
an organization there can be no prosecution of
public plunderers, and no general election of
honest officials. These broad facts were recog-
nized by the Taxpayers Convention, and the
Executive Committee of that body was en-
powered to prepare system of organization OF
Tax Unions throug hout the State. The work
was entrusted to subcommittee, whose chair
man, Judge Aldrich, has drafted series of
rules and regulations for the Tax Unions of
Townships, Counties and the State. These
have not been passed upon by the Executive
Committee, but can safely be adopted as pro-
visional regulations, to be modified, if necessa-
ry, when the official report is made.
REGULATIONS FOR THE TAX UNIONS RECON-
MENDED TO BE ORGANIZED BY THE TAX
PAYERS CONVENTION.
Whereas, the enormous increase of taxation,
and the misapplication or embezzlement of the
taxes, when collected, will reduce both the pro-
prietors and laborers of the State to ruin;
The undersigned do agree to form a Tax
Union, for the purpose of restoring an honest
government and an economical administration
of State and County affairs.
To this end we adopt the following rules and
earnestly invoke the aid of all honest citizens,
and especially the active cooperation of the
young men:
1. This union shall be known as the tax
union.
2. All taxpayers of this township, without
regard to party or race, are invited to become
members.
8. The officers shall be president, secretary
and treasurer.
4. The union shall hold regular monthly
meetings.
5. Each member shall pay to the secretary,
who will receipt for the same, a percentage of
- per cent. on his general tax.
6. The secretary shall pay over to the treas
urer the assessment so received, and take his
receipt for the same.
7. After deducting the necessary expenses of
the township union, the treasurer shall pay
over the balance to the treasurer of the county
union, and take his receipt for the same.
8. Every township union shall appoint two
delegates to represent them in the county
union, to be assembled at the court house, on
the first Monday in January, April, July and
October.
9. Each member of the township union shall
be committee of one, to use his influence to
induce every honest taxpayer in his township
to become member of the union; to report all
violations Of law by public officers; extortion; ;
misapplication or embezzement of the public
moneys; bribery and Irregularities at elections;
with the evidence to support his charge.
TO- The president shall Immediately cause
such report to be forwarded to the president of
the county union.
IL. The president or any two members, may
call extra meetings.
COUNTY UNIONS.
/. The county unions shall be composed of
two delegates from each township union, and
shall meet at the court house on the first Mon
day in January, April, July and October.
2. There shall be elected at the first meeting
president, secretary and treasurer.
8. The treasurer shall receive from, and re-
ceipt to, the treasurers of the township unions
their respective assessments, and report the
same to the secretary, who shall enter the
amount received in his minutes, under the su-
peryision of the president
4. The president shall cause all persons re-
ported for any violation of law, extortion, mis-
application or embezzlement of public moneys
in his county to be presented to the grand jury,
with the names of the witnesses to support the
charge He may also employ counsel to assist
the solicitor in the prosecution, when in his
judgment the same may be necessary.
S. After defraying the necessary expenses of
the county union, the president shall remit the
township unions to the treasurer of the State
union, and report the amount to the president
of the same.
STATE UNION.
1. The State union shall be composed Of
three delegates from each county union, to
meet in Columbia on the fourth Tuesday i'll
November and at such other times and places
as the executive committee may appoint.
2. The officers shall be president, three
vice presidents, secretary, treasurer and execu-
tive committee.
8. The executive committee shall be COM
posed of two from each congressional district,
and the president of the State union. The
delegates from the counties comprising the
congressional district to nominate the members
of the committee from that district.
4. Each delegate to the State union shall
have his actual expenses paid in attending the
meetings of the union, to be paid by the coun-
ty union of which he is representative.
5. The executive committee shall elect its
own chairman, and shall meet at the call of the
chairman, or any two members, at such times
and places as he or they may appoint. Their
actual expenses shall be paid by the unions
they represent. -,
6. The executive committee shall have power
to cause all State officers accused of any viola
ton of law to be diligently prosecuted, and
may retain counsel for that purpose.
7. The treasurer shall deposit all moneys re-
ceiyod from the county unions in some bank to
be selected by the president, and report the
amount so deposited to the executive COM
mittee.
s. All moneys expended by order of the
State union or the executive committee shall
be paid by check drawn by the chairman of
the executive committee, and the treasurer
shall report to the State union, at each meet
ing, an exact and particular account of such
expenditures.
8. The treasurer shall receive compensa-
tion of five per cent. on all moneys thus ex-
pended.
The volcanic disturbances in North Car
olina have revived attention to traces of similar
influences in the mountain ranges of other
parts of the country. Extinct craters arc said