The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1875-03-09
COLUi:]MB 9 TIA, S. G.
Tuesday Morning. March o. 1875.
zncrcaso Of Assets m ntS ana Ta1us No
Remedy for Our Evils.

1essueas ana 4ncompeteDcy In the as.
sessment OF property. According to
his statements and reasoning, the re-
suit OF this failure to discharge their
proper duties, is that property to the
amount OF $50, 100000 is not taxed at
all. Hs specifies decrease in the
value Of real property. as returned be-
tweon 1872 and 1874. as nearly $50,
600. 900. and runs a comparison in GER
tain Counties between the valuation OF
dogs and tho valuation of money.
greatly TO the advantage OF the dogs,
and forthwith concludes the result to
64preposterous. The remedy for this
supposed negligence or fraud in the
returns. in the judgment of the writer,
might be found in the employment of
an expert to examine and balance the
books of the Auditors aud Treasurers,
and thus to correct their abuses. This
IL one conclusion. Another is, that
the system OF assessments is radically
wrong; that no owner OF property
should be allowed tc value it; and that
assessors should be men Of experience
and sound knowledge. and be com.
pelled by law. personally or by deputy,
to examine every piece of property as
sessed in their respective districts.
mo State" says "Ibex," in burst of
official indignation. "oan long sustain
such looseness and Irregularities; it's
credit aud permanent prosperity will
Immediately suffer"
We have no criticism to expre "a
sponi the oonolusione announced by
this writer upon the official conduct of
'the Auditors aud Treasurers. They
arc al Republicans. appointed spe-
'oially to, serve, the2 intereata of the
party in ssceudanoy here. If they are
mot intelligent. experienced and capa-
'bie, is 40 fault of those who pay tho
Ssxss aod bear the burdens which they
impose. We suppose, however, that
they have generally been controlled in
their dutios by the requirement of the
Constitution and Jaws, which epjoin
that property shall be assessed accord
ing to its value. They have been con-
stantly instructed from the headquar-
ters OF the State officials to lay it on
heavily. Their error has been oonsi-
dered to be too ready compliance
with these mandates. Their assess.
ments became an evil of suck magni-
tude that the taxpayers were compelled
to take organized action against them.
The publio mind became highly ex-
cited and indignant, and by general
consent and greater fairness In the
estimates, reduction was at last
achieved. In the last election cam.
paigu. this was claimed as o merit by
the Republicans. although. of course,
they had reluctantly conceded the re-
duction. Nov comes "Ibex," and
would butt all this down again. He
cant conceive, how property should
have decreased 80 much in value be-
twsea ga and IA. This is difficulty
WHICH Others do not experience. It is
plain enough = how it mny have oc.
Cured. Bad government spoliation,
diversion of funds from public to pri-
vates ube. the burden Of, taxes at o
ma2imum. the'snnditiona OF all classes
ofsbusineas pitiable in,she extreme,
alifHPsion between employers and la.
boiefs. productivity harpsfs for politi-
cal 4efftot-are..not these sufficient
caases to prodaes ehrinkese of values?
AHa:ssS considering the y question, it
m1sssSot be forgotten thyt the valua-
tion whioh was Eeiuced, vas reduced in
consequence oiIits previ6Ha un justii,a.
BILE exaggeration. "Ibex" may write
till dooms-day::pht he cannot convince
any one bat an. office-holder, who lives
on the proceedS .and management of
the tag funds.s that the "credit and
permanent PROSPERITY" OF the people
OF South Carolina. i'm she condition
they are in now. can bepromoted by
increasing N1is .asss DasntsS ass their
property aa skipg q hors from, them