Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-06-10

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solidation is complete. The tax levied by
section must be relieved from the clause as
to the application of the surplus. :,
The seventh section levies tax of one'half
mill (s6O,0OO to pay claims passed at the last
session. These claims are very hshy, and IL
is believed that they were not passed IN &C.
cordance with the requirements of the Con-
stitution. The very word "claims" has be-
come synonymous with fraud, and the public
have q right to demand that not single
claim shall be paid until it has been separate.
" examined and passed in a constitutional
manner.
The eighth section levies tax OF three
quarters Of a mill for the eternal and intoler'
able deficiencies for public printing for
1874. This will raise 100000, out OF
which $4,000 will 60 to pay for the lmml-
grafton report which has never seen the light.
Printed or imprinted, it is worthless. Ibis
section should be stricken out. -,
The ninth section levies tax OF one mill
for balances of unpaid appropriations Of the
fiscal year ending October 81, 1874. and tor
certain claims passed by joint resolution in
the session of 1854. 1t is likely enough
that these are honest claims, but they call tor
no special consideration. They should wait
and take their chances with the rest, under
the programme of Instant and thorough In
vestigation and gradual liquidation.
The tenth section levies tax of two-6fths
of mill to pay the past due Indebtedness Of
the Lunatic Asylum, the State Penltentlary,
and the Deaf, Dumb and Blind Asylum.
This tax will produce $4,000 1t is asserted
that the State is not indebted to these institu-
tions, and law on the Statute books makes
it felony for any State or County officer to
contract for or expend more than is approprl-
ated for their use as public officers, or to use
the money of one year to pay the expenses of
another Not cent should be paid until it
is shown that the debt was lawfully contracted
and for proper purposes, and that the State IS
liable.
The eleventh section levies a tax of one
fifth of mill to meet the appropriation for
the payment of interest on bonds of the State
purchased for the Agricultural College We
are under the impression that the State, by
its agreement with the United States, is bound
to provide for the interest on the bonds, which
interest, however, ought not to 60 to secta-
rian anomaly, like the "ClaAin University"
The twelfth section levies tax of two-titths
of mill, $4S,O0O, for the State Normal
School and Orphan Asylum. These concerns
do not need the money. We understand that
an earlier appropriation of $4,000 for the
Normal School has never been called for, and
the Orphan Asylum is in the same condition.
For purchasing new building an appropria-
tion of $4,000 was made. The trustees have
bought the Elmore place, near Columbia, for
$1,000. The appropriation for the fiscal year
is $4,000, and $4,000 will be abundant
The trustees have surplus of $1,000, inc!u'
ding the $4,000 to be received from the Joint
Stock Company. Not dollar Of the pro-
posed $4S,00O is needed, that we can see.
The thirteenth section levies county tax
of three mills, besides additional taxes for
past indebtedness, &c. : Pickens, two mills;
Aiken, one and.a.half mills; Beaufort, one
mill; Kershaw, three mills; Newberry, one
mill Sumter, two mills; Barnwell, one'half
mill. These are in addition to special taxes
ordered in previous years. For instance, two
years. ago the Legislature authorized the
County Commissioners of Beaufort to collect
tax of two mills annually until her debt was
extinguished. Should this Tax Bill become
law, Beaufort will, therefore, pay county
tax ofsix mills. Kershaw is in the same con-
dition. The county debts and county expen-
ses are enormous, and the debts should not
be paid until they have been scrutinized by
others than the men who made the debt
and own it. A rigid investigation is in
progress in Charleston, and as much can be
done elsewhere When the legitimate debt
is ascertained, it will be time enoug b to pro-
vide for its payment. The county machinery
is too costly and cumbrous, and should be
cheapened and simpli6ed.
The fourteenth section levies tax of one
mill for the deficiencies of the year ending
October 81, 1875, which will be about $780,
900. This is the smallest deficiency ever re-
ported in this State since 1868. That Is
praise enough.
The plan of making separate deposits in
bank of the different funds, as proposed in the
Bill, could not easily be carried out, but there
is an excellent provision that the Treasurer
shall not pay any money or any approprla-
ton which has not balance to its credit.
The manner of fcollecting the tax as prescribed
in section sixteen, and section seventeen states
the kinds of funds in which taxes shall be
paid. 1t may as we'll be borne in mind that
the receipt of bills of the Bank of the State
for taxes cannot be evaded, let the Legisla-
ture do what it will.
AS we have shown, the Tax Bill is objec-
tionable, because of the amount Of the tax;
because, in some cases, more money is provl-
ded for than is necessary, while, in other
cases, the levy is insufficient because provis.
ion is made for the payment of doubtful and
fraudulent claims, and because it proposes to
interfere with and stop the accumulation OF
an interest fund required for carrying out IN
good faith the provisions of the Funding Act
Gov. Chamberlain has determined to veto the
bill, and we trust that it will be 80 thorough
" discussed that, when the General Assembly
meets in the winter, the members will be
ready to carry into effect the wishes of their
constituents, and give the people Tax Bill
which shall bring the tax levy for State pur.
poses to ten mills, or less, and include no pro-
vision for any claim or debt of doubtful valid
ity or propriety. To accomplish this the peo-
pie must Agitate Agitate! Agitate! Then
will the members know what to expect it they
fail to do their duty.
HAVE You ENEMIES Go straight on and
don't mind them. If they get in your way,
walk around them, regardless of their spite.
A man who has no enemies is seldom good
for anything; he is made of that kind of ma
terial that is so easily worked that every one
has hand in it. A sterling character is one
who thinks for himself, and speaks what he
thinks; he is always sure to make enemies