The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-02-19
BOGUS REFORM SHOWN UP.
OICTATING TO THE LEGISLATURE
FOR SELFISH PURPOSES.
Increa sing the Taxes In south Caroliru un-
der Pretcnce Of Cutting Them Down-Tho
subtle Trickery Of Gov. Chamberlain.


Increasing the Taxes In south Caroliuu un-
der Pretcnce Of Cutting Them Down-Tho
subtle Trickery Of Gov. Chamberlain.
CHARLESTON, Feb 1i.-During the de-
bate on the bill to adjust the payment Of the
notes Of the Bank Of the State, Mr.. Mettz, the
oldest and most influential; Democratic member
OF the House, said that the taxes of South Car
oIna this year are higher than ever before.
This speaks badly for Gov. Chanberlain's re-
form movement.
On its face. however, this statement appears
erroneous, because the State tax Is only ten
mills, against twelve and thirteen mills hereto
fore. hut Mr. Mettz, nevertheless. was right.
The Governor dictated TO the Legislature tho
passage Of the ten-mill tax, when they desired
q higher rate In order to make an adequate APP
propriation for the current expenses Of the
State. such ~ salaries and for the public insti-
buttons. The present appropriation Will fall
short Of what will be required, and the dencien-
cy will have to be added TO some subseq tent tex
bill. when these deficiencies are made up the
tax will be as Mr.. Mettz siys
But the Governor had motive for his STRAIT
epy. Reduce the apparent re zuar rate as much
as possible, and then when the private bills In
which he is interested should come In the adj
dtional amount required for them would
neither appear unjust nor burdensome to
Legislature Ia now struggling over bill which
proposes to levy an additional tax 10 the gen.
eral levy Of two mills for the next two years to
pay the outstanding bank bills. This additional
tax will raise the actual rate far higher than 1t
has ever been before. The State rate will be
twelve mills, and each county Will add from one
to three mills more for county purposes.
The worst feature of this duplicity upon the
part Of Chamberlain Is the selfish Interest which
he has In the additional tax. The bills Of the
Bank of the State were all funded, and the bills
ordered to be burned years ago; Joe crews, Con-
charged with the duty. They allege that they
burned $l,1OO,O0O Of them. Yet Crews had
$4,000 OF the same bills month or 50 after
ward, which he pledged to the Citizens savings
Bank for loan and now client OF Gov Cham
berlan's turns up with from SiOlOJ to SOOO,OOO
The bill before the House proposes that the
act shall go into operation. provided 100000 OF
months To take the benefit OF the provisions Of
the act-that Is, that the holders shall receive
their money. The effect Of the tax rate of two
mills on the assessed property OF the State for
two years VIII be to realize fund Of 10000.
Any one. therefore, whose attorney sits In the
Executive ofllce has fine chance to anticipate
every one else In SEEING the whole pile, and
leaving the balance out In the cold. This bill
ought to be called " An net to pay Chamberlain
Co. $4,000 for State Bank bills. which were
paid In full and burned six years ago"
The supreme Court having decteed that these
bills ere receivable In payment Of State taxes.
the holders threaten that II the Legislature does
not provide for them, they will make such ar
rangements rs VIII block the wheels Of the gov
eminent. AccCrdinsly when the Legislature
last week undertook To reform TINS little speCu-
latlon Of Chamberilin's by declining to pass his
bill, some OF the larger corporations immed ate
ly rendered Their taxes IN state Bank bills. II ~
anice little contest between tue Executive and
tho Legisi' tuIe. He says Pass this bill for a
twpmill tax" They say Governor. you made
usfeform and come down two mills; now re-
form yourseli-you have been plid once al
ready The Governor answers III you don {
pass the bill / will stop The wheels OF govern
ment by absorbing the taxes IN tender of the
bank bulls The legislature reply: Drive on,
Governorl That amt going to hurt us half a.
q Ia Ien frk ~ IN end
out how 10 chock dem wheels In de next cam
paign."
organs are bulling the State Bank bills. one
actually declares they are better than green
backs that the lucky owner Of them has per
petunl safeguard against the tax gatherer; and
that the taxpayer can tender the same tills each
recurring year. until they are taken by the or
der OF the state Government. Another says
they were selling year ago for W cents, ana now
they are worth % cents, with rising tendency.
Between the two sets OF Republican reformers
In this state-the Executive and the Legislative
who are engaged In reforming each Others IT.
regularitles, II Is probable that the taxpayers
will eventually be benefited. There IL but one
trouble to prevent the Executive making fre ID
with the legislators. aud making common cause
against the taxpayers; he wants different set
of Legislators next term, taken from among sue n
taxpayers rs will guarantee tho fraudulent con-
version bonds, and be a guarantee that they
will be paid. This the present Legislature can't
agree to.
Various amendments 10 the Constitution
have been proposed by Senator Cochran, End
provide for many improvements upon the exist
ing instrument. There Is now a law prohibiting
the payment OF the conversion bonds, and
among other things Mr.. Cochran proposes to
incorporate this prohibition IN the Constitution,
so as to place 1t out Of the power OF the Leeisla-
ture to ropea II. II tho amendments pass both
Houses by two-thirds vote, they will then be
submitted TO the people at the next general
election, and II majority Of the electors vote
tavOrably upon them, and they are again pass ed
by each House Of the next General Assembly by
a two-thirds vote. thoy will 90 into effect. In
the event, therefore. Of COchran's amendments
passing this House by two-thlrds vote, the
next campaign will be to some extent fought on
the issue set up In them whether the State viii
enectually repudiate the fraudulent issue Of the
conversion bonds.
In the last Convention OF the Republican party
for Governor. Chamberlain Was not nominated
until alter lie signed pledge, at the last mo-
ment. not to interfere with the population II
these bonds. He was known TO be the attorney
Of large holders. ana this pledge was considered
necessary by the Republicans. lie could not,
therefore, during his present term, make any
efforts toward their immediate redemption.
Chamberlain and his conservative friends can
put quletus on the conversion bonds question
forever by allowing the Cochran amendments
TO pass the House. II they do not pass, then IL
will be clearly known that at some future dav
these bonds are expected To be made good by
those parties who now control the House. No
y small modicum OF the money lately raised
among the Conservatives for the purpose Of sus-
tainng Mr.. Chamberlain In the campaign, " III
be brought 10 bear upon the rural members OF
the House, to prevent the submission Of the
question TO the people.