The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-11-14
Ta1es?.--Good Suggestions..-Lct GU
Legislators Read and Digest.

Editors Press and BHnner:
There Is n matter of very great Importance
to your numerous readers. and in fact, to the
people of South Carolina generally, concern
Ing which / propose making Il suggestion,
through the columns OF your paper, for the
consideration OF the Legislature at it's up
preaching session.
1t is certainly obvious to every one who Is
ut all informed rs to the pccuniary condition
of a large majority Of our tax payers, that 1t
is out of the question for them to pny another
tax levy next spring or at any time before the
next crop Is made.
This being true, would 1t not he worse than
folly for the Legislature to levy such a tax
and have the effort made TO collect it, Now
what Is to he done? The machinery Of gov
eminent both State and County must not stop
and 1t takes money TO run them. My SugGes.
ton is this:
Let the Legislature levy q tax for State pur-
poses. based upon the assessments which
nave just been made. OF ten mills: Provide
for the collection OF this tax, promptly, be-
tween the lst Of October and 18th of Sovcm-
Der next. Divide the proceeds OF this levy
commencing lst of November 1877 and end
ing 3lSl OF october 1878 and the other conf
mencing LIST Of November lS7Sand ending 3lst
of October 1879. Authorize the Governor to
borrow sufficient money to defray the eXpen-
scs OF the Government for six months Of the
fiscal year upon which we have just entered,
to be paid from the first collections In October
aud require all officers Of the governmental
wait until the collectionsare made inOctOber
and November for the latter half OF their sal
aries. Let the same provision be made In ref:
cnce to the public schools. az mostof the pub
lie teachers con manage to get along II they
are paid one-half Of their salaries in cash and
have the assurance that they will receive the
other half In the fall. AS to the County gov
ernments-I would authorize the County Com
missioners to levy q tax OF fUe mills to be
equally divided between the two fiscal years
as above mentioned and to be collected at tho
eaIne time as provided for the collection OF
the State levy.
would also authorize them to borrow n
limited amount Of moncy-say twenty-five
hundred dOllars-to be paid from the first col
~lections in October. This mount would fur
nish the means with which to pay Jurors and
witnesses, transportation Of prisoners and lu-
might absolutely require the cash or other
wise result In q grsat hardship or ~inconven-
fence. All other claims against the County
to be audited and checks or the County
Treasurer given by the County Commission
ers at their annual meeting in November.
Thus you see 1 have provided for the Stateand
county governments for two years with q levy
of fifteen n,its, which Is less than three-lourth
Of the levy made aid collected by the Radical
party for, the fiscal year preceding that which
has Just c~losed-and / have provided for the
collection of the same ut q time that Is most
convenient for every one. Another great ad-
vantage in this arrangement is that IT. will get
the tax machinery int proper working order
again and bring on the collection Of taxes at
the time contemplated by the original tax
act, viz. In the fall of the year. which Is I'M
doubtedly the proper time to collect taxes In
our State.
lam fully convinced that the levies which
nave suggested, both as to State and County
are ample forall legitimate purposes, .provid,
ed the phosphate royalties are honestly paid
In and applied, the sessions OF the Legislature
reduced 10 their proper dimensions, the labor
Of the penitentiary conyicts properly utilized;
as punishment for all petty offences, instead
ut q heavy expense to the taxpayers Of the
various counties ~ provided for. l am
equally convinced that some arrangement
looking to the ~postpOnement Of the next
taxes until anotL err crop Is made will have to
be made, as to collect another tax right upon
the heels Of the one now being made iHout OF
the question. Respectfully.
4. f. HILL,