Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1878-01-24

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are the result of the contraction Of currency,
and that the land is filled with fraud, embezzle-
ment, bankruptcy, crime, suffering and star
vation ; that Congress should at once abolish
national banks and pass Bland's Silver bill
without amendment, ard also Ewing's Re-
sumption Repeal hill. Dire disaster is pre-
dicted in the resolutions ifthese things are not
accomplished.
As an Offset to the proceedings Of this meet
ing, at the Maritime Exchange, day or
two afterward, the following memorial to
Congress was signed by many merchants and
bankers, representatives of leading marine
underwriters and steamship companies ave
the undersigned members of The Marine AS
| socation of the port of New York, feel it to
be our duty to demonstrate against any leg
islation that shall make silver an unlimited
legal tender, as in our opinion such legisla-
ton would unsettle values, disturb confidence,
retard resumption in gold, and impair nation.
al credit"
A Washington dispatch of Saturday says
the committee on banking and currency
have directed their chairman, Gen. Ewing, to
! report resolution asking power to send for
persons and papers and otherwise investigate
the amount of coin in the country available
for resumption.
The State Tax for 1s77.7S.
- The Columbia correspondent of the
Ne,os and Courier, alluding to the State tax
levy for the present fiscal year, says:
The ways and means committee have final
ly determined upon their financial policy for
the current year, and rough copy Of the
appropriation bill has already been drawn up.
From undisputed authority have obtained
the gratifying intelligence that this committee,
after due consideration of the matter, iff all
its bearings, feel confident that they can meet
the valid unfunded claims against the State,
together with the current expenses of the gov
ernment for the present fiscal year, inclusive
of the interest on the public debt, with the
proceeds of u tax of not more than FIVE mills.
This estimate does not include the two mill
tax for school purposes, to be raised by the
counties. The entire tax, therefore, for State
and educational purposes, will not exceed
seven mills, to which Of course must he added
the levy made for county purposes, which
will vary according to the needs Of the re-
spective counties. This estimate is based up
on conclusions arrived at by the committee
after long aud thorough examination Of the
question. By the term unfunded claims is
meant every claim against the State outside
| csL J<ht thn of ho Run
of the State and contingent liabilities. A
large proportion of the unfunded claims, has
already been proved to be fraudulent, and will
in consequence be disallowed.
The correspondent then continues to say
that the committee have brought to light the
fact that the Republican administration COL
lected their taxes on q false valuation of the
entire taxable property of the State, the fol-
lowing being the process alleged to have been
adopted:
A few years ago, it will be remembered,
the assessed valuation of the taxable proper.
ty of the State was $3.50, 100000. This val.
uation was reduced by the Republicans to
Sl33, 100000, a performance which the peo-
ple of the State were at the time, inclined to
believe was very much in their favor. 1t is
now shown, beyond shadow of doubt, that
this reduction was in name only, and that
there was an understanding between the State
comptroller, the State treasurer, and the
county auditors and treasurers, by which two
sets Of books were kept. On one set of books
appeared the apparent and lower valuation
of the taxable property Of the State, and on
the other the real valuation, amounting TO
$3.50, 100000; the return to the State being
made on valuation of $l33, 100000. Thus
it was that the State and county officials COL
lected large sums which never went into the
State treasury, and, at the same time, larg'
er tax was necessarily levied on the lesser
valustion.
In view of this state of affairs, whether
real or imaginary the committee will prepare
bill for the action of the present General
Assembly, providing for reassessment Of
real estate at the same time that the assess
ment on personal property is made. Through
this means, it is claimed, a very large saving
to the taxpayers is promised.
The tax will be collected this year, says
the correspondent, as last, in two instalments,
with the probable difference that the taxpay'
er will be allowed rebate for full pa, ment
but will not be charged with penalty if be
sees fit to postpone payment until the second
instalment becomes due.
Correspondence of the YOrkville Enquirer.
LETTER FROM CHESTER.
CHESTER, January 81, 1878.
Some of the property that was sold BY the
Sheriff on last sale day, will be re-sold by
him on the 1st Monday in February. This
includes the residence of Joshua Walker, with
the lot attached thereto, containing nine acres
and the "Mobley tract" adjoining, containing
about $50 acres. This property was bid of
by Mr. Walker, but he has not complied with
the conditions hence its resale. A valuable
plantation on Broad river, containing 700
acres, and belonging to William McCollum,
will be sold on next sale day. The sale is
mode m satisfy iudpment obtained bY r.