The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1886-09-03
For the TIMES.
False Assertions.

Mr.. EDIToR.-A charge has been frequently
made within the past year, and therefore prob
ably not unheard in Union County, that the
democratic administration of our State govern
ment has effected no reduction in our taxes.
We're the charge true, IL could not thence be
argued that the change of parties had not been
for the public welfare for government and it's
| administration involves fur more than the col
lection Of revenue. An enumeration of the
beneficial results of the revolution Of 1876
| would occupy too much space in your columns,
would furnish subject matter for o half-dozen
stump speeches.
But is the charge true? For, besides the
large sums realized by our radical predecessors
| from the sale and hypothccation of State
| securities, taxes were necessarily high in
the years 1868 to 1876, TO meet the appropri-
ations of public money f,r Legislative expenses,
printing bills and other items Of legaized rob.
| berry; failure, therefore, t, bring expendi-
| tures and the taxes collected to meet those e1-
penditures, within proper limits, would have
been grossly culpable in our State Legislature.
And if the past five Legislatures have been so
oulpable, whittier may we turn for relief? For
no one can name better men than those that
Union and other Counties have elected to those
Legislatures.
But the charge is not true and the tax acts
show it, In making this examination, the
| railroad subscription taxes will be omitted, as
they are not chargcable to the administration
Of either State or Ccupty government. We
will take the last three years of radical admin
a. Nd ho loo Of
compare them one with the other.
SInAs78-t, the levy for State purposes was
10 n> =, sSr schools ?, 7sF County s-tSts i5 II.
Is Stat. SIS.
In 1915, tho State levy was 1853 mills,
school 2.75, county 3-total 1888. 10 Stat. G57.
In 1855, State levy mills, school 2, county
5-tOtal 15. 15 Stat. s67. 999 16 Stat. 0.
Average for the three years State levy s.54
mills. school 2.26, county 8.6G-total 14.46.
Now look nt the figures for the last three
years Of democratic administration:
In 1884, the levy for State purposes was
mills, for schools 2, for county 4-total IL.
18 Stat. 5O2.
In 1884-5, the State levy was $50 mills,
school 2, county 3-total 1850. IS Stat. 933.
In 1856, State levy 5.25 mills, school 2,
county 3.75-total IL. 10 Stat. 258.
Average for the three years State levy 5.25
mills, school 2, county, 3.5S-total 1898.
Lest it may be iguoranty said that while the
rate of taxation was higher then, property is
now assessed at greater figures, we will next
turn to the Comptroller Generals reports for
the above mentioned years. For the year end
ing October 81 1876 no report was made, so
We will assume the valuation for that year to
be the same as that for the next preceding
year. The present valuation was not male in
1885, but in 1886, and is not yet in print, but
is fixed aud may be found in the Auditors
Duplicate. We omit from this table the valua-
ton Of the railroad, increase in value causes
o decrease in freight charges and rice rersa,
and indeed but slightly affects the result.
The figures then are In 1873-4 81 ,0G7, ,420 {;
in l874-5, $3,253, ,905; IN 1856, S3.253, ,095
Average, So, ,525, 1876. Apply rate of tax levies
to valuation, and VIC have tho tax levies in
Union County, as follows: In 1894, SOL oil !;
in 1915, $40, ,238 in 1876. $40, 300. Aver
age. S5O,Ol0.
For the democratic years VIC have In 1885,
4, S3, $780, $40; in lsS4-5. S3,l3O,90O; in 1885
@, $2,850,0l0. Average 5000, 2G0. Apply
rates TO valuation, and the tax levies in this
| county for these years are: In 1884, S35,-
$685. in 1886, S32,874; in 1856, S31, $50.
Average, $3S, ,287.
Compare these averages and we find 1446 ::
1888 l 75-that is, q reduction Of 20 per
cent. in the rate Of taxation and 90. .019: 49,,
287 {: ! .66-a reduction Of "a per cent. in
the tax levics. He who asserts the contrary
ass erts what is untrue, and what he would
learn to be untrue, if he consulted the records.
Manifold indee have been the blessings Of our
State government rs administered by the demo.
cratic party for the p,st ten years. For, il we
confne our attention to taxes levied for State
purposes only we will see that the rate has
fallen from 1854 mills 10 5.25 mills, q reduction
Of 80 per cent, and the amount paid by Union
County to the State Treasury has fallen from
$50, ,104 to Sic, ,ll8, reduction Of Al per cent
Our taxes now are higher, II Is true, than
they were before tho war, but necessarily 80.
We have now no negro property 10 bear its
large share Of this burden no bank to empty
its profits into the State Treasury. The govern.
ment of the entire population now Is by State
laws and their enforcement; before the war,
two-thirds Of this population were governed on
their own plantations, at the expense Of the in
proprietor. Our State debt was not
then 80 great, and Union County was not called
upon to pay interest on railroad bonds In