The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1886-12-01

much as appears from the returns Of a,l(k-
tors, that the amount Of taxes unpaid
upon personal property actually assess
cd for taT ton cannot be asccrtaincd,
and that tl.1 amount Of unpaid taxes upon
land assessed for taxation appears on
the forfeited land records, and that the
provisions Of law arc inadequate to en-
force tic payment Of taxes laid for The
| support of the government, rs is shown
| by the Increase Of acreage in the hands
| Of the Sinking Fund Commission. From
! all Of which he concludes that The exist
| ing provisions Of law for the assessment
| Of property and collection Of taxes arc
| injuriously defective in thrcc essential
! particulars: First, "All property sub
jcct TO taxation" i not assessed Sec
ond, ga uniform and equal rate Of as
scssmcnt and taxation" is not laid.
Third, The payment Of tho taxes can
| not be enforced.
lie suggests to remedy these defects
an amendment to section 2J3, General
Statutes, that the powers and RESPONSE
bilitics Of Township Boards Of Assessors
DC enlarged, that they be required TO
| take an additional oath upon the con-
clusion of their duties. "rhat accord
ing to their knowledge, information and
belief, there is no property in their
township that is omitted from their
assessment" and recommends that they
should be paid Il per diem, for The time
actually lost and should not be exempt
from jury duty, and if this law be
I passed, the law providing for IL state
Board OF Equalization should be re-
| pcalcd As to the method Of cnfOrce-
mcnt. lie approves the views expressed
| by the tax commission which "rcConl~
mcndcu 4 proceeding ia ran against the
real property taxed. and decree Of court
| and sale Hereunder by an officer OF
| carried into effect that i'm Il short ilnc
| there will be very few Saie% OF land for
| the non-paymcnt Of taxes. lie also
says, that should these changes Dr
! made that there would be no good
reason why the duties Of Auditor and
Treasurer could not he performed by
the same person. The cilamgcs that
would be made, if the above were car
ricd out, would greatly simplify the
manner and mode Of transacting this
part Of the machinery of the county
government and would save hundreds
Of dollars yearly to each Of the counties
in the State. We heartily cnhorSr his
| recommendations and trust ,nat ,nc
| General Assembly may act favorahiy
| upon them. The only thing tIiaL we
arc fully satisfied about is thc power OF
! the Township Boards to perform the
| duties Of the county and State Boards and
their own duties without ihr sIUrrryi- ion
of arcviSory board, yet, we are impressed
! favorably with the idea on account ci
the reduction OF force 10 execute il.
The courts may also be conducted so as
to save time and money by changing
| the mode Of swearing witnesses. the
suggestions as to changes in this DEPART
mcnt will be Of great valur, as is also
his suggestions as to dividing he Trial
Justices into judicial and ministerial
Trial justices. In This connection lie
recommends the passage OF an act re-
quiring the superintendent Of the i'r;.-
itcntiary TO provide for the lransr0vt%-
ton Of prisoners convicted by the courts
upon receiving notice from The County
Clerks. This we believe will lie m i'm
provcmcnt Oil the present plan OF trans.
porting them by the County ShcriT nj
the cost Of the county. The Rcvcnut
Bond Script Case is referred to and !hC
successful termination Of the sllit hrfoi {
the Supreme Court Of tn" United States
and the advantage to the State by !;urI
| decision. The attention OF the General
Assembly is dircctcd TO the valuable ser
vices rendered by The Attorney General
and his associates and that OF the Attor
ncy General without further compcnsa
tion to him than u consciousness Of dut !
done, and invites consideration Of Tic
justice Of making suitable compensation
for tho same. We do not think it Woul(
be wise for the Legislature TO supple
mcnt the fixed salaries Of the State OIL
GERS for performing duties dcvolvinT up
on them rs State officials. The Hctua
expenses Of the Attorney General ar,
paid and his salary, and we thiuk j
| would be infinitely better TO increase tho
salary than to make special appropa
ton for service, AID we do not think thai
either are advisable at this time. As tt
the public schools he shows ihc injurious
effect that the low valuation Of property
for taxation is u matter deserving scriou:
consideration. lie recommends the u&uH
appropriation for the Deaf, Dumb anC
Blind Institute, Clatlin College aud tho
Military Academy, and favors charging q