The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1891-03-05
80 SECURE JUST VALUATIoNs.-
An Important Circulor from the Comp
troller General.

SOlu pI1OllSI OeuSTdl GllGIUS HAS IS
sued circular to County Auditors call.
ing their attention to their duties under
the law in order to "secure just valu-
alton for taxation of all the property,
real personal and possessory in the
State"
The Comptroller General says that it
is not believed that a uniform and
equal assessment of all Of the property
in the State exists and urges Auditors
to carefully examine the laws govern
ing them in this respect, and adds that
where they arein doubt they must con-
suit his Office and the proper construc-
tion of the law will be obtained from
the Attorney General.
He says further that Auditors are
largely responsible for inequalities of
assessments, as they create the town.
ship board of assessors, who, in turn,
create the County Boards and State
Boards. Legislatures and not Auditors
are responsible for any inequalities in
the operations Of the law, and all that
Auditors have to do is to administer
the law as they find it.
The Comptroller General directs the
especial attention of Auditors to the
taxation Of unincorporated banks and
bankers, and says that under this head
are included all money lenders, note
shavers, brokers, &C., and even the
farmer who keeps place of business
and carries on any of the avocations
classified in Section 206 of the General
Statutes would come under it's require
ments in making returns for ia alton.
Manufacturers of various kinds are
to be taxed on all real estate and ma
chinery Of every description. The
shares are not taxable, but the increased
valuation Of the taxable property of
these corporations should keep pace
with the advance in the market value
of shares.
The circular says further that there
are intin.ations that certain organiza-
tions are doing business in the State
for profit who have failed to return any
property for taxation, and directs Au-
ditors in such cases to follow out strict
ly the requirements of Section 215 of
the General Statutes on this head, and
adds also that if any real estate is found
to have escaped taxation for one or
more years it should be treated as aban-
doned lands and reported to the Sink
ing Fund Commission. ..
The circular concludes as follows:
"There is no law for valuing a hun
dred dollar mule at forty or sixty dol
lars. The idea which seems to prevail
in parts of the State that all property
for taxation should not be assessed at
above 665 per cent. of its real value is
erroneous, and in direct conflict with
the law. All property shall be valued
for taxation at its true value in money!
(See Section 2l9). "A piece of property
is worth what it will bring on the mar
ket'; and if a mule is worth one hun
dred dollars it should be assessed at
one hundred dollars-no more, no less.
Every piece of taxable property from
the sore-back mule on the farm to the
gilt shares of the wealthiest bank in
the State must be valued at their true
value in money for taxation. A large
percentage of the poll tax il many
counties is not paid. Auditors can
remedy this largely through the help
of township Boards of Assessors, and
we must insist upon the collection Of
all poll tax.
"Pledging his hearty cooperation,
the Comptroller General, relying upon
the fidelity to duty and /. jealous dis
charge of that duty under the law by
the Auditors of the State, and the CO.
operation of public officials and all
good citizens, believes that many of
the existing inequalities in taxation
can be overcome and remedied."