The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1895-10-01

that they are public Improvement
why not exempt all others? The Ia
mer who builds a granary or a mi
would be as much entitled to an q,
emption. II California, Colorado, Vii
gina, Alabama can induce manufactt
rles TO come into their borders with
out this exemption, why cannot Sout
Carolina do the same, she being tn
greatest cotton manufacturing State /
the South Capitalists do not inyes
In any place on account of special priv
lleges, but on.saccount of stable an,
equal system of taxation. They don
want such protective legislation. w,
condemn the United States tariff law
yet by this we propose to do exactl,
what we condemn in it. 1t is nothins
but protection. There was no princi
pie OF right in it in any particular.
Mr.. Henderson said the principle
upon which the section was based is
common sense, public spirit and econ
omy. The exemption for five years
brings in factories, which afterwards
increases the taxable property of the
towns and cities aud ultimately reduces
the taxation by increasing the taxable
value of property. Mills are moving
to the South and let encourage them
by policy that will bring capital here
and not run it away.
In answer to Mr.. w. ID. Evans he
said the mills were coming South in
order to get nearer cotton fields, and
other States are receiving them with
open arms and let not South Carolina
be laggard in the race.
Mr.. Patton said that the section pro.
posed to do exactly what some cities in
the State are already doing. Columbia
has acted on that principle and as the
result shows she is one of the chief cot
ton manufacturing cities in the State.
II Columbia wants to exempt these
factories. from taxation what difference
does it make to other people?
Mr.. Haynsworth said that in Green
vile they have an ordinance exempting
factories, and although it was known
that the ordinance was unconstitution-
al no one has asked that it be stricken
OIL, because all recognized that it was
ior>the best interests of the whole city.
Factories help the poor to get needed
work, it doing them good, they would
favor the exemption.
Mr.. Sheppard said the section only
referred to municipal taxes. The mo-
ment factory is established in a town,
every taxpayer in the county will be
directly benefited. 1t cannot injur-
iously affect the poor people in the
towns for they pay little taxes anyway,
but what they do pay will be material
ly reduced after the expiration Of five
years.
Mr.. Buist said in towns and cities
there is a dormant capital lying in
banks and with this exemption it will
come out and the people will receive
the benefit.
Col. Talbert said he was sick and
tired OF hearing speeches on the floor
in tho interest OF corporations. Cor
porations and trusts have had the right
of way in the national legislature and
it seems that this convention was go
ing to give them chance to run
rough shod over the people. Here
we have a section, which says that
those who have the money may be ex-
empt from taxation. Where Ia the
justice in that? The poor blacksmith
or the poor merchant must pay. The
principle is wrong and he entered his
protest against such legislation. Nine
tenths of the legislation now is against
labor, the foundation of our prosperity.
The laborer is the man that he would
protect. He entered protest against
giving privileges to men already rich
and whose paws were stretching out
for more.
Mr.. w. b. Wilson said in Rock Hill
there were six cotton factories and he
didlnot believe one of them came there
because of any exemption. If one
town eXempts, all other towns are
forced to do the same thing. He de-
MED that any factory has ever been
built on account OF any exemption,
because when man wanted to invest
money he was not influenced by the
little per centage in taxes he might
save during five years.
Mr.. w. ID. Evans as representa-
tive of the agricultural classes opposed
this section as being % pcrniciOus act
Of protection. We would stupify our
selves if we would countenance any
such principles as is contained in this
section. Capital seeks its own channel
and would go where it could make the
greatest percentage. This pitiful eX
emption is not going to encourage
capital. 1t is coming South anyway,
because its facilities are superior to
any other section.
Mr.. George JOhnstone spoke against
tho system as being a protective one.
This little clause, innocent as it seems,
is the entering wedge for going fur
ther and we should determine now
whether taxation shall be equal and
stable or subject to q mere whim.
A motion to indefinitely postpone
the motion to strike out the section
was then put and carried by vote OF
rs to IA.
AT the evening session the matter of
exemption came up again, when Mr..
Floyd offered resolution which he
thought would settle the matter.
Senator Tillman offered similar res
olution, which he allowed to be sup
planted by that of MIR. Floyd.
The resolution reads Provided,
that before any such exemption is al
lowed by any city or town in this
State it shall be submitted to vote of
the people Of said city or town for
their endorsement or rejection"
Mr.. w. b. Wilson beld that this
same idea had been offered by Mr.. S.
c. White and had been killed. Mr..
White stated the resolution were about
the same.
The amendment was adopted decis-
lively, and then there was trouble.
Mr.. Stribling moved strike OUT the
section.
President Evans ruled that motion
to strike out the section having been
defeated, as we'll as one to indefinitely
postpone, he would not entertain the
motion.
Mr.. Johnstone and Mr.. w. b. Will.
son were ind dignant.
President Evans insisted there had
to be some limit to such motions OF
the convention would never be able tc
get along.
Mr.. Wilson insisted that the house
could decide when it wanted to stoI
such motions.