The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1896-01-22

The system is on outgrowth of y
years OF Legislative experimentation
and litigation of tax titles and its wis
don. exemplified by the work being
done by the sinking fund commission
ers Hereunder. In this connection j
would respectfully call your attention
to the first eight pages of thereport Of
this board. The act of 1892, as it is
being vigorously executed by the sink
ing fund commission, acts as a sum-
mary and effective cleaning machine
and collects and levies past due an.l
unpaid for eight months. This feature
of the law annually saves to the State
thousands of dollars that would other
wise be uncollected and is a great aid
in collecting county and school funds
1t was not intended, however, that any
robbery should be made Of the taxes
collected or in process of collection
applicable'to the ordinary expenses OF
the government. Any other admins
tratlon of the law would work hard
ship and inevitably create deficit in
the sum necessary for the purpose OF
the government.
No legislation in reference to this
matter is required, as I am sure the
good sense and Judgment of the Off
GERS executing the law will bring hef-
mOnv.
PHOSPHATE INTEREST.
This industry has never recovered
from the cyclone of 1893, and I fear
never will. We have no longer a mo-
nopoly of the business, and the dis
covery of phosphate rock in Florida,
Tennessee and Algiers has made COM
petition very lively. The report OF
Phosphate Inspector Jones is gloomy
and discouraging, but I fear Mr.. Jones
takes too pessimistic view of the sit
uation.
The State received from January,
1894, to January 1895, $62, $3.50
which was also placed to the account
of the sinking fund. From January,
1895, to January, 1896, the receipts
were $91 ,5S2.27, which was also placed
to the credit of the sinking fund. Be-
sides there was 81, 1882 received in
November and December last, which
was placed to the credit of the general
accountin in the treasury, making in all
$95, ,691.19. There is now due and un-
paid by the phosphate companies the
sum of $14, ,019.55 royalty upon rock
actually mined and sold. This added
to the above amount gives $lO9, 710.74,
the amount that should have been re-
ceived from January 1st, 1895, to jan
uary 1st, 1896, representing an output
of 219, 42O tons. The phosphate roy
atty received for the fiscal year ending
October 31st, 1892, was $152, 2,2SG.40.
This upon g royalty of 81 per ton. Up
on the same royalty we would have re-
ceived for the past fiscal year $2l9,-
421. AS.
1t must be taken into consideration
hat the State receives royalty only
from rock actually sold and delivered,
and not from that actually mined. We
are dependent upon the honesty Of the
companies and the ability of the phos-
phate inspector to ascertain the amount
paid and received for the rock for our
estimate upon which to claim royalty.
Last year was q disastrous one tor
phosphate and fertilizer companies
everywhere, caused by short crops and
still shorter profits. Unless the situa
ton has greatly changed since my in
spection of the phosphate interests last
spring, am satisfied 1t would be IN
wise in your honorable body to accept
the Recommendation of the phosphate
inspector to reduce the royalty to 2J
cents per ton. I have heard of no
complaint from the phosphate compa
MES on account of the royalty, and l
am satisfied it is low enough for the
present at least.
There is now due and unpaid by
phosphate miners royalty of the pes.
and previous years to the amount OF
s1S, ,094.7O. This amount should have
been paid into the treasury, and I have
impressed upon the officers charged
with it's collection the necessity of re-
uuiring It's prompt payment. The
companies are under bond, however,
and no danger need be feared as to It's
ultimate payment.
STATE PEN1TENTIARY.
The report of the superintendent
and board of directors of this institu
tuition shows it to be in healthy, sue
cessful and sound financial condition.
The number of prisoners confined
during the last fiscal year is 72 less
than for the previous year. This is
due to the sentencing of short-tera
convicts to the county chain-gang. It
is to be hoped that the number 50
sentenced will increase to such an es-
tent as to allow all convicts sentenced
to the penitentiary to be employed
within the walls or upon the farms