The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1896-01-22
$l55,431 27

$l56, ,4ol ~
From the foregoing it will be seen
that we commence the fiscal year with
out dollar of Indebtedness. 1t will
be necessary for your honorable body
to provide sufficient revenues to run
the government for fourteen months
instead of twelve as heretofore. This
results from the change in the close of
the fiscal year from the 31st of Octo-
ber to the 31st of December under the
new Constitution. Two.twelfths of the
ordinary expenses OF the State govern
ment will have to be added, therefore,
to your levy for the next fiscal year in
order to make up the deficit at once
and remain on cash basis. Under the
provisions of the new Constitution
every dollar of outside revenue here
tofore going into the State Treasury to
meet the ordinary expenses of the
government except in phosphate roy
atty, which is now hardly sufficient to
pay the fixed charge Of $4,000 to the
sinking fund, has been diverted to the
school fund. The dispensary profits,
the direct tax fund, escheated estates
and all gifts to the State where the pur-
pose is not designated go to this equal
lNng school fund. We are entirely
dependent upon direct tax to raise
funds to meot the ordinary expenses of
the government. I am satisfied, how
ever, we will be able to meet all de-
mands With the same levy as for the
past year, with the exception, however,
Of the two months additional. Had
the funds of last year been left appl
cable to the ordinary expenses, the
levy for the next year would not have
exceeded three mills. The total tax
able property of the State for the past
fiscal year is $169, 448,94 This will
be greatly increased another year by
the large number of manufactures
now in process of erection, and it is to
be hoped by more uniform system of
assessment, necessary to be devised by
your honorable body as required by
the Constitution Your present levy
will be upon the assessment of 1894-5
for State purposes, but this is not true
as to county and schools. The funds
arising from taxes of 1S94-5 for coun-
ty and school purposes were expended
on contracts made against them before
they were even collected This condi-
tion is unfortunate for the creditors of
the counties, who are school teachers
and contractors, who are compelled to
discount their claims at exorbitant
rates. To meet the difficulties arising
from such condition, Iwould respect
fully suggest that all contracts due or
to become due, after expending the
revenues of the year 1894-5, from any
lawful cause prior to January 1,
1896, for county or school pur-
poses be declared past indebted
ness and the County authorities be al
lowed to issue bonds to liquidate the
same. The bonds could be made pay
able, say in ten years, with provisions
for the retirement OF given number
each year. The Counties of the State
would thus be placed upon cash basis
and teachers relieved of great hard
ship. Much complaint has been made
by the Comptroller-General against
the present system of assessing the
property of corporations other than
railroad. I think the complaint well
founded, as justice and equity demand
uniformity in this particular. We
have in one County the stock of o.
bank that pays ten per cent. dividend
assessed at seventy-fiye cents on the
dollar. In an adjoining County q
bank that pays eight per cent. diyi-
dends assessed at one hundred and
eight on the dollar. I. would respect
fully suggest to your honorable body
that the State Board Of Railroad Asses-