The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1896-01-24
industry, ETC., have appeared here be-
fore in the reports of the officers hay-

thG tucpe uiatteIS III CnafR9. l. ut
Governor makes recommendations in
these departments in accordance with
the requests of these officers.
After reviewing the various report.
the Governor says:
From the foregoing ii 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 10
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
sinking fund, has been diverted to the
school fund. The disperssry profits,
the direct tax fund. escheated estates
and al gifts to the State where tho pur-
pose IS not designated 60 &C this equal
i2inG school fund. We are entirely
dependent upon direct tax TO raise
funds to meet the ordinary expenses Of
the government. ! ar satisfied how
ever, we Will be able to NEE: MI 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 eft nppli-
cable to the ordinary expenses. the
levy Tor the next year would not have
exceeded three mills. TIE total tax
able property Of the State to- the past
fiscal year is S169, 44S. 94I. This will
be greatly increased another year by
the large number Of mauutactories
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! o. 1894 5
fer State purposes, but this g not true
as 20 county and schools. The funds
arising from taxes Of IS94-t FOR coun-
~ and school purposes were expended
OF contracts made against them before
they were even collected This condi-
tiy1 is unfortunate for the creditors Of
the counties. who are school teachers
AND contractors, wEo are compelled 10
discount their claims a. exorbitGnt
rates. To meet the difficulties arising
from such condition. would respect
fully sugges, that ell contracts due or
! 70 become due, after experding the
revenues OF the vea- -S94-G. from any
lawful cause prior 20 January :,
1886, for county or scAool pur-
poses be declared past indebted
ness and the County authorities be al
lowed 70 Issue bonds 20 iIuidate the
same. The bonds could De made pay
able. say in ten years, with provisions
! to- ,he retirement O. given nCmbcr
each year. The Counties O. the State
would thus be placed mon q cash basis
and teachers relieved Ct great hard,
ship. Much complaint has been made
by tie Comptroller General against
| tie present system 0: assessing the
property Of corporations other shan
railroad. | think the complaint well
founded. rs justice ard equity demand
uniformity IL this nartic:la-. We
have II one County the stocE OF &
bank tEat pays ten PEI cen,. dividend
assessed n seve2tv-.ve cents cL The
dollar. II al adjoining County &
bank that pays e!gE: per cent. Givi
Z a a Ir-r Il n, -,
eight Oh the dollar. ! would respect.
:ul!y suggest 20 yorr honorable body
tha: the State Board 0: Railroad Asses,
sors I've given jurisdiction CveI al
banking and manufacturing companies
il this respect. We wou!G ther have
one cent-a. authority, witL 10 local ID
fuences that could bt brCuCl: &c DcG!
upon i. The same difficulty exists as
10 the method Of taxing insurance com.
panles. / would respectfully recon.
mend tCat IN GeU q the present sys.
ten ot taxing net pcemIums received
n the various counties. which is almost
impossible 10 get az. g. f&eG pc. cent
Of such gross premiums be required &C
be paid direct into tLe State Treasury,
ard, Il necessary, ,he proportion nd
lUStet between tne seVtrGI SC-nNes.
Under the terms OF the new CCnstity.
ton the Genera! Assembly e A2thori
2eL 20 impose graduated .h% Oh in,
comes aud on professions Gr. business
occupations. II is hardy necessary
for ne 70 arg.c 10 yCC. honorable
BODY the justice o! aE income az. ::
las been Advocated .poE every st"nE
ard throw EhoVt IL. entire Union as
the mos; equitable system {: :Gx re
;Lc -icL L proportion g lie peo-. II
: impossible ~ devise Ia system TIA;
Wi. scc0re g. ms. rcturL {! pc-sc nG,
property. II has boeL tho dream. oi
Legislators and stHtoncI. fyc yeas and
We 81. no nearer 4 solution {! IL,
problem today than we were IL century
ago. / rc!icvc III income :aX WI.