Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-01-17
The GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
Higher Taxes Promised as Certainty
Candidates for Associate Justice.

Higher Taxes Promised as a Certainty
Candidates for Associate Justice.
Correspondence of the Yorkville Enquirer.
COLUMBIA, January l5.-Both wings Of
the general assembly met promptly at
noon on yesterday and organized with
the formalities usually observed by
deliberate bodies. The governors mes
sage which, as will be seen, is an exhaus-
tive and interesting document, was read.
Everybody and every action here seems
to bear the mark of moderation and
conservatism. The committees are in
good working order and ready to dispose
of such business as may come before
them.
1t is supposed by some that we will get
through within six weeks, or about the
lst of March. In my judgment, that is
easily possible, and I sincerely hope the
session will not last any longer.
1 see that great deal is being said about
the probability of higher taxes. Taxes
will undoubtedly be higher; but the
responsibility lies on the constitutional
convention rather than on the legislature.
Too much money has been appropriated
for educational purposes. 1t will be
rem embered that the constitutional school
tax is now mills instead Of as hereto
fore. Another cause Of the necessary
increase in taxes is the change in the
beginning of the fiscal year. On account
of it, the present year will be two months
longer than last year. This means an ad-
ditiop of 10 in taxes or about Of mill.
Adding this and the 3 mill school tax to
last years levy of A mills we find that
the necessary levy for next year will be
81 mills. It will be observed that the big
gest increase is due to the increased
school tax.
The State treasurer's report shows
something over 100000 balance cash on
hand on October 81, 1895. This will aid
materially in meeting the expenses incur
red by the constitutional convention, and
in making up for past deficits of the State
caused by the insufficient levy of last
year. 1t is very probable that something
like Ss5O,0OO will be required to run the
State government during the present fis-
cal year. The total amount of taxable
property is Sl69, 1000, 900 and to raise the
sum mentioned as necessary for expenses,
will require levy of 81 mills.
But when I referred to the high taxes
for school purposes, did not mean only
the l mill increase. There are other
things to be taken into consideration. 1t
will be remembered that the constitution
al convention also diverted the dispensary
earnings to the same cause. The phos-
phate royalty, which used to yield sur
plus revenue to the State, has about de-
creased to the amount required by the
sinking fund. and of course the difference
has to be made up by, additional levy. 1
think there was almost too much zeal in
the recent convention for education. The
dispensary profits could have better been
applied to the sinking fund, to be used
for cancelling at least portion Of the
State debt each year, thereby reducing
the levy necessary to pay taxes on the
same, and finally liquidating it altogether.
This debt approximates S6,OOO,0OO.
There are several candidates in the field
for associate justice. Among them are
Ira B. Jones, NJ. F. Ansel, w. A. Barber,
Robert Aldrich, and others. The matter
has not excited a great deal of interest
among the members rs yet; but it will,
no doubt occasion quite lively fight.
The weather is pleasant and bracing,
and the members appear to he in good
spirits. R. NJ. c.