The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-02-03
Looks as if a Levy Of 5 II
Mills Must Be Made.
WHY AND WHEREFORE.

IS going 10 ue 'e'y o1 iioai ~
/ 81 2 mills made by the general as
sembly at this session, if appropria
tions are to be kept up to the present
figures and the general assembly re-.
mains in session over 30 days Thus
very potent reason for an early ad
journment is made apparent The
ways and means committee has not
yet been able to prepare the appro
priation and supply bills for reasons
that will appear below, the course OF
legislation having been slow Know.
ing that there was strong probabil
ity of an increased levy for 1897, a
representative of the State called
upon Comptroller General Norton
and obtained from him the following
statement in regard TO the matter.
which speaks for itself:
"The total taxable property in the
State as assessed is $l70,755,474
On this are levied for State purposes
S76s 425 Is. or Al 2 mills. To this
may be added the amount of $l5,-
600. the possible receipt from in
surance license and fees Of the sec
retary of states Office The total
possible receipt for the support of
the State government for 1897 will,
therefore, be $783,425 Is. The esti-
ma.es of the comntroller geueral
amount to $S0o,oo0 for 1897 This
is based on a 81 days session of the
legislature 1t is evident that appro
priations will not be less than $780,
600 If, therefore, all the taxes as
sessed could be. collected, there
would be deficiency ef l17,0o0-
All tie taxes cannot be counted as
cash because of errors, nulla bona
executions, deductions and abate-
ments, etc. Safe 6nanciering would
place the possible deficiency at not
less than $l5O,000. This is the
amount, therefore, that the general
assembly should provide for by an
additional levy for l897-or 5 to 5
l.2 mills in placeeof 4 l 2 for 1895
cit must be borne in mind that the
Legislature at this session appropri-
ates the taxes due December 3lst.
1896, and cannot affect the results of
revenue for 1897. except such legis.
lation will give additional revenue
laws
"If these SOURCES of revenue as
above, or S170.755,474 at 4 p
mills, and all other possible sources
of revenue for 1897 will leave a de-
6ciency of $3.50, 900, then the same
thing must occur for 1898 without an
increase of taxable property /; then
the present Legislature must grapple
With possible deficiency for 1897
and 1898 of $500 600 1t will not,
it issthought reach these figures, but
sufficiently certain it is that without
other laws than now, this general as
sembIy cannot make a levy of less
than 5 IL mills with financial. safety.
This estimate does not take into
consideration the affairs Of 1896.
such as unpaid appropriations and
the S92 600 due from the diepensary,
as it is known that there can be moth
ing to the credit of 1896 after all
matters are balanced The fear is
that the balance may be against and
not in favor of 1896.
,sIn other words. the general as
sembly must raise the levy on the
taxable property from 4 1-2 mills
sufficient to meet the deficiency
caused by the losa of the phosphate
royalty, say $3.50 900, or pass other
revenue laws from which revenue
can be derived to this amount or re
duce the annual average apprcpria-
ton or have All annual deficiency of
100000 to $3.50 900, the latter be
ing the nearer correct
The appropriations for 1897
should be much less than 1896 for
two reasons, viz-iess time by two
months and fewer extraordinary ex-
penses to meet
Three sources for revenues have
been suggested. viz-graduate in
come tax, u graduated license tax
and change in the method of tax
ing insurance companies. The grad
uated income tax would possibly
reach class of citizens who now
enjoy the benefits and protection of
the State government to person and
property vino pay nothing to the sup.
port of tha: government A gradu
ated Incense tax would put South
Carolina on parity with North Caro-
lima and Georgia in many particulars
and reach another class of interests
iu the State which pays no taxes
Among them may be mentioned the
Pullman Place Car company, future
dealers, lightning rod dealers aud
one hundred others