The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-11-15
An Appeal for Lower Taxes.
Greenville Molntaineer.

The Newberry Observer makes a
strong and cogent appeal to the Legis-
lature for a reduction Of taxes in this
State. Whether or not this appeal will
] be needed we are not averse to making
an endorsement OF it's views, because
we believe the danger ahead is on the
other line, and unless there is vig0r-
Gus protest against any increase OF
taxation, the chances are that the levy
next year will keep pace with the in
crease in taxable property. 1t is not
( hard to believe that the majority OF our
people favor high taxes, as has been
alleged in some quarters, for there Is
seldom any earnest and concerted ac-
ton on the part of the people to cause
a reduction in the levy. All the salar-
| led officials in the State are entirely
willing for the taxes to remain as they
are, so far as we have any information
on this score, and the beneficiaries OF
our government in any capacity are
not opposed to the present arrange
ments. On the contrary there is an lln-
ceasing demand for larger and more
extensive appropriations from the pub
| lie treasury, and when the Legislature
meets in January the members will be
asked to add here and there to tie ex-
penditures of the State, while not a
word will be urged against them ex-
cept by 8. few legislators who will act
in surprising minority. One OF the
reasons that will be given for these ex-
ira appropriations is that the taxable
property of the State has been consid
erably increased and that the State
can afford to make such expenditures
because the rate of taxation will not
be increased thereby! There will al
ways be found plausible excuses for
making extra appropriations, but the
Legislature has yet to be formed in
South Carolina that will engage in q
systematic reduction of expenses, so
that an actual benefit will accrue to
the taxpayers. Cheap and Inexpensive
governmeiit seems to be thing OF
the past, and rendering service to the
State must be accompanied with q
liberal compensation these days, all OF
which requires taxation to meet the
expenses. The non taxpayers are in
an overwhelming majority, and the
Legislature will continue to favor the
State witt generous appropriations,
because the people who pay the taxes
are not aggressive and persistent in
their demands for a reduction in the
levy. The Observer says:
The taxable property OF the State
has increased for the current year to
the amount Of three and half million
dollars, and when the people know this
fact they are bound to think to them
selves some very strong thoughts that
are also bound to be heard later on in
the form Of words. They cannot un-
derstand how it is that the burden Of
| taxation cannot be made lighter 1t is
getting too heavy ss burden especially
for the farming class OF tax payers, for
Notwithstanding the great depression
in the price of farm products which,
with few exceptions, has prevailed for
many years, taxes are no lower. In
fact, it seems that taxes arc continual
| ly on the increase.
The times seem to be out Of proper
ton when we consider the relation
| that taxes should.bear to the increment
Of the producing class of our popula-
ton. Fifteen years ago q pound OF
cotton would buy apound OF bacon,
and these two products now bear about
the same relation to each other. A
dollar to-day will buy at least one
fourth more than dollar would fifteen
years ago, and everything else has adj
iusted itself to existing conditions eX-
cept the administration OF public at
fairs. Instead of our taxes being low
er, as should be the case, they are con-
| tinually getting higher and higher, and
after most farmers pay their taxes,
guano and lien bills, they have moth
Ing left. We are honestly Of the opin-
ion thatthe State government could be
administered at less outlay of money
than it is now costing us, and not be
one whit less effective than it is now
carried on. Take the salary OF one Of
flee, for instance, at say two thousand
dollars. Adjustit to present conditions
as to how much each dollar of that
salary will now secure Of the comforts
of lite as compared to the time when
such salary was fixed, and we find that
an amount equal to one-fourth less
thau such a salary will obtain as much
to-day. But when cutting down salar-
les is talked about one is always partl-
cular that his views i'll support OF such
| q reform should be construed as refer
ring to the salary of somebody else.
| We are aware that this is an old Qucs-
ton and that it has been kicked about
in legislative halls until it is all ont of
shane. There are big salaries and lit
tle salaries, and some officers OF the
government do not get salary enough.
A readjustment is needed. 1t seems
these days that office holders are our
masters in this republican form OF
government, when they really should
be the servants OF the people.
We must not be understood to be In
favor of "three-for- quarter" statesmen.
| What we want is lower taxes; What
the people want is lower taxes. Here
we find this year that the wealth OF
the State has made an appreciable IN
crease and the amount OF taxable pro
Derty has been on the increase year at
ter wear for the past decade, yet still
there is no relief for the taxpayer. In
fact our taxes are higher now in pro,
portion than they were in the Inflated
DAYS of carpetbag misrule., There
ought to be some relief afforded the
ne0plc now-at once. The servant is
not above his lord, but We hold to the
principle that the affairs OF our govern
ment Should be administered with the
strictest economy and Jeftersonian SIM
plicity. Ii we arc Democrats in form,
we should be Democratic in doctrine,
and if we practice what we preach we
cannot then afford to have eXtrayagant
and luxurious ideas. We appeal Tor
] lower t:,yrS