The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1900-01-31
THE FERTILIZER TAG TAX.
A REDUCTION BY THE HOUSE.
The Privilege Tax Cut Down to Fif.
teen Cents a Ton-Curtailing the
Income of Clemson College.

The Privilege Tax Cut Down to Fif-
teen Cents Ton-Curtntling the
Income of Clemson College.
MIR. Ashley's bill to reduce the tax
on fertilizers has passed the House, by
which the privilege tax on fertilizers
will be reduced from IS to Is cents u
ton, II the Senate concurs.
In speaking on the bill, Mr.. Ashley
conteuded that the farmers are the
only class OF people in the State which
's taxed on a special commodity. 1t
was not right and not just. Tue time
Will come when the people will rise w
and cut of this tx. He denied that
the tax fell upon the producer, and
said that the consumer paid this tax.
He mad been waiting to get figures to
show that this tax had been cut to 10
| cents in Georgia. He did not oppose
Clemson or any other State institu
iion. But he was opposed to extrava
gance. The boys who went there
were not educated to be- farmers, tfey
we're taught extravaganza. The peo.
pie who paid the tax on fertilizers
we're too poor to send their bows to
Clemson, and received no benefit from
that college which received the 500, ,OOo
or $50, 600 from the tax on fertilizers.
Ha wanted just tax enough 10 provide
| Tor the Inspection and protection OF
| tcrJlliZerS.
Mr. Blythe referred 20 the cause
n scessltatlng the fertilizer Or Tag tax
Years ago there were suits in the
courts on account OF fraudulent tertl.
ltzers. This called for a tax to proyido o
| for the inspection of fertilizers to pre-.
vent fraud. This was long before
Clemson college vas founded. There
| was good deal OF opposition 10 the
| foundation OF the college, his cole guc
| Lieut. Gov. Mauldin, casting the dccld
ing vote. One of the arguments used
| IN the campaigns was that this ferti.
| lizer tax should be used for the support
OF the agricultural college. 1t was on
this compact made on the stump and
| IN the general assembly that the col
lego was founded. The lew requires
tho dealer to pay this tax and this tay
| is not added into the price to con.
sumers. Clemson was established in
1889 In 1890 the law was passed Civ
ing Clemson the proceeds to conduct
| the experiment station and the re.
malnder vas to go to operating the
college. Clemson is run without ono
dollar OF appropriation from tho State
| treasury. Ii this tag tax Is reduced
Clemson will be ruined or the State
must mako direct appropriation to
keep up the Institution. Lot Clemson
alone. Ii this institution goes down,
the assault will be made on other insti- :
tutions. Let South Carolina's educa.
| tional system alone.
Mr.. Mccullough stated that he had
heretofore opposed the reduction OF
tne tax, as matter OF expedlency.
Clemson has been established and IA,
been equipped at great expenditure.
lts doors arc open to all, irrespective
OF class or profession, and Its support
should come In the same way as other
institutions. He asserted the necessity
OF privilege tax To have fertilizsrs
examined, but he thought 1t wrong To
wiring from somebody, whether farmer
or manufacturer the tax to run a State
institution. 1t Ia wrong unaer the
guise OF obtaining money for an in.
spection to get funds for other pur
poses. The supreme court OF the
Uaited States has decreed that it Isl
violation OF the United States cosstitn.
tlon TO divert these funds to purposes
other than topay for the analysis. The
legislature would be playing tho part
OF hypocrites to longer conti nue this
way OF rsising funds In the face of the
constitution. Lot every State ipstltu.
tion stand on Its merits and receive a
direct appropriation-or fall.
Mr.. Prince agreed with Mr.. McCul.
lough. AS TO Mr.. Blythe's argument
that there has been o tacit com pact.
he recited the fact that while n "rrsnt
Leader OF one OF the factions" WAS may.
Ing the fight on the stump for this tao
tax, there were some who were afraid
10 contend ;hatit was class legislation.
beyonu the amount necessary for In
spection, there should not be a cent of
tag tax. He would vote rs much direc.
appropriation as any other man. That
ls State institution and should bo |
run JusS as any other State installations
Mr.. Stevenson had been the author
OF the bill which was designed la.t
year to settle the matter, but that hill |
was killed In the Senate He had not |
changoi his views and had no apology |
TO make Tor them, but rs 1t was impos.
elDle TO pass the measure through the
Senate, he would favor the reduction
he read % showing OF the finances of
Clemson College. The income last
year was $l2,O 900 from the Morrill, fund,
Sl5, ,OOO from the Hatch fund and from
other sources $75,8l308 A total of
$lO2,6l3.O8. a reduction OF 10 cents a
ION ION en- fertilizers would give Clemson
90 oo3.Uo 20 Tor l9OO-1. This In addition
20 olo'ooo not used last year. Mr..
Stevenson then claimed that reducing
the tax would not seriously cripple
Clemson as Its income q ter the reduction
would then be $78, 900 and the expendi.
lures accounted for last year were
something over 100000. To let the
Tax stand as 1t is will put more money
"a Inc institution than 1t needs and
Will breed extravaganoe. Extrava.
sance Will work the ruin of the institu.
lion.