The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1900-01-11

ing you on the condition uf the finances
of the State. The State Treasurer has
been able to meet all Of the obligations
Of the State promptly. and also the in
teres: on the public debt. without the
necessity OF having to borrow any
money or overdraw his account. and
still has balance in the treasury.
The Treasurer o. the State has called
my attention TO the fact that there are
number OF cid bonds which have
hitherto been reported as fundable, bat
which under the Act of 1896 are nov
no longer and among them are The
bonds claimed by the State Bank (Rlue
Ridge Railroad bonds Of 1857 TO the
amount o. $4,000 The Act OF 1896 re-
ferred to prohibits the State Treasurer
from funding or paying any bonds after
the expiration Of twenty years from
the date Of maturity. The bonds above
mentioned matured on July 1st. 1879,
and the twenty years limitation expir-
ed on July 1st, 1899.
The State owes these bonds to some
one, and the objection which the Cen
eral Assembly has hitherto had TO the
funding CT them has been. ii is under
stood. the fear that some one might
still produce and present them 70 the
Treasurer, for funding under the fund
ing Act OF the State. and that the State
might in this way have 10 pay them
twice This objection seems now re-
moved. as no one but the receiver OF
the Bank has the right 20 ask 10 have
them funded. al other persons being
new barred by the Statutes from apply
ing 10 the Treasurer fer that purpose.
TAXATION.
Tire Constitution says that "All taEes
upon property. real and personal. shall
be laid upon the aCtual value OF the
property taxed. as the same shall be as.
certained by an assessment made for
the purpose Of laying such tax. II also
SAYS the General Assembly shall pro-
vide by law for Il uniform and equal
rate OF assessment for taxation It Is
A fact that very little if any propeTty
is assessed for taxation II its actual
value" For j. i; we:e. the taxable prop
erty OF the State would be great deal
more than it is, and the rate OF taxa
tion could be considerably reduced. 10
the taxpayer. that is not matter nf
very great concern. for a certain
amoun; of money has to be raised TO
meet the expenses of government. ana
while. if the valuation were high ire
rate could be reduced. yet in the end il
amounts TO the same thing. The QueS-
ton that concerns the taxpayer is TO
have a uniform value OF assess meni.
whether it be the actual value or one
half the actual value. The burden OF
taxation would then fall equally on all
the taxpayers in proportion to the prop
erty they own. but if one mans prop
erty is assessed al its actual value and
another mans at one-haf its actual
value the one either contributes more
than his share 70 the support OF the
government or the other does not
measure up TO his duty in this matter.
The main deSideyatum is to secure
such mode Of assessment as Will give
uniform valuation 10 all property
subjCt; 20 taxation. Tha, such results
are not obtained now. | am sure.
Whether It is the fault Of the law ~
it's administration. | an not prepared
10 say. We have Township Boards OF
Assessors and County Boards Of Equal
ization. nut the manner il which they.
as a rule. discharge their duties and
the time they allot 10 the discharge OF
these duties does not secure a uniform
valuation of property for the purpose
o. taxation. Nor. indeed. could they do
it under the present plan # they gave
more time They may secure an approx
innate uniformity for valuation III each
county and. so far as county purposes
are concerned. that might suffice. but
the average in the counties varies and
the burden of taxation does not fall
equally on the several counties. have
no fully matured plan TO submit Tor
your consideration as a remedy for this
evil. but | an persuaded that If some
plan could be devised by which the
Constitution could be o0eyed and all
property assessed a. its actual value.
the burden would bear more easily and
euuitably upon all taxpayers. As the
law now stands, the County Auditor IS
required TO go into each township and
take returns Of property. and then the
township boards meet and go over these
returns and then they are gene over by
the County Board Of Equalization. |
suomit for your consideration the ad-
visibility of requiring that the Consti-
tuition be carried out and all property
assessed at its actual value, and that
the County Auditor take returns only
in the townships. and that the town.
ship boards be required to attend while
these returns are being made. and if
any question arises as to the valuation
Of ,he property. it could be settled by