The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1900-08-22
Mr.. Thompson Gives Some Figures

Mr.. Sullivan's array of figures is mis-
leading in many ways, as pointed out
by Mr.. Adair. Mr.. Sullivan was deal
ing with estimates, which included in
estimates for Laurens $4,000 for past
indebtedness while there was only of
Il mill levied. which gives only Sl,22S:
again as pointed out by Mr.. Adair, it
includes for Il. II. taxes, Sl0,3l5, voted
in 1890. and for which the county Off
cials cannot be held responsible. There
are only fourteen counties that pay any
Il. II taxes in only three or four the
Il. IL. taxes equal that of Laurens. Now
the only way to be absolutely fair IS to
take the lCvics for ordinary expenses, to
wit: roads, bridges, iais, salaries, chain
gang, court poor, etc, in the several
counties and compare them. When we do
do this, where do we find Lamens in the
list? The Comptroller's report shows
that she IS 40th on the list, but to be fair
take mills from the special levy for
Il. II and carry to the funds for Or
dinary county, which is done in Lau-
rcnS by special act of the Legislature,
leaving rs Il fact, - mills for Railroad,
which is required to pay the annual in
tcrcst on the Railroad debt, it then
gives us 81 mills for ordinary county
purposes and leaves twenty counties
with Il greater levy for ordinary pur-
poses, (cven assuming that no othc
county uses Il portion of special levics
for ordinary purposes with nineteen
counties with an equal or less levy
Many of the counties have lcvies rang
ing from to & and : mills.
Now this same Comptraller's report
shows this: AbbevlIle total property
~ 4lS,S2O, taxes T6O, 449: l.aurens, total
property S4,9ll 500: total taxes, S'2, lO6.
Now deduct Tor ltallroad taxes, iAb-
hoville has no H. Ii. TAN, TlO,3l5 and
you have for Laurcns sol, '0i.
am informed that the public build
lngS OF greenwood were putt by the
cltl|enS ana Snc mas no Ii. H. taxes, YET
the levy for lSN', am dealing with
the levies for the last liscal year was
~ mills; Laurens, IA mus. Deduct
for II X. Il mllls-ll3 mlils.
MIR. Sullivan says AbbcVlllc has q
tax rate OF 81 mills, which raises Sl3-
700: Laurcns mills ana T3o,30S. Now
this is not fair. 81 on the total property
of AbbeviIc raises Sl6,I5o; while MI.
Sullivan over the TACT that mills
| on the total property OF Laurehs raises
f29,4al, ana hencgiects 10 TO, te,i us out OF
that S2o,4'l, the sum OF Slo,3lo IS taken
yearly TO pay interest on lulllr0ao
debt, when Mr. ouiilNan KNOWS well Is
49, nt;I a,',, ron,osn,t,tiuos sbn n
schools, untll our representatives ShatI
| levy sinking iund TO gradually pay OIL
TINS debt;
| Mr.. sullivan tells us that l;anrens Is
| 5rd In raising laN money Leu see
| inns report SHOWS lhat Aa"rcnS S'ahaS
as TO tot"' IaNapic property loI'l' as W
lotal taxes ior an purposes lVIh: as 10
| aggregate taxes ior al county pur-
| poses, including liailfoao, oth' as 10 aS-
| gregate taxes FOR ordinary, roads, Jai'S,
| bridges, salaries, etc, haurehS stanas
list.
| Now let us array more ngnrGs Iol
rear that some persons may pc ied Io
bclVc that we pay more taxes than oul
nclgnDorS; lake GreehVlile. Deauc,
| | nlii tor ltallroad from ner leNy 81 ID:
for Railroad from her levy OF IS mills