The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1902-01-15

IL the duty OF the CDleI executive I,
lay before the General Assembly a
each annual session a review of tn,
different departments of government
and to make such recommendation
and suggestions as may seem to hin
wise and proper,
The past year has been remarkable
one in many respects. Many stir
ring events have marked the rec
ord. The ,i!lers of the soil in man
sections of our State have not had the
usual returns for their labors, and with
many of them the present year is go
ing to be one of sacrifice and self,
denial, and yet they are looking hope
fully 70 the future and not complain
ing. The development and progress
of the State in manufacturing enter
prises goes steadily forward. L some
times fear that these enterprises are
being built up at the expense of the
rural districts. IL has been largely
soil that the sinews of strength in our
State in times of peril and of trouble
have rested. The strength of State
and the patriotism of people rest
with the home owners. Whatever can
be done by wise legislation to encour-
age home owning will be so much con-
trlbuted to the patriotism of our State
and to the stability of our institutions.
Since your last session the nation
hrs been bowed down beneath the
weight of grievOus sorrow, caused by
the dastardly blow which struck down
its chief executive, blow aimed not
at him but at you and every law abid-
ing citizen of the land, and at the free
government of which he had been
chosen by the American people as the
head. 1t was blow at organized 80.
ciety anil the victim was only an incl
dent. A sentiment which gives rise
to an act like this is one of the dam
gers which threaten the nation. And
yet. at no time has the stability of our
form of government been more clearly
shown than at this critical period, for
the life of no one man, however eXalt-
ed and beloved he may be, is necessary
the to continued prosperity and well
fare of the people, and the fair treat
ment given the murderer but served
to show to his associates the efficacy
and the dignity, and the necessity for
the preservation of that law which he
sought TO overthrow.
Within the past year three of your
own members-lion. e.. Is. Ragsdalo,
of Fairfi Id; Hon. G. j. Redfearn, of
Chesterfield, and Hon. j. B. Bates, OF
Barnwell-have been called from their
labors here on earth and have gone to
join the innumerable hosts on the
oiher shore.
Un Ia m 1
the State during the past year, both OF
which are to be regretted and wou d
have been prevented if possible, but
so long as fiends in human form con-
tlnus to commit outrages upon our wo-
men they may expect swift and sum-
mary justice, and doubt If emergency
courts or any other remedy will stop
the administration of such justice
when it is known the right fiend is
found. The only way to stop the pun
ishment is TO stop the CRIME.
TAXATION.
The question of taxation is one of
the most important and difficult prob
lens that will confront you and one of
the most profound in political econo
my. 1t has been a difficult problem
ever since government has been or
ganized and taxes laid, and never yet
has system been adopted VIII ch is
entirely equitable and just and which
has not been open TO fraud aud eva
sion and inequality. 1t is easy TO lay
down theory and aprinciple that will
be just and equitable, but when it comes
TO putting in motion the machinery
that will cary out in its practical op
Crations that theory and that will APP
ply the principle to property, the ques-
lion becomes a vexed one and difficult
of solution. The constitution pro
vides that all property shall be assessed
at its true value and therefore bear its
share of the burden of taxation. This
principle was laid down by Adam,
Smith, the celebrated Scottish philoso
pher and political economist, in the
early part Of the eighteenth century,
and by all writer's on political economy
before and since his day. Equal and
just taxation, levied on all property
proportionately and il acco dance with
its value, is the prodnct of the highest
justice, and when done to meet tn,
demands of government, economically
administered, is never burdensome.
On the other hand, unequal and un.
just taxation Is always burdensome
and has been the cause of many of the
wais and much of the strife all through
the history of the ages.
1t is NJ cessary to raise a certain
amount of money to meet the exper see
of the State government and this mus
be done by taxation. 1t makes little
difference to the taxpayer whether the
levy is high or low. The question that
concerns him is the assessment or val
nation placed upon the property 10 be
taxed, and whether or not it is val.
uC4 at the same ratio as other proper
iy. When the politician boasts OF
having reduced the tax levy he is only
trying to fool the people. The levy
must be large enough to realize suf-
ficient sum to meet the appropriations
and 1t WILDE large or small in proper
tion to the valuation placed upon the
property and the amount of appropria
tions made by the Legislature. The onl,
way to reduce taxation is to reduce
she appr priations. OF course, the
school tax fixed in the constitution