The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1903-03-06

go to Clemson College Aavowedly for
the purpose Of paying for the inspec-
GlOn OF the commercial fertilizers to
protect the farmers from being i'm
posed upon. Really less than $40, 900
Il year is spent upon the ANALYSIS Of
commercial Fertilizers Clemson thus
gets for operating expenses from the
privilege tax more than the combined
appropriations to the South Carolina
College, the Citadel and thesasState
Colored College. In addition tosthis
Clemson gets revenue from other
sources. There is $4,000 from the
Hatch fund; $4,000 from the interest
on MIR. ClemsOn's bequest; Sc, 900 from
the land scrip fund, and about $50, 600
from the cadet fund" which, as
stated In the annual report OF, the
fegsSia tipeestnspec cti1g commit ttea, lis
expended on board, laundry, etc., for
the cadets. Clemson has indeed a
princely income, just how much can
not be told from the annual reports,
and is doing Il superb work. Out Of
the income the permanent improve
ments are made. Last year nearly
$4,000 was paid out for new build
ings. The question arises: HWhen
Clemson gets through putting up
buildings and adding to the equip
ment, will there not be an annual res
idue from the tag tax receipts"
That question has worried the gen
eral assembly for several years-but
was not touched upon at the session
just ended, although there were sew
eral bills to reduce the tag tax from
20 cents ton to 15 cents, to raise It
to 30 cents, etc. But the proposition
which has ever attracted the greatest
attention is to have Clemson divide
the privilege tax with Winthrop.
This has been opposed on the ground
that the State has no right to levy a
special tax and that this inspection
tax Is but subterfuge for special
tax on commodity. Should the in
come be diverted from the Inspecting
agency OF the government, then the
whole scheme might be declared un-
constitutional and Clemson suffer u
serious loss. If Clemson continues to
develop and extend her magnificent
plant, it is probable that all Of this
inspection tax may be required for op-
Grating expenses and that there would
be no residue.
Judge Lyon, who attends to the fer
tilizcr tax books in the State treaSur-
crs Office, stated Friday that there
is little or no chance for the fertilizer
companies to defraud the State gov
ernment. The companies are liable tt
heavy penalty If they omit from tn,
sacks of fertilizers the tags shown.
the authority OF the State govern
mcnt. The consumer may be dcfraud
ed, because every sack is not testet
and it's contents analyzed, but th
payment OF the tax cannot be escaped
Il When a fertilizer company makes
requisition for tags, the check is sem
to the State treasurer's Office ant
thence forwarded to the State chom
ist at Clemson. The latter sends the
official tags to the company. The Vir
ginia- Carolina Chemical Company
pays the greater part Of the privilege
tax, although some members of the
legislature are impressed with the
fact that the people themselves pay
this tax and that IL it were removed
the price of fertilizers would not be
reduced corrcSpondingly. Friday
Judge Lyon received a check for 50,
500 from the Virginia Carolina Chem
ical Company accompanying an order
for tags.