The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1903-09-18

tSE77ETsS
ressonab sgsseTtss tllaf tlleF State
|g0YeFfiG9n 3 is Ok tfa iii b lp limits
tered asyl fcgerys 60 oiiege in stttB State
WAS closed woIld the StateissatIanvess
he huch Improved CAN sws Default,
TN the Interest on S0,if b0Dds, stop lpen-s
siontnR the yeterans i or turn tlin s IN.
mntes out: and close the asylum doDrsp.
Clearly there Is no remedy here Ssantl
any appropriations thatfcan q be orswili
be cut will not; affect the. result, and
will leave the necessity now upon us as
apparent as before. B; ...75si 8,
INCREASE THE LEVY.
Can the levy be increased? While
it is within the authority of the gen.
eral assembly to increase the levy to
any amount necessary to meet the
needs OF the State, and clearlylit must
be increased IL other remedies are re-
jccted, this step would entail added
hardship upon those. citizens who own
real property, and who are already
bearing more than their share of the
burden Of government. If the next
general assembly attempts to thus
raise sufficient money to pay the out
standing notes Of the treasurer, and
to raise sufficient amount to meet
necessary appropriations, q levy Of
seven and one half or eight mills must
be made; if the outstanding notes are
carried as floating Indebtedness, still
the levy must be increased at least
One-half mill:
This levy Of seven and one-half or
eight mills would be nearly three times
the average direct levy in the other
States Of the union. We can only ap-
prcciate our condition by comparing
it with theirs. Would not an increase
In the levy tut add to the difficulties
under which we are laboring, by Civ
ing an added inducement to the own
crs Of real and personal property to
cvade, AN excessive demand by the
State government.
Is not the present ridiculously low
returns for assessment in many quar-
ters due to Il feeling with many people
that because their property Is tangible
they are called upon to bear a burden
which should be in part on the shoul-
ders Of other men?
: In bulletin issued by the State Of
New York, showing the finances of the
various States for the year 1895, the
accuracy Of which cannot be question
ed, 1t Is shoWn that As States Of the
union received that year from all
sources Sl24 1925, 800 OF which only
SIS, ,6G6, ,40S came from general proper
ty taxes. South Carolina received that
year from all sources Gncluding phos-
nj, fa mi yrrI,s s<,1, -,
diSpeDsaTy income, has vauisiled} ST.
150, $50, Of which $S45, 703 came from
the general property tax. Thus the
States collectively raised only two
tlfths Of the money required for their
purposes by direct taxes upon proper
ty; South Carolina thus raises practi-
cally all Of hers.
Assessments clearly should be
raised, if for nc other reason than that
the relative Importance and resources
OF the State should not be misrepre-
scntcd to the world at large. How,
ever, l doubt If any better method Of
raising them will be found than to
first reduce the present excessive tax
levy and show to the man who owns
real estate that he is asked to CON
tribute only his fair share to the sup
port Of government.
For the foregoing reasons, would
suggest as the most practical means
OF rcctifying the present financial
condition OF the State the adoption OF
some OF the measures by which the
other States Of the union have been
enabled to raise three fifths Of the
various sums required for their sup
port. and l could not better express
the measures which would recon-
mend than did Gov. Nash to the gen
eral assembly of Ohio, at the session
OF 1902, and which were substantially
adopted 10y tiath 1y and enacted into
law"
| After quoting Gov. Nash's recon-
mendation as to the franchise tax, Mr..
CAN'T continues: "Of course do not
intend in every instance to endorse or
recommend the schedule fixed in this
bill, as your committee and the mem
bers Of the general assembly are we'll
qualified to determine what would be
fair and equitable, and what excep-
tions, if any, should be made therein.
would call your attention to the fact
that New York exemptS manufactur-
ing corporations from the payment or
thiS annual franchise tax. | intend
merely to suggest the source; nor can
it be expected that anything like the
sums suggested by Gov. Nash can be
realized in South Carolina.
The revenue derived from the or
ganization Of corporations cannot be
materially increased. Although the
present schedule was adopted largely
ut my suggestion, its practical opera
tion has convinced me that some modi-
fications and amendments should be
made tp it, and to the general law for
the formation Of corporations, which
l. will suggest in detail in my regular
report to the general assembly.
Among other sources Of revenue to
the State are Inheritance taxes, and
certain forms Of business licenses. a
majority of the States of the union
tax Inheritance in some form; the At
lantic coast States generally receive
large sums from fish and oyster privi-
legeS and taxes, while slot machines,
etc, are generally taxed elsewhere.
These measures, in some instances,
are more equitable and less burden
some than some Of the corporation
taxes referred to.
The general assembly should adopt
no measure which will place an undue
burden upon any industry; the pros
perity Of the State no longer depends
solely upon agriculture, but is inti-