The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-09-16
STATES I7TSs,(tEI1s
FaVORS RADICAL CHANGES.
He Discusses EateniSently Topics

In response to the request ot the
commission to suggest to the ieglSla-
ture remedies for the weakness in the
tax system. Mr.. Jesse 7. CAN'T,
secretary Of state. has made some IA
vestieationS which have convinced
himself of the necessity for d change
IN the laws. His very full report will
be sent 20 the commissioners before
their meeting in Columbia next
Thursday After reviewing the situa-
tion in this State, he quotes copiousiy
from the messages of Gov Nash OF
Ohio, Gov. Odell OF New York, Gov.
Van SAINT OF Minnesota, Ex-Gov.
TYLER Of Virginia, Gov. Beckham OF
Kentucky, Ex-Gov. VOORHEES, of New
jersey and Gov. Murphy of New Jer-
sey, all of whom approve a franchise
tax.
In his letter to the commissioners.
Senators Mower and Manning and
Representatives Moses, Thomas and
Tarum. Mr.. CAN'T says in part:
The first inquiry which must ad-
dress itself to you is that Ct the tinan-
cial condition Of the State, compared
with its condition in former years. "
He then submits a table compiled
from the official reports for the past
six years, showing the gross amount
realized from the State levy, the cash
on hand available aud to the credit CT
the general fund at the close or each
of said years. and the outstanding
obligations OF the governor and treas,
urer borrowed to meet current lDdebt-
edness. This table SHOWS that no tis-
cal year was ended with an >outStand
ing Indebtedness until 1901, when the
State was in arrears sl45.000, an
amount which was increased to $685.
S52 by the beginning OF the current
year.
Mr.. CAN'T continues:
1T will thus be seen that until two
years ago the State, while not on a
cash basis, generally received the ne"
years taxes in time to meet al re-
quired payments when due. although
on some occasions the treasurer was
compelled to resort to the expedient
Of overdrawing his account with the
banks. It shows that on the lst of
January last~although more taxes
levied foITne new year had been col
lecteSFhan ever before, the treasurer
ss21 sES1 outstanding notes for money bor-
roWed to meet current expenditures
aggregating 1926, ,S52.76 1t can be
: said, however, in partial explanation
of this condition, that for 1898, s92,-
600, and in 1899, 100000, was re-
ceived by the treasurer from the dis
pensary, and that the present condi-
tics. of the treasury is not entirely due
to an increase in the appropriations.
''For the present fiscal year, not
withstanding the fact that SSS,CO0
was received from the United States
government and used in payment OF
the appropriation for PENSIONS. s275,-
900 has already been borrowed by the
treasurer, which will doubtless be in
creased to $4,000, the full amount
: permitted by law to be borrowed, be-
fore the close Of the fiscal year.
RECEIPTS and EXPENDITURES.
''The appropriations which it is
usual to make exceed s1,125.000 each
year; the receipts of the State barely
exceed S1,000,000.
1T will thus be seen that not only
is the States finances in comparably
worse conditions than six years ago.
that each year adds to our difficulties
floating indebtedness exceeding
100000 In his message to the gen
ecal assembly in 1898, Gov. Ellerbe,
who had been comptroller general,
and consequently was qualified to
speak with authority as to the condi-
tion of the State, asserted that THE
finances Of the States are in a very
unsatisfactory condition.
By refusing to borrow 500, 600, as is
often done, though have not saved
the State any great amount in the
way of interest charges, have re-
fused to sanction what appears to me
to be bad precedent. In his mes
sage to the general assembly OF 1899:
he said: The finances of the State
are still in a very unsatisfactory con-
dition. x The appropriations
must be cut down or the tax levy
raised" Gov. Ellerbe referred to the
necessity Of the State treasurer to
overdraw his accounts with the banks
during the summer months until the
collection of the new years taxes in
the fall could reimburse them, or to
borrow money sometimes for that pur-
pose. When he refused to borrow
money, it was with no idea that the
note would be outstanding at the close
Of the year, but would be settled from
taxes soon to be collected. The State
he deemed to have deficit of sl0),-
600, because it would have required
practically that amount at that time
to meet the current years appropria-
tions from the taxes assessed for the
expenses Of the current year. On this
basis the deficit was, in round num-
bers, $4,000 on Jan. last, and
it will reach approximately 100000
Oy GQe ne&G 1neellnS Ol une general as
sembly.
''The finances OF the State are un-
Questionably in deplorable condition,
and that some remedy must be found.
and that at once, is unquestlonable.
-Four alternate remedies suggest
themselves:
First, Reduction in appropria-
tions.
Second An increase in the levy.
Third. An increase in assessments.
Fourth. New sources Of revenue
REDUCE APPROPRIATIONS.
s'Is it possible to reduce appropria
tions to sufficient amount to come
WITHIN the present available income OF