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


gsaspnabl asseFt tsa that sslss State
gu Yff1Mp1 hd6j Hx tlti \ 90 d alaMiniss
tered tsr7ery2 ollesje sltf5 this Htate
Ejras closed would chs s tste ID ltlanceSi
be much improved Can 8wes default1
TN the slilteTest5 on IOlttS bond stop PEN
siontnR the eternnS, or turn tho In.
mates OUT and Close the asylum. doorsp;
Clearly there is no remed u here, and
anY-appropfiations that tscan be- orsWill
be cut will not affect theIsresult, and,
will leave the necessity now upon us as
apparent as before n y3is
INCREASE THE LEVY. " 5l
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 clearlyiit must
be increased If other remedies are re-
jected, this step would entail added
hardship upon those. citizens who, own
real property, and who .arc already
bearing more than their share Of the
burden Of government. II the next
general assembly attempts to thus
raise sufficient money To pay the c,I-
standing notes OF the treasurer, and
to raise a sufficient amount to meet
necessary appropriations, levy Of
seven and one half or eight mills must
be made; IL 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
ers Of real and personal property to
evadeN an excessive demand by the
State government.
Is not the present ridiculously low
returns for assessment in many quar-
ters due to a feeling with many people
that because their property Is tangible
they, are called upon to bear 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, it is shoWn that As States OF the
union received that year from all
sources Sl24 ,925, ,92O OF which only
$40, 666,40S came from general proper
ty taxes. South Carolina received that
year from all sources (ncluding phos-
phatc royalty, which, like the States
diSpeDsary income, has vanished) 81
i5G, 500, OF which SS45, 7OS came from
the general property tax. Thus the
States collectively raised only two
tlftIls 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 no other reason than that
the relative Importance and resources
OF the State should not be misrepre-
sentcd to the world at large. How
ever, l doubt il 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 Statrs of the union have been
enabled to raise three tifths OF the
various sums required for their sup-
port, and 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 by that body 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.
Iwould call your attention to the fact
that New York eXempts manufactur-
ing corporations from the payment Of
this annual franchise tax. l 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
at my suggestion, its practical opera
tion has convinced me that some modi-
iications 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 init