The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-09-16

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sGe .eGe> {: s7=-y :,ciieSs II the state
.TG> G,gScl:, ;:12;;;;ld tee States HaaGct&
be s.1;;.cA tnl2ro>ed Can we dcfaal;
rG The interest CT or horGs, Sto2 cen
sioa:nE the :eteraEs. C.: turn the in
mates out and close the asylum doors:
Clearly there is nc remedy here. and
any appropriations hat caa be or will
be cut Will not affect the result. and
will leave the necessity now upon us as
apparent as before.
INCREASE THE LEVY.
eau the levy be increased? While
it is within the authority OF the gen.
eraI assembly to increase the levy to
any amount necessary to meet the
needs Of the State, and clearly it must
be increased if other remedies are re-
jected, 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. II the next
general assembly attempts to thus
raise sufficient money to pay the out
standing notes of the treasurer, anc
to raise a sufficient amount to meet
necessary appropriations, a levy cf
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
0ne-half mill.
This levy of seven and cne-half or
eight mills would be nearly three times
the average direct levy in the other
States OF the union. We can only ap-
oreciate 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
iny an added inducement to the own
ers OF real and personal property to
erade an excessive demand by the
State government.
Is not the present ridiculously low
returns 70: assessment in many quar-
terS due t. Il feeling with many people
chat 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 a 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 Is States of the
union received that year from ali
sources Sl24, ,925. 920 of which only
$40. .666, ,40S came from general proper
ty taxes. South Carolina received thas
year from all sosrees Including phos-
phaue royalty, which, like the States
dispeDSaIy income, has vanlshed) ST.
l5G, 500, of which SS45, 7OS came from
the general property tax. Thus the
States collectively raised only two
tfths 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-
sented to the world at large. How
ever, 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
mort 6f government
For the foregoing reasons, I would
suggest as the most practical means
of recuifying 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 hree-tifthS of the
various sums required for their sup
port, and I 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 end,,rse or
recommend the schedule fixed in this
bill, as your committee and the mem
bers of the general assembly are well
qualified to determine what would be
fair and equitable, and what excep-
tions, if any, should be made therein.
I would 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 modl-
hcations and amendments should be
made to it, and to the general law for
the formation Of corporations, which
I 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
cn1a), ,,,,op orric,,1tura h,lt .jS init