The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1904-02-11
SENATE AND HOUSE
= Proceedings of the Two Branches Of
lfe General Assembly
MANY MATTERS Of INTEREST
What Ogr Lawmakers Are Doing
Dsy Ey Day-Bii!s That Have
Dscoms Acts.
HOUSE.

NJ !
At the :asS session Of the general
assembly the financial condition OF
the State Was brought 10 the attention
of the lawmakers in such way as to
make them Solicitous as to the future.
The annual expenditures were in eX-
cess OF the annual revenue. The ap-
preparations were kept as low as pos
sble without Gripping any depart
men, and a commission was-appoint-
ed TO investigate the situation and re-
port ways and means OF increasing
the revenue.
The commission consisted of Sen
ators Mower. of Newberry and Man
ming, Of Sumpter. Thomas of Richland
and Tatum of Orangeburg. Their re-
port has been published already in
The State. In accordance with their
finding. Mr. Moses. who is chairman
of the ways and means committee
OF the house. which introduces all
revenue bills, has presented four
measures to increase the receipts Of
the State treasury, In addition thereto
Mr.. jeremiah Sliith has bill to
change the entire system of tax pay
ing. but his bill merely regulates the
manner OF assessment and payment.
Mr. W. J. Johnson has bill to pro-
vide for q franchise tax Of one mill
on the capitalization of every corpora
ton conducting business in the State.
Mr. johnson also has bill to provide
for an excise tax or the gross re-
ceipts of all corporate is Except tex
tile mills and oil mills) conducting
business within the State.
But the bills to which particular
attention will be given on account Of
the semi-official manner of their pre-
sentation are the several measures
coming from Mr.. Moses of the tax
commission, one Of the most expert
enced. conservative and thoughtful
legislators in the State. The bills
which he has introduced are:
\ bill TO require the payment Of
annual license fees of corporations
doing business in the State, and to re-
quire them 10 report to the secretary
OF State.
A bill 10 amend the law as to the
graduated tax on incomes.
A bill 10 impose tax on gifts, in
heritances, deviSes, bequests and le-
gacies in certain cases.
A bill to provide additional meas
ures and remedies for collection on
past and unpaid taxes upon certain
property. which has escaped taxation.
A bill 20 amend the code of laws
Of South Carolina. 1902. in reference
10 the State board of assessors and
its duties.
A bill in reference to the duties Of
chairman of local boards of assessors
and their compensation.
WHAT THE BILLS MEAN.
The bill last named provides that
under the direction of the county au-
ditor the chairman of each township
board OF assessors shall make can
vasS at remuneration of $500 per
day and shall add such property to
the tax books as has escaped taxation.
The bill in reference TO the State
board OF assessors would do away
with the board of equalization of one
. member for each county. and would
nave OHt IlOul SdCu JuulEIdl CIlCuil III
stead The board would also assess
banks and railroad property as we'll as
textile industries.
The law as the income tax provides
that $500 is the minimum income
taxable. Mr. Moses bill brings the
minimum income to $1,000 and pro-
yides that on all incomes over that
amount shall be tax of
one halt of one per cent.
TIE income tax law as it
now stands is a farce. The amended
law might be of benefit.
The inheritance tax bill provides
for an assessment Of l per cent. on
every Inheritance. gift, legacy or be-
quest when the same is $4,000 or
more. This includes transfers by will
of deceased persons, whether they
lived in the State or were non-resi-
dents Also when the transfer is of
property made by resident or by
nonresident when such non-resident's
property is within the State, by deed,
grant, bargain, sale or gift made in
contemplation Of the death of the
grantor. vendor, or donor, or intend
ing to take effect in possession or en-
joyment at or after such DEATH"