The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1904-02-19

existing conditions very much doubt
the wisdom of its establishment. 1t
is going to take money to run it, and
if the ideas of many of its advocates
are carried out, it is going to take lots
of money. Many members would not
be in the least surprised to see big
extra appropriation asked of the next
general assembly for the purposes Of
the new department.
Tax On Corporations.
The senate on yesterday slightly
amended and passed the bill proposed
BY the Tax Commission, and wh.c
has already passed the house, to re-
quire the payment OF annual license
fees by corporations. and requiring
them to make reports. The bill as
it passed the house provided that re-
ports should be made to the secre-
tary of state. The senate amended by
requiring that the reports be made to
the comptroller general. The bill will
now go back to the house for concur
renee in the amendments, none Of
which affects the main provisions Of
the bill.
This is one OF the several measures
proposed by the Tax Commission ap-
pointed by the last general assembly
to look into the financial condition Of
the State and to devise means where
by the deficit in the treasury could be
made up. The commission proposed
several measures but this and one
other were the only two TO ser
through the house.
The other bill referred to passed the
house yesterday, but has not yet
come to the senate. 1t is "bill to
Improve tax on gifts, inheritance, de-
vices, bequests and legacies in certain
cases." The main provision Of the
bill is that a tax of one per cent. shall
be levied on all estates or inheritances
of the value of $4,000 and over.
The bill to impose license on cor
porations, already referred to, de-
veloped some lively opposition in the
tors who characterized it as an effort
tors who charactized it as an effort
to raise money by imposing on the
corporations because members of the
general assembly were afraid to, i'm
pose anymore tax on their constit-
uents. In strong speech Senator
Walker, of Georgetown, called 1t
rank discrimination Il was also
urged that it would work hardship on
the small merchantile establishments,
who are in active competition with
individual merchants, uponwhom the
bill imposes no tax. The bill, how
ever, passed the senate by agood ma
jority, and only awaits concurrence
by the house in the minor amend
ments.
No Income Tax.
The house on yesterday killed the
bill proposed by the Tax CommlssloH
providing graduated tax on incomes.
The bill provided for a tax on in
comes OF 81 900 and over.
For Tax Dodgers
The honse has passed the Tax Com
missions bill to provide additional
measures and remedies for the COL
lection of past due and unpaid taxes
upon certain property which has es-
capped taxation.
Slot Machines Outlawed.
The senate on yesterday passed the
bill, already passed by the house, out
ilawing slot machines The bill as
amended by the senate provides that
it shall be unlawful for any one to
keep or permit to be kept slot ma
chine on his premises. Automatic
weighing, measuring and vending ma
chimes, which give uniform and fair
return for each coin, and in which
there is no element of chance, are
exempted from the provisions OF the
bill
State House Litigation.
Senator Manning stated in the sem
a;e Yesterday that Attorney General