The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1904-02-24
SLOT MACHINES,
Except Those Where There is No
Element of Chance,
ARE DEAD IN SOUTH CAROLIA A.
The Franchise Tax Bill Passed.
Several Other Bills keceive
Their Third Reading in
the Senate.

Their Third Reading in
the Senate.
At the morning session of the SEN
ate Wednesday two bills of much M
portance were disposed of. The slot
machine bill provides with certain
amendments that no machines shall
beeither operated or kept on any ones
premises. The exemptions made are
as to machines in which the coin put
in gets certain and uniform return
and in which there is no element of
chance. The other bill is that to tax
the franchises of corporations, that is,
on a basis of the amount of business
done. Both Of these bills were sent
to the house.
AS said, the slot machine bill was
amended so as to exempt weighing,
measuring, musical and vending ma
chimes and all machines which give for
the coin a certain fair and uniform
return and to which there is no ele-
ment of chance. Thus it is seen that
slot gas and electric meters, telephone
booths, shoe lace, chewing gum ma
chimes, weighing machines and those
of like kind will not be shut out.
The exemptions were made through
amendments by Senators Hydrick and
Sheppard. The bill also provides that
none of the machines not exempted
shall be kept on anyone's premises.
There was very lengthy debate on
the bill, some senators wishing to
exempt the slot machines indicated,
others wishing to kill the use of all
and others taking the position that
the bill was striking against the rights
of the individual. The matter of
Chief Boyle's raiding the machines in
Charleston was closely linked with the
debate.
The immigration bill with its
amendments was received by the SEN
ate, which concurred in the amend
ments.
The tax commission's house bill to
require corporations to pay annual
license fees and to report their sta
tistics to the secretary of state came in
for discussion, Senator Raysor wishing
the reports to be made to the comp
troller general. His amendment was
adopted.
Senator Peurifoy opposed the one
half mill tax on the property values OF
corporations as he was convinced that
it would keep out Of the State foreign
corporations and force some domestic
ones to suspend business.
Senator Walker made an expected
move when he proposed to kill the bill.
He did not think that the State should
enforce double taxation and that was
what che bill amounted to. John
Smith, the merchant, cannot be taxed
but if his firm is the John Smith COM
pany he is subject to taxation unless
protected by limited liability" which
Senator Walker thought was really
meant by the constitutional convention
as help to corporate interests. He
could understand the taxation of the
intangible property of the express,
telegraph and telephone companies,
but the railroads own tangible proper
ty which could be taxed.
Senator G. W. Ragsdaie said he did
not think this was the right way to
raise money and that he agreed with
Senator Walker. He did not think it
would be just to exempt merchantile
institutions. 1t is not right to make
one pay a tax which his competitor
does not and thus it is not right to eX-
empt any. If money had not been eX-
pended so eXtravagantly i'll the past 10
years there would be no need for the
bill.
Senator Hood thought there were
some corporations which enjoyed such
privileges that they should be taxed.
Others, however, enjoyed no more
privileges than individuals and they
should be exempted. He wanted to
strike out the section providing that
all State corporations OTHER than those
of quasi public nature be charged tile
one-half mill tax.
Senator Raysor spoke against any
distinction of this kind. He thought
any corporation of any kind should be
willing to pay the fee for the privilege
Of being Incorporated.
Senator Mcleod announced that he
was personally interested in mercan-
tile concerns and that he thought it
perfectly fair for them to be required
to pay this fee. They are not now re-
qllired under the present laws to bear
their proper share of taxation.
AS member of the committee
which framed the bill, Senator Mower
explained it purposes clearly and i'll
tellgently. lie said That it was
merely Il tax on the franchise OF the
The line was drawn
between quasi public corporations and
others. The committee had made the
most equitable di>pnsll ion That il.
could: nothing WAS taxed III HE tIiI
which is ulIlaXeu under the laws OI
the State for lire reason tnAt this one
i,alf mill tax is placed on Inc right Of
the r0rpora1 ions TO lu business and
the only tax now existing is Il proper
lv tax such Is on Pullman COM
NAMES. etc.