The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-12-13
..fD,
sDAY. DEceM5Ea 10, 49,.


The Sumter Wctchnsaa was founded IL
1850 and Tie True Soastlerora in 1866. The
I WatcAndas and Soutaroa now mas the com
I bined circaia5ion and influence OF both o1
! the old p@ps4s, and Is roanifessly the best
advertis,ag medium N Sumter.
B Comptroller General Jones under
took herculean task when he set out
{ Go accomplish the reform of the en-
tire tax system of the State and the
enforcement of the law requiring the
return Of all property at its actual
market value. 1t is to be hoped that
he will succeed, but he selected an
nnpropitious season for 1906 is cleo
ton year. ALI the county auditors
VIII probably be candidates to succeed
themselves and few will be found
among them who will run the risk
OF offending the voters by insisting
upon the return Of all property at
actual value which would mean, in
many cases. tie quadrupling Of the
valuation of the property on the tax
books. In the long run the reform
advocated by MT. Jones would not in
crease the amount Of taxes paid, but
would, in fact, bring about a reduc-
ton of the taxes of a majority Of the
small property owners, while forcing
the big corporations to pay their just
share Of the cost Of government. The
first year, however, the men who now
make approximately honest returns
would pay more taxes, for until it has
been clearly demonstrated that the re-
turns have been made at the actual
value it will be impracticable to re-
duce the levy for State and county
purposes. This would cause an ap-
posing hardship. but it would be
small property owners would pay only
q few dollars at most more than they
now pay, while the big property fell
lows would be forced to pay hum
sdreds OF dollars that they now escape.
The men: who make honest returns
would be relieved OF this extra taxa
SHons when the levy was reduced, while
the men who had thertofore paid
taxes on q How valuation would con-
tinue to pay their legitimate share Of
faxes.
The cotton growers should be
thankful that it did not occur to Sec
:retary Of Agriculture Wilson to in
sclude the weight Of the cotton seed
IN his estimate OF the number of bales
IN the present crop. It IS true that
Thanksgiving has passed but it is vel!
&c remember at all seasons special
causes for Thanksgiving. TT ne had
counted IL the seeds as Wei as the
bagging and ties he could have just
as easily have figured out a gross
weight Of cotton equivalent to 25,ooo.-
poo bales:
q n Superintendent of Education |
Martin is So dead set on abolishing |
the Citadel he should make his cam |
paign for re-election-it is taken for |
eranted that he will seek reelection
on that platform. BY SO doing he viii |
ascertain whether the people want !
Martin or the Citadel as permanent |
part OF tae educational system of the
State.
The extreme care with which Pres
fdent Roosevelt avoided saying any
thing definite concerning t9riff revis-
ion should commend him to the stand
patters for another term.
Col. T. Larry Can't, once again Of
Georgia, predicts that G. Duncan Bel
linger will oppose Senator Tillmaa
when he stands for reelection, ard
that Governor Heyward will succeed
senator Latimer. This prophecy will
cause diseuietude in not a few breasts,
for there are several sets Of eyes fixed
son Latirner's senatorial seat.
The Russians seem hel.-bent on
rivaling, or surprising on similar
lines, the horrors OF the French Revo-
iution. NIne Russians seem to be
woefully deficient in originality and
the events that have marked the
progress of the revolution indicate
that the leaders have studied the his
tory of the French Reign of Terror to-
some purpose.
Comptroller General Jones in his
crnsa6e for honest tax returns should