The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-01-17
ANNUAL MESSAGE TO
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
ANSEL REVIEWS AF-
FAIRS OF STATE
Gives Information and Suggestions
Gathered From His First Years
Administration.


Governor Martin f. Ansel's an
nual message was transmitted to the
general assembly on Tuesday.
Following is II synopsis of the Mes
sage:
States Finances.
We are one Year behind in the as
scssmpnt and collection Of our taxes,
or rather We collect tho taxes ut the
end of the year for thc expenses of
the state government for the year
past. when w, should have the taxes
in hand al the beginning of the year
tn pay Inc obligations Of tI,, state rs
they NATURE This condition of things
frequently makes it necessary for the
state to borrow money before the tax
cs are collected to pay the running
expenses Of the State government and
the appropriations made by the gen
cral assembly. During this year the
governor. state treasurer and comp
trollrr general have had to borrow
$3.50, 900 for these purposes, the au-
thority for borrowing tire money hav-
ing been granted by you at your last
session.
| These conditions are likely to con-
tinuc year after year umless provision
is made to catch up. I. therefore,
recommend that ut least an extra
2-mill tav for state purposes be pro-
vidcA for at this session Of the lcgiS-
lmurc. the same to be done for the
next two years, when we will have ii
the treasury money sufficient to place
us where we will not be required to
borrow, but "can pay as we go.'
| Another matter which | desire to
call to your attention is that the ap-
timatr.( r"''"n"'. on II ! l2-mill
levy. ny ss.,iilL THOUSAND dollars
(sec rtport Of comptroller "rn>raD.
4 II is very evident to every thinking
business man that il al appropriation
is made the tax levy should be Sntli
cirnt to meet The same.
Assessment of Property.
BY the constitution, il is made yol,r
duty to provide "for a uniform and
equal rate of assessment and taxa
tion, and shall prescribe regulations
to secure Il just valuation FOR taxa
,on Of property, real. personal and
posscsSory, except mines and mining
claims, the products of which alone
shall be taXed.' All property should
, bear its jjnst proportion Of the taxes.
The question arises, How is the audi
tor to find out what personal property
the taxpayer has? suggest the In
miSitorial plan: Require the county
auditor to publicly administer 'p the
taxpayor aA oath requiring him +"
truly unswor concerning all bis pro,
perty OF whatsoever kind ami record
/ II on his tax return with the valua-
tion he places on same, which IS (" nc
afterwards cqualized by the town.
ship and county boards Of cqualiza-
ton. BY this means the value Of all
, the visible property, as well rs all
stocks, notes, bonds and money can be
arrived at, and much personal pro-
pcrty which now escapes assessment
, would be brought to light. More card
should be used by the county auditors
in receiving the returns Of the tax
payer. The oath should be admins
| tered and the party fully intcrrogatel
as to his or her property and tnc pro-
pnrty under his or her control. with
the valuation thereof. When this is
done publicly the noi%nbors who may
be present will know whether the val
uation is correct and the "tax dod-
gar' will be required to answer cor
roctlv or take the consequences.
Labor Contracts.
Governor Anscl calls attention to
:, !hc fact that the United States GOV
= cr..m"ni has declared tnc labor con-
. tract law: unconstitutional, and has
! ,.r following 10 say in regard TO the
J Tati"": recommend that YOU pass
7 q Sirin?crt act which will punish both
= landlord and laborcr for violation of
a labor contract, and make it mis-
demcanor for one person 10 employ
a laborcr who is under contract with
anOtncr Rtulpirc that These labor