The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-05-12
Tuesday, May II, 1908.
THE STATES FINANCES

extracts from his annual report to
the last General Assembly at the scs-
sion Of 1908. These extracts con-
tain a great deal Of very valuable in
formation as to the finances of the
State and the financial system 1t is
a greatly pity that every taxpayer in
South Carolina cannot receive and
read what Mr.. Jones has to say and
study the figures which he gives.
1t is unfortunately too true that
our people Ito not understand the
financial system Of the State as fully
as they might ANA il is also Il fact
hiIhi Il great many mrmbrr> Of the lee.
I>Ihiurc 1t" not study these reports Us
they should and when it comes to en-
actin" laws which carry with them
appropriations, or when it come, to
III" consideration Of the appropriation
bIiI itself. inrN arc not H. Well inform
rd is th,'y ought /" be and therefore
cannot riu>idrr these questions aS in
trlli"rnliy rs they should.
w"rkin" Of the Stat, officials and
one Of The most efficient officials that
the State has ever had. lie has been
cndcavorn~ to lay before the lcnis-
lalnrr from year to year. the true con-
dlll"n of our finances and has made
suggestions and recommendations
which have received very little at
t.'uIi"n from the Lawmakers. lie haS
urged from time t" time that simple
justice demanded that Il change
Nh"nId be made 80 is to get ON sim
ri" business mr,h"LS in the matter
OF taxation and the collection and
expenditure Of the public funds. lie
has come to the conclusion after
careful study IF the situation that if
the State is to oct relief from This
nnbmSlnrSSlikr method il must come
from demand ON the part Of the
people and the taxpayers so tha
those whom they eject to represent
them Will not go ON in the lonS. and
SlpSh"d methods which have been of
force during many years and which
come largely from Il lack of proper
information and study of the question
by the law-lnakrrs themselves.
Ills desire is that the people shall
become aroused and demand Il change
TO Saner and more just and more
sound system Of assessment and taxa
t'"n. lie says that emo thoughtful
man can study the situation as it en-
isis to-day without being impressed
with the plain fact that any business
conducted like that Of the State and
county would soon be bankrupt.'
The constitution Of the State saws
That all property must be assessed
Tor aNaii"n at lis actual value. That
has never been dome nd even the tax
officers themselves when ihcy come to
assess corporate property have fixed
~ Il basis sixty per cent ON its actual
Nalrr. i" the tax payer himself il
makes httir difference whclnrr the
actual value is the basis or whether
sixty per cent or amy other per cent
Is fixed aS the basis. The important
question Is I" have all She property
assessed M inr same basis Of per cent -
ace. Then the hurdrm will bear cvcn-
~ "m all property.
Nt ON" 'lnlv we feet that i NnulI be
h'~t that aI property should h,. as
>r>'rd ut lis actual value hut an ,y-
pcrlrnr" in the legislature and a
somewhat close observation of other
legislatures has convinced lis that ihn
tendency /" extravaganza would Ne
much greater ii the assessments were
high than If thry were low and u COM
parlS"n OF the figures for the past
ten years will bear this out and thr
taxpayers cannot be criticised if they
q" not increase their assessments be-
cause on examination of the rimucs
Will Sh"w that is taxable values in
creased The tax levy did not dccrcas,
but the appropriation bill increased
III greater proportion.
Thr total taxable rruncrtv in South
Carolina in 1897 was i'm ro,md uum-
n'rS - 'o,oooo00. and the levy was
''Nr mills. The total receipts from all
sources were $3.50. .G02 10. The total
expenditures were :%S70.5O2. .G5, which
showed an eNcrSS Of revenue over on
prndltmcS of $l0l .O990I. The re.
cclpls from the office of secretary Of
state and insurance fees for 1897
were. combined, %20.G7l.G2,
The taxable property has gradually