The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-05-18
after TAX DOGDES
MADE TO PUBLISH
TAX RETURNS.
Which Would Enable Everyone
to See the Return Made by His
Neighbor.

Comptroller General Jones says
that the plan proposed by Mayor
sherard, of Anderson, to publish the
tax returns is the very thing. The
Comptroller General has been CIV
ing thoughtful attention to equaliza-
ton of taxes, and he believes that If
the method of showing up the tax
payers by means of publishing the
returns is carried out the way to r=-
form will be started. Such thing
has been attempted in this State be-
for, but it has not been done. The
nearest to it was when a few years
ago the publication of the taxpayers
r:turns was threatened in Green
Vile. The income tax returns are
TO be published, and were published
last year, but the real estate and per-
sonal property taxes have not been
published at any time in this State.
The proposition advanced by May
or Sherard was made to the city
council of Anderson and there was
about an evenly divided opinoin as
to the wisdom Of the plan. But
Mayor Sherard thought that the pub
lication Of the taxes would show up
the inequalities better than in any
other way. The Anderson papers
state that there is said to be proper
ty in Anderson which is assessed as
low as per cent, and other proper
ty as high as rs per cent.
The following editorial in the An
derson Daily Mail explains the situ-
alton:
Mayor Sherard's proposition to
have the list of tax returns of tbs
city printed in the newspapers will
be approved by some, and will be op-
posed by others. We have an idea
that the number of those opposing
it will be larger than those favoring
it.
still, it would be good thing to
do. 1t would bring about a shak-
ing up and a readjustment that could
be secured in no other way, and it
is we'll known to all who have given.
any thought to the subject that there
is great inequality in the payment of
taxes by property owners.
Mayor Sherard's statement that
some property in the city is listed
at as low as per cent of its value,
while other property is listed at rs
per cent is startling, and yet we have
no doubt it is correct. Even those
who have never studied the matter
will accept the statement as correct,
for Mayor Sherard is not a man to
make rash statements. He knows
what he is talking about.
"And when such condition ex-
lists there should be readjustment.
This does not necessarily mean that
all property should be put on high
er valuation, but the man who has
been paying too little should pay
more, while the man who has been
paying too much should pay less.
There should be equalization.
1.-The only way to secure this is
by publicity, by letting every citizen
scrutinize the tax returns, so that he
may see for himself just what the
other fellow is paying. This can be
done only by having the list Of tax
returns printed in the newspapers.
This is done. as a matter of fact,
in some of the States by the State
authorities, and returns in each coun-
ty being printed in the local papers.
"Some years ago the school au-
thorities of Greenwood county had
the list of poll taxpayers of the coun.
ty printed in one of the Greenwood
papers. The cost, as We remember
it, was about $40, and several hum
dred dollars of delinquent poll taxes
were collected within a few weeks
afterward. The result of printing
the list was that every fellow was
paying poll taxes scrutinized the list
to see If his neighbor was paying it,
too, and whenever his neighbor's
name did not appear on the list the
authorities would be notified at once.
I'VE feel sure that results of the
same kind would be secured by print