The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-12-23
WANTS REFORM
Cenphellsr-Geueral jones Scores Big
Corporations for
DODGINC THEIR TAXES

1lc OSSkE--C1 = bA-SS AS~A GO S~'-AS~k oS
Are Asseased for Two Little. and
Ment1oos Eazseo Of soH.e OF
Them--Speoke In His Criticism Of
Persons Of Large Wealth.
1T looks ns II the malefactors Of
great wealth" oaid Comptroller Gen
eral Jones recently. have set asiie
the laws and adopted low assess
ment and a high rate. 1t catches the
wage Garner and man Of moderate
means a'coming and a'going."
"The law of this State requires
that all property be assessed at its
true vale in money" he continued
in speaking Of the matter of taxa
tion and assessment For the past
twenty years the comptroller general
has been fighting for an equalization
OF property taxation both In refer
ence ito z the corporations and the
small taxpayer. Little has been gain
cd by the comptroller'e onslaught,
yet 1t has had it's moral effect.
That there Is inequality IN the
assessment OF street railways. power
companies and such enterprises Will
be pointed out In the annual report
of the comptroller general. Espec-
tally does Mr.. Jones direct attention
to the assessment Of the. Charles
ton Light ami Power Company.
which is assessed at 9.S per cent OF
ito capital etock. The capital paid
In Of this company 10 100000,
while the assessment for taxation
is $4,000.
Comptroller General Jones Is try
Ing to get more information as to
the lighting and power plants Of the
State. In many cases the value OF
the property was not given 80 that
It cannot be seen exactly upon what
basis the taxes are placed. A strik-
ing example is the case Of the Green
Vile .Ges and Electric Company, the
capital stock OF which .fa s6S, 500.
willis the assessment for taI1tion
is s14s.as5. or, 26S per cent Of the.
capital pasd in. ~
Evidently the property. must be
worth this much or It would not
have been assessed at this rate.
while in the case OF other companies
the per cent of capital for taxation
appears to Comptroller General
Jones to be much lower than 1t
should no.
The Columbia Gas Light Company
has a pali in capital Of 100000;
gross receipts, s5S,734; assessed for
taxation $50,800; per: cent of capt.
tai assessed for taxation, sos.
Some Instances Cih d.
Charleston Light and Power CON-
pany-Clpital paid in $1.O00.O0o;
gross receipts S118,976; assessed for
taxation, $4,000; per cent OF capt.
tai assessed for taxation. 9.S.
Greenville Gas and Light Com
pany-Capital paid In $53,5oo; gross
receipts. $5s,047; assessed for tax
alton, $143,235; per cent Of cap tai
assessed for taxation, 26S.
Paris Mountain Water. Company
Capital paid in S2oo.oOO; gross re-
ceipts, s45,Os9; assessed for tax
alton. ss4.e1o; per cent OF capital
assessed for taxation. 43.
Union Power Company-Capltal
paid in, $so0,OOo; gross receipts
$SO,213; assessed for taxation,
s4OO, 900; per cent Of capital assess
ed for taxation. so.
Greenville Carolina Power Com
pany-Capital paid in S450.O00;
gross receipts. s51.225; assessed for
taxation, S71.2o5; per cent Of CAPT.
tai assessed for taxation, 1873.
Beaufort Waterworks Capital
pa d in. $4,000; gross receipts, 81.
923; assessed for taxation, $4,000;
per cent. so.
Rock Hill Light and Power Com
pany-Capltal. $150,00O; gross re-
ceipts, s12.406; assessed. s36,126;
per cent. "a.
Cam len Water, Light and Power
Company-Capltal, 100000; gross
receipts, S24,511; assessed, S23,lOO;
per cent. 23.7
Georgetown Electric Light Com
pany-Capital. $4,000; gross re-
ceipts. s18,SS7; assessed. $1,000;
per cent. A.
Anderson Water. Light and Power
Company-Capital, 100000; gross
receipts, $111,O60; assessed, s128,-
555; per cent. 42.s.
Hartsville Electric Light and Wa
ter Company-Capital. $4,000; gross
receipts. s4.336; assessed for taxa,
tlon, $1,000; per cent, so.
Florence Light and Power Com
pany-Capital, $4,000; gross re.
ceipts, s14,197; assessed, $11,500;
I per cent. %.
Columbia Electric St. Railway
L. AMI Power Company-Capital
s90O,O00; gross receipts. s108.139;
assessed, sl50,000: per cent, 1873.