The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1911-01-26
GETTING RIGHT.


error in stating that taxes are six
times higher in Bamberg than in Col
Teton this year, but, we say to him
in all kindness, that he should have
investigated this matter thoroughly
before making such statement,
which did his county harm. He seems
to have been talking about taxes
paid in Colleton several years ago
and comparing them with the present
rate in Bamberg. Therefore we said
he was mistaken, which we knew
was the case, for the report of the
comptroller general for the past year
gives Colleton a higher levy than
Bamberg.
Taxes are higher this year In
every county which voted out the
dispensary, and they are higher all
over the State, in fact they have
been increasing for several years.
While the levy has not increased in
some instances, the valuation of
property has been raised. Horses
and mules which cost 500 a few
years ago now cost 5000 and more,
therefore they are returned higher
for taxation. Real estate has doub-
led in valuation, both city and country
property, therefore the valuation has
been raised, and it makes taxes
niger. Farming lands which could
be bought for $1,000 an acre in
Bamberg few years ago cannot
now be bought for $50 or $40 an
acre, and, as is we'll known, this in
crease in values has been general,
except possibly in some counties like
Colleton where there is large area
of low land, uncultivated and unim-
proved, only good for pasturage, and
of course in a case like this there
has been no increase in values.
Mr.. Brabham has been a reader
of The Herald for many years, and
he will no doubt remember that for
all this time we have persistently
begged our legislators to reduce ap-
propriations for State and county
purposes. New Offices have been
created by the legislature, salaries
of county officers increased, and in
fact the appropriation bill of the gen.
eral assembly has been larger each
year for the past ten years. This is
the reason for higher taxes. True,
the yearly expenses of Bamberg
county have gone from $4,000 to
$4,000 or more, but we are not
prepared to say there is any corrup-
ton or extravaganza in our county
affairs. We understand that the ex-
penses for last year were less than
the year before, and we are glad to
hear it. But there seems to be a
general tendency to extravaganza in
public affairs, and our present Sen
ator has been voting against these
excessive appropriations in the gen.
eral assembly for years. But we be-
lieve Bamberg county is as economi-
cally managed as any county In the
State, and it is for this reason that
our tax rate is no higher than it is.
But we are with Mr.. Brabham in a
fight for lower taxes, and we agree
with him that the burden is too
heavy, but high taxes are not con-
fined to Bamberg. It is general
condition all over the State, and the
main reason for it is the excessive
appropriations and new offices and
new expenses created by the general
assembly.
Only one thing more, and then we
can drop this discussion of taxes in
Bamberg and Colleton. Will not
Mr.. Brabham now write letter to
the Press and Standard and say that
he has not paid taxes in Colleton in
several years, and that he was COM
pairing what he paid then in Col
Teton to what he pays now in Bam-
berg? All we want is the matter set
before the people in all its bearings.
We don't want to throw any dust in
the eys of the people of Warren
township. Let them have all the
information possible, but let it be
correct. There is no fairness in
comparing taxes in Colleton several
years ago with this year in Bamberg.
Take the year 1910 for Colleton and
Bamberg and see if there is any diff
fere1ce. That is the only fair way,
for the people of Warren township
are not concerned in what was done
years ago. They are interested in
what is being done now and what is
likely to be the case in the future.
Frankly, Mr.. Brabham has not been
exactly fair to his own county in
his comparison, but if he will now
explain to those good people, why 1t