The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-08-03
NEEDED-A BETTER SCHOOL
SISTEN-NO. 4.
BY Prof w. IL. Hand. Inspector
State High Schools.

4
the problem of the distribution of the
o-mill constitutional tax seems to be
20 make at least a part Of that tax
state tax. Two of the three mills
might be distributed in the counties
where the tax is collected. as is now
done, while the other one mill would
De distributed as State tax on the
basis OF enrolment, whatever enroll
ment may be defined to be. There
seems to be no more Justice, equity.
or common sense in disbursing the g.
mill tax by counties than there would
be to disburse it by districts in the
counties, according to the amount
each district paid.
| The question naturally arises why
not make the entire 3-mill tax a State
tax to be distributed on the basis of
enrolment throughout the State.
The very serious objection would
arise: l. A 3-mill school tax levied
on one part of the State for the sup
port of schools in another part would
be regarded as unjust as the present
system in view of the importance Of
the 3-mill tax in relation to the total
school revenue. Were every district
in the State levying a local tax Of even
= mills, the whole aspect of the mat
ter would be changed, and the OBJ
lection just mentioned would not be
vrlid. 2. Such a use Of the 3-mill
tax would stif1e the most healthful
and promising feature of school sup
port-local taxation. whict intensi-
fies local interest in the schools.
Whatever else is done, nothing should
be done to discourage the spirit of To-
cal taxation which has taken possess
sion of most Of our people. 1t has in
1t the spirit Of devotion and sacrifice
which promises SO much to education
| From certain quarters has come the
offer to abolish the 3-mill tax or to
reduce it. / cannot believe that there
will ever come together a legislature
so short-sighted and lacking in civic
spirit and insight as to do either To
do either would be the death OF the
rural schools. The lawmaker ready
to take such a backward step needs
rest-at home.
There is little doubt that in some
counties the school revenue might
he materially increased, if a full reg
istry of polls and dogs were made.
Even if the school fund were not ma
Iterially increased by such registra-
ton. some good would follow. A poll
tax dOdger is not a good citizen, and
an untaXed yellow cur is q dead eX-
lpense to the community. 1t might be
we'll to make some investigation Of
these two items.
Far above everything else is need
ed an equitable and honest return as
to the valuation Of property. SO long
as property is braZenly returned at
ten and fifteen per cent of its sale
value, SO long shall we have made
quate revenue, uneIenly distributed
tax burdens, and dishonest tax re-
turns. We claim to have a fifty or
sixty per cent basis for tax returns.
Let us see how that basis is regarded.
In November, 1910. a certain man in
Bamberg county bought tract of
land for $4,000; in February follow
ing he returned that tract for taxa
tiOn at S1,920, or just one tenth of
it's valuation as he agreed to in pur-
chasing it. During the same year a
skirts of the town of Anderson at
500 an acre; when he made his re-
turn in February following he valued
it at 500. He was told that $40 was
enough. This kind of thing is almost
universal throughout the State. In
every county. year after year, are
thousands of acres of land. houses.
horses and other kinds of property
returned for taxation at less than
20 per cent of real value. 1t is use
less to set up the fallacious cry that
only the invisible property OF the
State is either not taxed or taxed at
only fraction of its value. All
kinds of property are returned and
taxed on this dishonest basis. The
state is not only permitting it, but
it is actually compelling people to
make dishonest returns. | wish to
| inquire very seriously what manner
lof citizenship is to come from such
practice, and who is really to blame
for it? This is Il question of morals
land it not to be passed over lightly
What is either the consistency or the
J CnmmOn SnnSo In thunlnrinp am. in Il