The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1913-07-02

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want so much for their lands, and il
these lands were cut up into small
farms, how much the condition OF the
State would be improved, and so forth.
But the candidate never intimated that
he is big land owner himself, never
said anythne about how to cut up these
big plantations and get them owned
and occupied by small, but progressive
farmers. 10 fact ne merely mentioned
some unfortunate domestic conditions,
and pictured how much better certain
other domestic conditions would be,
without offering or suggesting any
remedy. and strange to say, the editor
of the big daily paper fell in and wrote
a long editorial, commenting upon and
commencing what the candidate for
governor had said, and he did not offer
any remedy either. The whole thing
looked like mere effort to get in the
papers. But I venture the voting peo-
pie are going to think below the surface
next summer.
By this time next summer South Car
olina will be in the heat of another
campaign, and the campaign parties
will be going from county to county,
and supposed to be advancing new and
beneficial ideas of government. l do
hope the masses of the people will do
some thinking by next summer, and
elect a governor who will recommend,
and members of the legislature from the
various counties who will carry cut,
some measures of real benefit. You
know the making OF few criminal
laws is small matter, and sometimes
wonder why so many members OF the
legislature will content themselv's At
trying to pass some little criminal stat
ute, or some little school measure per-
tanning tc some township in his county,
without ever touching or giving thought
to the larger questions which effect all
the people. The biggest question be-
fore the people of our State, 10 my
opinion. is this tax question. Nobody
will deny that our taxes are high
enough. and certainly no one will deny
that our present system OF taxation is
cumbersome and does not work equally
upon the people. We people who live
right here in the town of Manning pay
over 81 per cent taxes every year,
counting state, school, county and mu-
uicipal taxes, and then we have to pay
city license to do business besides.
Mark YOU. 1 said 81 per cent, not 81
mills. and if you do not believe it, count
it up for yourself. Under our present
system, the man who is honest and con-
scientious in returning his property at
its full value, or at even the supposed
taxable value, pays more taxes than
his neighbor who is not so scrupulous
and tries to pay as little taxes as posi-
bic. and under-values his property by
half, or even returns it at one-third or
oue-fourth its value, and the trouble is
that he gets off at that, and our present
laws seem to be utterly impotent in
their enforcement to make the tax
dodger pay what he ought to. Now /
could cite some specific instances TO
prove this, but do not want to be per-
sonal. Everybody knows the truth OF
what am saying In year OF peace
like this. and when we have no politics,
and everybody is working along max
ing a living, it is good time for peo-
pie TO think about question like this.
And il anybody in Clarendon is think
ing about running for the general as
sembly next summer, let him 20 to
posting himself on our tax system and
see if he cannot evolve a general tax
law that will put property on the tax
books in some sort of way that will
bear equally upon all. Now I know
that there are many difficulties which
will have to be overcome, especially
when the equalization among the va
rious counties in the State tax question
is considered, but our system can be
vastly improved. 1t would take too
much writing for me to even give an
outline of some changes in our present
tax laws which have suggested them
selves to me, but have some views.
do not contemplate running for gov
ernor or for the legislature myself, and
will content myself if can get pros
pective candidates for these Offices, who
are supposed TO be reformers apd ad-
Vanced thinkers, to take up this tax
question, and 90 to studying it. The
greatest need that South Carolina has
to-day is revision OF her tax laws, and
the man who can accomplish q good re-
vision and remodel our present laws
will be statesman, and not OILY make
name for himself, but be the greatest
benefactor TO his people and his State.
I am told that few of our neighboring
States here in the so:th have complete
ly remodeled and improved their sys-
tens of tax assessment. 1t can be done.
Why can't some of our legislators get
broad enough and wise enough TO do it
in South Carolina. OF course, it is
good big question, and will take some
study on the part of the man who tries
it. to frame the bill, and then still more
force to put it through, but it certainly
is needed in South Carolina. I do not
look for any practical suggestions on
this matter from the various candidates
for governor next summer, because that
bunch is going to try to play tirst this
political card for their benefit, and
avoid this political rock which might
work against them, so that the states
man who can accomplish the job has
got TO come from among the people 10
one of the counties, and 60 to the legiS-
lature. ! should like To see Clarendon
produce such a man. He will not only
immortalize himself, but be great
beuefactor to his State. II anybody con-
templates running for the legislature
next summer, now is the time for him
to commence studying the most import
tant question affecting our domestic
laws in the State.
The next article I write I am think
ing OF coming still nearer home and
discussing some local county laws that
we need My article is already too long
to take them up this week.
J. HARRY LESESNE.
Unsightly Face Spots