Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-01-17
TAX EQUALIZATION.

nual report to the general assembly
discusses at considerable length and
with much vigor, the question of tax
equalization and the generally made
quate enforcement Of the tax laws Of
the state. He maintains that the large
taxpayers do not pay anything like
their proportionate share of taxes as
compared with the small tax payers,
and charges widespread evasion of the
laws as the reason.
The obvious necessity Of taxation for
the support of state, county and mu-
nicipal governments explains the rea-
son for taxation at all and all the prin-
ciples of government, he argues uphold
the wisdom, justice and equity of
making each individual citizen bear a
just proportion of the burdens of ad-
ministration Of the laws.
AS an illustration Of the inequality
Of tax burdens on Richland real estate,
the comptroller cites as fact that a
single real estate firm published re-
Gently that during the year 1912 1t sold
$4,000 900 worth of real estate in the
city Of Columbia alone, and gave the
location of lots handled and prices paid
to verify the correctness of it's claim.
In view of the fact that residential
property in the city of Columbia is as
sumed to be returned at so cents on
the dollar, and that the entire real es-
tate returns of the whole Of Richland
county, including residential property,
mill property, store and office property
Is returned at only $10,685,673, the
comptroller thinks there is quite a lot
of tax lodging in Richland to say the
least Of 1t, although Of course he does
not assume that conditions in Rich
lo,, fhny a1o
The comptroller discusses at length
special laws as to the taxation of bank
shares and goes on to say:
1.-The persistence of the board Of
assessors in Charleston county in al
lowing these illegal exemptions to
banks, and now followed in York
county, was the occasion Of cor
respondepce between this office and
the Peoples National bank Of Charles
ton, claiming such allowance. The
claim was refused, and I hope the
bank will pay the tax under protest
and test the matter in the courts.
I'm York county the county board
of equalization undertook to, and did.
in violation Of the special law as to
the assessment and taxation Of bank
shares, and in face Of the decisions
of the court, called to their attention
In my report, tax the banks capital,
after exempting the amount Of their
investments in all classes Of non-tax-
able bonds, instead Of assessing the
value Of the bank shares against the
shareholders as required by law.
After the tax duplicates or books, had
been made up, the chairman Of the
county board of equalization attempted
to correct the assessment against the
First National Bank of Rock Hill ri
by ordering the county auditor to
charge back to the bank the invest
ments of the bank in United States
and Panama bonds, in violation Of
This would have rendered the entire
instructed the county auditor not tc
undertake to make this change on his
books. But by the failure Of the
county board to assess the bank shares
as required by law, these shares have
illegally been allowed to escape taxa
tion. The damage grew out of the
failure of the county board to follow
the law and my instructions, and their
failure to assess the bank shares
against their owners at their value,
less only investments of the bank In
redemption Brown consol bonds and
stocks issued under the act 1928.
1.-The differentiation of property
liable to taxation; the refusal or fall
ure of township boards of assessors
and county boards Of equalization to
make any effort to properly assess and
equalize the valuation for taxation Of
real and personal property, as requir-
ed by law, and their unwarranted as
sumption of power in allowing illegal
exemptions to banks; the farcical
meeting of the state board Of equali-
zation whose principal duty every four
years is to assess and equaliZe real
estate as between counties and sub -di-
visions of counties and the refusal or
neglect of this board to take any steps
toward such equalization Of valuation
of property, although the most fla
grant inequalities and violations of law
have been called to their attention, and
their assumption of an attitude against
reform in these matters is clearly de-
trimental and demoralizing to good
citizenship.
IF, l repeat, the masses of the peo-
pie are ever brought to a thorough
Of these facts and can see
for themselves that this condition has
the effect of defrauding them (not the
state) by forcing them to carry more
than their share of the burden, while
a thorough enforcement Of the assess
ment laws would secure an equality Of
the burden through reduction in the
tax rates, there would be n correction
t1n,