Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1914-10-01
COTTON CONGRESS COMMITTEE,
DRAFTS PROGRAME.
Features Are Warehouse System, De-
ferred Taxes, Bonding of Asy.
lum, Acreage Reduction.

pTOSTdnIne Oh leSlSlatlOn fOr con-
sfderation by the special session of the
general assembly to relieve the situa-
tion in South Carolina was proposed
in an interview here yesterday by w.
F. Stevenson of the Cheraw bar, who
is a member of the house from Ches-
terfield county. MIR. Stevenson left
yesterday afternoon for Austin.
where he will make an argument be-
fore the general assembly of Texas in
favor of reduction of cotton acreage
in 1915.
The programe proposed is as fol-
lows:
Establishment of State warehouse
system to store cotton.
Postponement Of the collection of
taxes, State and county for 1914
The issuance of $500, 900 in bonds
on the asylum property to place the
State on cash basis to provide for
the running expenses of the State
while the taxes remain unpaid and to
complete new asylum at State Park.
Reduction of the cotton acreage in
1915.
The opinion was expressed by Mr..
Stevenson that the reduction of cotton
acreage should be gone about in a di-
rect manner. For this reason a law to
require the farmers to reduce the
acrege will be introduced. He was
of the opinion that it might be well t.,
pass such measure regardless of the
action of other cotton producinl
States. "Such law" he said, would
cause diversification of crops"
Opposes Licensing Scheme
''The only other feasible way" said
Mr.. Stevenson, discussing the rcdua-
tion of acreage law. "is that suggested
by an occupation tax. My view is tha.
the farmer is bearing his just portion
OF the taxes now anil once we lead an
occupation tax on him it will be hard
Sto get it entirely off ana that is ad.
smittedly only endeaveFing indirectly
TO do what this will do directly and
;seQlIEss ~ X shahas -
and are more likely to sustain a direct
open efforts to accomplish this purpose
than an Indirect one which is accom-
pIished by burden Of taxation. The
series of measures outside of the
warehouse bill, are the result of nv
mature personal consideration of the
situation and wh6le not Eerfect I
think can be perfected SO as to result
in vast benefit to South Carolina. The
warehouse bill was prepared by John
i. McLaurin, but we agreed throughly
on the whole series as to the nearest
solution of our troubles. We need
quick action and in the language of
the Holy Writ, The Kings business
requires haste,
One of the measures prepared by
Mr.. Stevenson is intended to place the
State of South Caolina on a cash
basis. 1t is proposed to issue bonds
to the extent of $1,OOO,OOO on the
property of the State Hospital for the
Insane. This step will have to be voted
en- In the general election to be held
November 8 If favorable action is
taken by the general assembly, which
has been called by the governor to
meet in Columbia October 6. OF this
bond issue 100000 will be used to
place the State government on a cash
basis. The remaining $1,000, 900 will
be turned into the State treasury.
Part of this fund. or about $25O,OOO.
Will be used to reimburse the State for
the fund expended in the development
of State Park. Part of the fund
would be used to erect new buildings
for the patients of the State hospital.
Discussing the finances of the coun-
tics, Mr.. Stevenson said that action
on this would have to be taken when
the need of the counties were made
known at the extra session The need
of the counties, he said, would not be
urgent. and the matter might be car
ried over to the regular session in
January.
To Defer Collection.
Following is the joint resolution for
the postponement of the paymnt of
taxes:
Be enacted by the general as
senbly of the State of South Carolina:
Section l. That State and county
taxes of 1914 may be paid up to and
including the 18th of May, 1915, with
ou. any penalty being imposed, and
may be paid after May 10, 1915, and
up to and including October Is, 1915
with penalty of 20 per cent. added,
and thereafter execution shall issue
for such as are unpaid.
Sec. 2. That any taxpayer jof
South Caroline who does not pay his
taxes by the 18th of May, 1915, NAV
procure the abatement of the penalties
by filing with the county auditor his
affidavit that he has planted no cotton
during the year 1915, or IL he has
planted any he has not planted more
than so per cent of the amount
planted by him in 1914.
A"Sec. 8. 1t shall be perjury for any
ore to make false affidavit to pro-
cure such abatement"
w. F. Stevnson and John l.. Nc
Laurin were appointed as committee
from the Southern Cotton congress to
prepare programe for legislation to
relive the situation in South Carolina
The committee has made the fol-
lowing report:
trvxy, e,,,h,,,H tb;o hfII nd, tI,o hoo;. o.,