The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1915-12-31
STATE BOARD URGES
MODERN TAX SYSTEM
BANK ASSESSMENTS IS PRESENT
OBSTACLE.
The Proposed Constitutional Change
Delegates Increased Power
to Legislature.
State.


The State
The State tax commission created by
an act of the last general assembly to
equalize the tax system of South Caro-
ina has completed its first annual re-
port, which is being mailed out to the
members of the general assembly.
A letter from A. w. Jones, chairman
of the commissioqapac accompanying the
report is in part as follows:
in handing you copy of our first
annual report, We would call your at
tention especially to the necessity for
amending the constitution, so as to re-
move the restrictions On the general
assembly with reference to the taxing
power in order that the legislature
may be free to adopt from time to time
such system as to it may seem best,
and to our recommendations for the
classification of property, for the pur-
poses of taxation, instead Of the pres
ent uniform system Of taxation OF
property for all purposes.
ut has been utterly impossible to
enforce the general property tax with
uniformity, equity or efficiency against
the modern forms of wealth known
as intangible property, and even as
to tangible property, the values of
which can be more definitely deter
mined. The amendments to the con-
stitution recommended by us would not
n themselves effect a change in tax
alton, as the tax laws would have to be
changed by the legislature.
1--WE do not wish to impose our judg-
ment in these matters on the people.
What we wish is that the bonds which
prevent the legislature from substi-
tuting modern and equitable methods
of taxation which has been found ad-
vantageous in other states or which in
it's wisdom may devise, for the unsat-
isfactory methods 10 which the present
constitution binds U.S."
Taxation of Mortgages.
The commission also calls especia!
attention to the recommendations as
to taxation of mortgages and a survey
of the state. "Such survey is an abso-
lutte necessity in order to place ali
Hands on the tax books" says the com
mission.
T&a report Gays that the commission
I'D nat realize e2e serious difficulties
which might he thrown in the way
% block 5he reforms in asses aments
anttI they attempted to gather inform
.icn from the banking corpo2>tions to
snow the actual true value Of the
banks and bank stocks" The Incl
dental effect of the plan Of the COM
mission, the report says, was to reduce
the amount Of taxes to be paid By some
banks and increase the amount to be
raid by others.
"The abolition of an arbitrary con-
stitutional three-mill school tax, and
the authorization of a flexible levy to
meet the amount of appropriations by
the general assembly, for state, county
and school purposes, is essential to
satisfactory readjustment and reform
of present taxing methods in this state,
and to an equitable assessment and
taxation of property for the purposes
of meeting the annual appropriations,
and the avoidance of inequalities and
unnecessary taxation" says the COM
mission.
Real Estate.
The commission states that it had
no right under the law to assess real
estate. 1t can only review the assess
msnts.
| The assessment of textile properly
By the commission shows an increase
of $1,SO1,O27 as compared with last
year. The increase in the value Of
railroad property for taxation is fixed
by the commission as $939,161. The
ralue for street railways, light, heat
and power companies as assessed for
taxation was s4,4S2,3S6 over the val
uation as fixed by the county boards
in 1914.
The commission states that through
investigations, in checking up the
duplicates and statements prepared
by the county auditors with the pub
,:.r,Aa ,.nrn,.ts made nv certain loca!