The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-10-23


of the property for the purpose of tax
alton, the amount paid by some banks
has been increased, while the amount
paid by others has been reduced. This
is necessary incident to the equaliza-
ton Of property for the purpose Of
taxation, and shows that the work Of
this Commission is for eQualizing and
not adding TO the burden Of the tax
payers. We do not go into detail at
this point as to the figures in other
counties but they will be found in an
other part Of this report, and we sub
NIT the result to inspection by the
Governor, the General Assembly and
the taxpayers Of the State, confident
that when they review our action it
will meet with their approval, and
that they will find that we have done
justice as between the banks of the
State.
The percentage required and con-
templated to be taken as the basis for
taxation by the Constitution, is 100
per cent, or, the true value of all
property, but the assessments have
heretofore been made at such q vary
ing percentage of the true value that
to at once undertake to apply the true
value, or to assess all property at it's
true value for purposes of taxation
would result in raising more money
than contemplated by the Appropria- =
ton Act, and would be revolutionary
ideal mode Of assessment, and to it
we must eventually come if inequali-
ties are to be avoided, but we cannot
equitably adopt it as to one class of
property until we are able and ready
to adopt 1t as to all. Before any
equitable basis of assessment can be
arrived at the true value of all prop
erty must be first ascertained, and
this is the object of the Tax Commits
sion in its enforcement Of the tax
laws. But the condition of affairs ex-
listing when the Tax Commission COM
menced it's work prevents an imme-
diate assessment on such values. The
taxation of real estate and personal
property other than property OF cor
porations, has been q matter Of guess
work, and, of course, will continue to
he largely so. because of the difficulty
in arriving at the market value Of real
estate, and the changes that take eff
feet with reference thereto from year
to year. The statutes contemplate the
ascertainment Of the value Of real es-
tate once in every four years, and q
revision at such periods. If the legis-
lature desires a revision before 1918
rs now directed in the existing stat
utes. they should so declare, and they
should also fix the percentage Of the
true value Of real estate and all other
property to be taken as the basis of
assessment for purposes of taxation
One Of the reasons why the assess
ments on real estate and other proper
~ for the purposes of taxation has not
been at the true value of the property
has been the arbitrary mill COnstitu-
tional tax for schools, and the practice
Of the legislature in levying rate of
taxation to be assessed before the
assessments are made, and the amount
ascertained upon which the levy Is to
be made.
The abolition of an arbitrary Consti-
tutional mill school tax, and the
authorization of II flexible levy to NEE,
the amount Of appropriations made by
the General Assembly for State
County and School purposes, is essen.
tial to satisfactory REIMBURSEMENT of
present taxing methods in this State
and to an equitable assessment and
taxation of property for the purpose of
meeting the annual appropriations
and the avoidance of inequalities and
unnecessary taxation.
The restrictions Of the Constitution
upon the power of the Legislature to
classify the various kinds of property
in the State for purposes of taxation
should be abolished; the Constitution
al mill tax on all taxable property
Tor school purposes and the Consti-
tutional requirement for a uniform
and equal rate of assessment and tax
alton should be repealed. If such Con-
stitutional amendments were submit
ted to the electors at the general cleo
ton in 1916, and these restrictions ND
on the power of the LEGISLATURE re-
moved by amendments to the Consti-
tuition, many reforms would follow.
existing inequalities be remedied. and