The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1915-10-27
THE TAX COMMISSION.

Answering the objections made
against it, the Tax Commission of
South Carolina, has made report in
which it is asserted that there has
been no effort made to increase the
amount of taxes paid by banks in this
state, but that the effort has been
made to equalize the burdens as be-
tween the banks themselves; it be-
ing asserted that some banks are pay
ing a larger percentage of taxes, In
proportion to assets, than others, and
that in many counties of the state
property belonging to banks and as
sessable has been for years illegally
exempted from the payment of taxes.
We do not doubt but that these as
sertions are true. And in so far as
the banks only are concerned, moth
ing more has been done than should
have been donesperhaps.
But that is not the question. The
statement is made and is not disputed
that the banks, cotton mills, and rail-
roads are paying and have been pay
ing more than their share Of the
taxes for years. Why then is it that
the first attempt at equalization is
against the people who all along have
been paying the taxes? Who faith
cred the present tax law anyway?
Does its real author believe in equal
taxation as between all the property
of the state liable to taxes, or does
he believe that the corporations
should pay all, or greater proper
ton, of the taxes than other tax
payers?
1t is no answer to the question and
to the objections to the present pro-
ceedings to say that real estate can
not be re-assessed until 1918. Why
wasn't the law so framed that it
could be so re-assessed. And if the
property of each class must be first
uniformly assessed, why is it that the
restrictions against re-assessing real
estate are allowed to stand when that
is the property which most needs re-
assessing?
We are willing to concede that the
tax laws of the state need adjust
ments; we are willing to concede
that the present Tax Commission is
able to do the work of re-assessing
and equalizing the property of the
state for the purpose OF having every
species of property bear its own just
burdens; but we assert now that un-
til law is passed which will allow
this, that no body of men should be
allowed to tinker with the assess
ments on one kind of property while
other property is bearing practically
none of the burdens of the govern
ment. Why is it that the sick man is
not first doctored?
The tax commission may not be
to blame and the blame may be laid
at fhe door of the legislature. If
the legislature is responsible, then
it should shoulder the responsibility,
repeal the present law, or amend it
so as to make the scales balance; and
provide for a commission with juris-
diction over all the property Of the
state. No re-adjustments should be
put into effect until the whole field
is readjusted.
If it takes this year to equalize the
banks among themselves, we presume
it will take another year to equalize
the Cotton Mills among themselves,
and then maybe two years to equal
ize the railroads among themselves,
then we shall have the Oil Mills, the
building and loan associations, and
other corporations; and after this
we shall be compelled to equalize
these several classes as classes, so
that we will probably get down to the
people who do not pay taxes early in
the next century.
THE STATE TAX COMMISSION.