Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1915-08-20
DOESN'T LIKE THE TAX


going to pay or fight" said Mr.. w. R.
Carroll yesterday when asked about
n rumor to the effect that he had re-
fused to pay the special license tax on
all businesses which the town III
thorities have decreed must be paid by
August rs. II have seen two lawyers
about the matter and they have advis-
ed M to pay the tax and then fight
It," continued Mr.. Carroll, who said
that the town authorities have i'm
posed the tax in the full knowledge
Of the fact that it will not pay a mer-
chant to pay the tax and then bring
suit for the refund of his money.
1T is not fair" stated Mr.. Carroll.
For instance, Mayor Wilborn is
treasurer of the Peoples Building and
Loan Association of Yorkville. He has
levied a tax Of 81 on his association.
| On the other hand he imposes a IL
cense Of 81 per year on a common
bootblack. The capital stock Of the
Peoples Building and Loan Associa-
ton Of Yorkville Is $4,000 or more
| { don't remember what 1t is, although
l am a oclholder In h institution.
The capital Of q bootblack is-well,
you know what-say 20 cents.
"Thcy nave put a $40 license on cot
ton buyers; $40 on fertilizer dealers
and IS On cotton seed dealers. The
farmers who trade in this town are
certainly going to pay 1t for the deal
ers will have to charge 1t In thei
bills"
MY total tax will Re about $685."
| continued Mr.. Carroll. "On the other
hand, none Of the mills even pay that
much. II deal in several commodities.
They charge me $40 for selling merch-
andise; $40 for handling coal; IS for
wood; $40 for my warehouse; $40 for
dealing in cotton and IS for handling
| cotton seed. 1t Is not fair. Let's look
at the warehouse enc Of it," continued
Mr.. Carroll.
Here are three warehouses, n of
them with a capacity approximating
1000 bales, another $500 bales and
mine LOO bales. Do you think it looks
right that l with storage room for only
LOO bales, should pay the same as
others who have twice and three times
the storage capacity?
When / was mayor" continued
Mr.. Carroll, I'VE conducted the af-
/ ldlI5 VI lllC lo"h oA ~
they have q 10-mill levy in addition to
fines. That Is not enough. They have
| put on q license tax and / will tell you
like / told Mayor Wilborn yesterday
that any fairly competent business man
| can take the present 10-mill levy and
run the municipal government, do
more street work than Is being done
and still run the government at a saw
ing to the taxpayers.
when l was mayor away back
yonder, we put in u new boiler, a new
pump and other supplies at the water
works plant and all was included in
the 3-mill revenue. Since I was mayor
we have added two cotton mills, a
bank and numerous residences to the
town, and it seems to me that these
| additions should so increase the tax
able property that we should need no
| license tax" said Mr.. Carroll.
Just at this time, some Of our people
are engaged in raising a hullabaloo
about boosting the town, ETC., and
| while everybody wants to see progress,
1t seems to me that in view OF the fact
| that right now we have a number OF
| empty storerooms in which we would
| all like to see business going on, in
| stead Of taxing people to occupy the
| rooms. It seems to me that 1t would
be much better to offer them some in
ducements to come here. Among the
empty rooms l have in mind Is one In
the McNeel building, one belonging t.
| O'Leary, one belonging to Dobson, one
in Stroup's building, one in the Nichols
building and one in the Latimer build
ing. 1t Is going to take q good deal
more attraction than Is apparent to
make people want to pay this unrea-
sonable and unjust tax to occupy these
storerooms.
a." continued Mr.. Carroll, "am one
Of those who are interested to know
where the present taxes Of the town
are going, and with that end in view
1 have addressed this letter to the
mayor Of the town:
Yorkville, s. c., Aug. 16, 1915.
Hon. j. c. Wilborn,
York, S. c.
Dear Sir:
/ would like you to have clerk OF
town give in writing, amount received
by town for last year, from taxes,
fines and water and light and all other
sources. Also let mt know how much
your bonded indebtedness is and what
rate they carry. Also your contract
with Southern Power Co., for power.
Thanking you in advance for this
information, / am,
Yours truly,
w. r. Carroll.