The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1916-02-24
BaSAssD or REVIEW OVER
STATE TAX COMMISSION

1
The establishment of board 1. re-
view over the state tax commission Is
provided for in the bill enacted by the
legislature. The bill would, 1t was
said, cure several defects in the 1915
statute and would place the powers
ana duties Of the commission in more
definite terms
The bill alone provides that the
commission shall have power to
equalize the assessment Of all prop
erty IN this state between persons,
nrms or corporations of the same ass
essment district. between cities, towns
and townships of the same county, and
between different counties of the state,
ana the property assessed by said
commission in the first instance"
The board Of review Of the action2
OF the tax commission will consist Of
seven members, one from each con.
gressional district, to be appointed by
the governor with the consent Of the
senate. The chairman Of this board
may be called upon by the commits.
sion to advise with them concerning
any matter before them; reversal
of the decision of the tax commission
requires the votes of four members OF
the board. Members Of the board are
put upon a per diem of SIS and ex-
penses.
An important change in the new law
| Is providing that county boards shall
first assess the property, submitting
their report to the tax commission.
which shall then have the power of
equalization. Formerly the entire
matter was done from the office Of the
commission. II any assessment is in
creased by the commission a notice
shall be mailed; the aggrieyed person
may appeal to the board of review
This bill created discussion in the
house principally, however, over a sub
stitute bill to repeal the tax commits
sion act. The repeating bill was
overwhelmingly rejected.
The registration of land titles, as
provided in the bill by Messrs Carey,
ii. Fl. Harris and l.. M. Rogers, re-
Gently enacted, is voluntarily on the
part Of the petitioner Once secured,
however. the title bearing the seal of
the state can not be questioned; or If
questioned. no additional expense is
incurred by the holder who is protect
Ell under an assurance fund.
frohlb1tlon measures have met with
opposition, but have gone through
amended. At first the legislature
showed tendency to place nothing
but anti-liquor bills on the calendar.
DHt at the end of the session by
amending the act validating the pro-
hibition referendum election it was
thought that the wishes of the people
nave been carried out
Total Appropriations.
The aggregate appropriations are
s2,477,531.29, necessitating state
levy Of 6 1-2 mills.
The principal difference as passed
by the house and senate when on sec.
ond reading in each house is an ap-
preparation Of $4,000 to defray the
expenses Of the $4,80OO0 bond issue
by the sinking fund commission in or
der to retire previous bond issues by
the state.
The report also made an appropria-
ton Of 100000 for consolidated and
graaed schools, q compromise between
the house and senate
For the State Hospital for the In.
sane an appropriation Of 100000 Is
made FOR improvements with autlor-
ty to borrow $4,000 in addition. The
salary Of the superintendent Is placed
at $4,000
For tho maintenance Of the state
rcformatOry at Florence $4,000 is
given, the increase being largely due
TO the fact that 1t was found to be
the duty OF the state to maintain tho
institution
The report provides for $4,000 for
inc tuberculosis camp, leaving the ap-
propriaton for tho bureau OF vital
statistics at $4,000
Liquor Legislation.
With the exception OF heated re-
marks in connection with various
anti-liquor bills and the nibustcr
against the anti-compact bill the scs-
zion has been ono carried on with
decorum. The session has seen much
local Legislation enacted, as well as
practically all measures.
by tho adoption OF the free con
ference recommendation the state
levy was placed at IL mills for 1916
as compared with mills for 1916 as
compared with Z mills last year.
| This was the first time in about IL
years that the levy has been reduced
| from the preceding year. The diff.
| ferences between the two houses were
amicably adjusted, the principal inter.
est centerfnp IN the aecfion fc, ~
state Hospital for the Insane. The