The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-12-20
1tIiTloN iRoustS INTEREST.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY WILL LIKE
LIZ CONSIDER OTHER SOURCES
TO INCREASE FUNDS.
Liquor Question Calculated to Play
1mportant Part IN Coming Session.
Road Legislation Expected.

Columbia, Dec. 15.--There Is no diff
ference of opinion with regard to the
tax situation. More money is needed
to run the State government. Taxes
are supposed to be high; they certain
ly are high in certain communities
where old bond issues and extrava-
gances were inherited. The simplest
way TO collect additionar revenue
would be by direct taxation of real
estate. "+fN r"+' ~ "
The general assembly soon to meet
will most likely consider other sources
OF revenue. If these suggestions are
worked out along conservative lines
the new special taxes might prove
worth while and q relief.
Perhaps the most ~iinportant legis-
latlon to be undertaken at the ap-
preaching session OF the assembly
wff be the handling Of the road con-
struction problem, A plan will have
to be worked out satisfactory to the
federal government to securing it's
ffty-fifty money cooperation. The.
governments funds will be available
before that Of the State. The State
will hardly impose a direct tax for the
Support OF a road commission. The
solution Of this problem Is COMPARE
lively easy~ by q tax on vehicles
motor driven cars and heavy vehicles.
There are two angles that prove
troublesome. Some delegations have
insisted tKat.the license Tees collected
In eich county be expended in road
~6fifc 6fs'sdpSfvisa6h III the county
where the automobile is taxed.
Others suggest that the State Road
Commission 70 allowed half the tax
and the remainder be expended in
the county where collected. There are
various other divisions suggested. The
essential thing Is to have a general
plan and work along more general
than county lines. ,s,,pi.
The license on automobiles has
Within the last fortnight been sustain.
ed by the United States" Supreme
Court. This brief statement Of the
decision will DO timely: SEQ
Both New Jersey ana Maryland i'm
pose Q graduated license tax on both
residents and non-resfdents. based
upon 'hdrSeapower.. ID january, 1915.
the Supreme Court upheld the Mary
land ssatpts e not. h9rasaaoms on,
aee yaceIf $8s Now
Jersey the contention was made
that The taxes were not solely for
administration costs or regulation and
registration of motor traffic, as was
the case In Maryland.
The New Jersey courts held that the
raising Of money by license imposed
on" the Use OF cars. rather than upon
the machines themselves, was clearly
within the States police powers to
compensate 1t for the wear anu tear
Oh highways. Kane attacked the law
as discriminatory.
Upon the interstate commerce issue.
the New Jersey authorities held that
commerce is more than mere pleas
ure." and that Kane could not attack
the law successfully. as he was con.
victed Of violation while merely tour.
ing through Paterson to Delaware
Water Gap. Pa. They contended also
That a license tax Is not a propertv
tax. sts- ,J.y.s. p --.~ .t~
In answer to Kane's plea that ex-
erhfti6h7Sf horse diawrn' Vehicles q
unreasonable determinations against
antomobilists. the State held that ab-
normal wear and tear on the roads
makes the exemption reasonable. and
that 'noh-residents Have 1k0 legal right
to the free use of"the roads. ;r.a'
The New jersey q law '4nIbuses
licenses of SO for cars q ID horse.
power or less; IS tfor fg'tb "a ;horse.
power ana $40 fSr Nlh6rs~ thhah 20
horsepower. ThsiAAeficAh .Xatomnoo.
bile Association and sHsP NSatfSKSl rxA.
tomoblie Chamber Of cosHfnbfce were
represented in the arguments before
the Supreme Court here. .". 49, Il
or course, there can hardly 30 q
legislative session WITHOUT "a hd6of
issue. II liquor IS TO- be brought into
the State and. tits by the tens Or
thousands Of gallons, the question
many are asking is why the State can
get no revenue out Of 1t. The State
gets a revenue on every gallon of gas
oiine and gasoline is harniess, though
expensive.
south Carolina canno impose q ta.
on Interstate commerce, but when tho |
liquor gets to the express agency il
probably can require the exhibition OF
"A llCouoo IN ana a~nnx A~e~.~ a.. ,..It1 |