The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1916-01-12
THE GENERAL

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ness. Taxes must be reduced in
South Carolina, and the burdens Of
taxation must be distributed among
the people and corporations liable
thereto on an equitable basis.
We have stated, and we state
again, that in our judgment, the
banks, cotton mills and railroad cor
porations are bearing more than their
proportionate share of the taxes.
We may be wrong as to one or more
of these classes of corporations. On
that subject we are open to convlc-
ton. But that dispute being laid
aside, there are inequalities between
corporations of the same class, and
between individuals owning the same
kinds of property, which should be
adjusted.
Over Taxation.
But the inequality of taxation IS
not a greater evil than over taxa
ton. The General Assembly has
been creating too many offices, and
electing too many officers. We do
not say that the object of the offices
created is not good, nor that the Of
ficers are not good men; but we do
say that the people of this state have
passed through a period of depres-
sion which has sorely tried them;
they have denied themselves the lux
uries and many of the necessities OF
life in order to pay their debts, and
they are not yet out of the woods.
They are entitled to some relief at
the hands of the General Assembly,
and the members of that body should
use the pruning knife wherever it
is possible.
Some Suggestions.
The State Board of Charities and
Corrections should be dispensed with.
The people at home should take a
hand in the matters over which this
Board holds jurisdiction. The Board
may be doing a good work, but the
people cannot be taxed Tor every
matter what promises good results.
The State High School law is an ini-
putty which should not longer be in
Aicted upon the people of the state.
We refer to the law by which a sum
of money is appropriated for the sup
port of high schools in communities
and villages of less and one thousand
population. AS it is now, the peo-
pie of Abbeville and Abbeville Coun-
ty, are being taxed to help support
the high schools in Due West, Lown-
desville, Mccormick and other
schools, the patrons of which are as
able to pay for the education of their
children as we are. The fact is
that if they levied as much taxes as
we levy to support our W schools,
there would be no necessity for state
help. The people of this district
are already, under the law, forced to
give to the other schools of the coun-
ty about one-half of the constitution
al three mill tax levied in our district.
After we have done this it seems
a little negotiable that we should
contribute to an appropriation for
the support of the needy schools of
the state, and then contribute to the
support of all the higher institutions
of learning, and then again to the
high schools of the state other than
u own, especially when we get
nothing thereby for ourselves.
& More Self Reliance.
Every tub should stand on its W
bottom. If the lands in the rural
districts were assessed on the same
basis as our lands, or lots, the needy
school districts would have money;
and if they did not have enough, they
could raise it by levying a tax equal
to ours. Then why should we be
called on to support w schools
and all the other schools of the state.
1t will not do to follow a lot of i'm
practicable school men in these mat
tiers. The General Assembly must
tell the people to bear their own bur-
dens. They are untrue to their
trust if these burdens are thrust on
others without their consent. The
people should be taught to rely on
themselves, and not to look to other
people to carry their burdens.
Tax Commission.
The State Tax Commission should
go. The General Assembly should
apportion the amount of state taxes
to be raised between the several
counties on some equitable basis, and
leave each county to work out its w
troubles about assessments, etc. If
this cannot be done under the con-