The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1917-02-01
"BONE DRY" NOT LIKELY
HOUSE WOULD CLAMP LID ON;
SENATE NOT so DISPOSED.
Finances, Liquor and Good Roads
Three Matters Uppermost in
Minds of Members.

Columbia, Jan. 2S.-A great deal
of harm and a great deal of good for
the State can be accomplished in the
remaining days of the legislative ses-
sion. According to the ordinary GUS
tom and the present indications
the general assembly will adjourn on
the 18th of February, which will be
the fortieth day. Before the adop-
ton of the present constitution the
sessions lasted for thirty days and
that was regarded as sufficient.
The symptoms now are altogether
that but little general legislation will
be accomplished. Many wise leaders
think that the least done the soonest
mended, and with things moving
along smoothly there is little need for
considerable legislation and that per-
haps the better plan is to let "well
enough alone"
Finances, liquor and good roads
are the three matters uppermost in
the minds of the legislators. The fire
insurance situation is giving concern
to some and will need attention. Out
of this grouping will be found most
of the legislation of general import
that will find it's way on the statute
books. 1t has been liquor and liquor
for a life time and the pity is that
something cannot be done that will
stand for a term of years, whatever
it may be.
No "Bone Dry" Prohibition.
1t is an appreciated fact that the
disposition is not to enact a "bone
dry prohibition act at this session,
although the pressure is great and
growing. Resolutions are being
adopted, delegations are seeking,
ministers are praying for "bone dry"
legislation. The impression is that
the house would vote to clamp the
lid on tight and fast, but that the
senate is not so disposed and this is
substantiated by the fact that no
senator has proposed "bone dry"
bill as has been done on the house
side.
It takes political nerve to shake
the financial and taxation situation
into proper shape. First Of all the
tax commission was created to real
ly equalize assessments and get all
values on a parity. The chief asset
of the State is in it's real estate, lands
in the country and cities. The State
board has not tackled this most vital
situation, first, because it has had
other matters in hand and because
real estate is assessed only once in
every four years and that period has
not yet been reached. Until the land
values are readjusted and the real
estate is brought up to the present
basis of other property valued by the
commission, at about 46 per cent. of
it's actual value there is no hope OF
deriving enough money to meet the
needs Of a growing State from the
present assessments. 1t will take
nerve to bring all, with stress on
the all, property up to the basis fixed
by the State board of equalization.
1t can be done but the question that
legislators who are facing the present
situation are asking is whether it
will be done, because the backing of
the public will be needed. Then
again, there is lot of property that
is not on the tax books at all. 1t will
cost money to have such an investi-
cation and survey of the State made.
It has been advocated time and again
by Mr.. Jones, but his suggestion has
come to naught.
Several Ways Suggested.
There are several ways suggested
of raising additional revenue. One
is by the adoption of the Georgia
plan of charging all who bring liquor
into the State a tax, another is to tax
"soft drinks" and then there is the
suggestion that all bonds and mort
cages can be taxed before they are
recorded. The present law is that
every mortgage should be taxed, but
many contend that this is a form OF
double taxation and the result is that
practically nothing is collected from
mortgages. In the State of New
York before a mortgage is recorded
tax Of one-half of one per cent.
must be paid the recording officer.
This tax goes to the State and very
considerable revenue is derived. The
tax is collected only on the record
ing of the paper and is not an an
nual affair. In word If a party
gives mortgage of $1,000, before it
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