The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-01-09

ed for by appropriation. K, therefore,
call your attention to the necessity
of your making appropriation for the
payment to the sinking funa for the
J State Park loan in 1913. Of $780,
! 90; the deficit Of 1916 of 1924 ,964.43,
less surplus or revenue over expenses
OF 1915 of $G6,761S7, making $685.
/ 20256, which should be provided for
in your levy for 1917. You will OBJ
serve from the foregoing that the
! State levy in past years, except in
I 1915, has besn inadequate to meet
the expenditures Good business re-
quires that our revenue should al
! least equal our expenditures. The
: constitution makes this mandatory.
| We must. therefore. increase our re-
venues or decrease our expenditures.
I sincerely trust that you will permit
me to urge you to consider this ques-
ton with businesslike frmness, to
! prevent hereafter any deficits, and to
be able to put the State on cash
basis. Our revenues now are insu
hicient from the money collected from
| taxes for one year, to carry US over
| to the time when taxes are collect.
ed for the next year, necessitating
1, the borrowing each year Of a large
sum Of money to meet these exigen-
cies.
1 again call your attention to the
, State Income Tax Law. The means
OF enforcing this law are inadequate.
The collection Of this tax is farce,
small amount is collected from this
.. source, and what is collected is ab-
solutely unfair, because it is paid by
an absurdedly small number of con-
! scientious citizens, while those less
scrupulous are escaping the tax. The
law should either be made effective,
or should be repealed.
I will recommend the enactment OF
an Inheritance Tax Law. l believe
that such a law would be just. 1t
would add additional revenue to the
State from property which otherwise
| escapes taxation. South Carolina,
Florida and New Mexico are. be-
lieve, the only States which have no
such law.
| Economy.
The financial needs of the State in
stitutions and the different depart
ments Of government will be present.
ed for your consideration through
their annual reports.
1t is Of the greatest importance tha.
| all appropriations be closely scruti-
; nized and every item carefully and
thoroughly investigated before being
finally passed upon. We must con-
slider the needs Of our various de-
partments and institutions. we must
also consider the sources Of revenue
from which these needs must be met.
The pocket book Of the tax payer is
sensitive. The peoples money mus.
| be spent judiciously, and the burden
| OF taxes kept down to the minimum
which is consistent with efficiency.
Yet we must realize that money has
to be spent if we are to progress. We
cannot compare conditions now with
past years, because the demands up
w luc Oldlo dlc SIcdtel, dlN lucIedS-
ing each year.
am confident that your honorable
body will pay particular attention
! to this question, and see to it that
extravaganza and waste are avoided.
Economy and efficiency must go TO-
gether.
I will, from time to time, transmit
for your consideration other matters
affecting the interests, welfare and
progress IF the State.
In conclusion, I pray for Gods
blessings upon your labors, and that
you may be guided Alright in all
things.
RICHARD l. MANNING, Governor.