The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1918-01-03
50 PER CENT. ASSESSMENT
INSTRUCTIONS FROM TAX CON-
MISSION TO AUDITORS.
For "Fl ltxible Levy."-chairm"n
Jones Shows the Great In
justices of Inequalities.

Columbia, Dec. 28.--Instructions
were issued today by the South Car
olina tax commission to the auditors
n, the SEVERAL counties of the State
and the Ichairmen of the boards OF
assessors throughout South Carolina
to assesss SO per centum Of the real
value ofsall the taxable property in
South Chrolina in 1918 The instruc-
tions whre the result of the confer
ence hald by the tax commissioners
sioners EE.. .tetaoin shrdlucmfwypsh
with tbe auditors and the tax asses
sors OF the various counties, who
were in3 session here last night and
today discussing the various phases
OF the tax situation in this State.
Adopting the recommendation OF
Governor Manning, made in the
course of his speech before the tax
!. officials last night, the commission
also decided to memorialize the leg
islatue to fix flexible levy in the
next appropriation bill. Should the
assessment of so per centum raise
more emoney than appropriated for
the leeds of the State by the next
genefsl assembly, then the officer
designated by the legislature can re-
ducei ibut not increase the levy, if the
ssflexiSle levy recommendation is
adopRd.
Urged to ''Do Their Bit.''
join P. Derham, member of the
tax cSmmission, today urged upon the
couuk auditors and tax assessors of
the Jtate to "do their Bit by en-
deaxring to secure true and hon
est 9aluation of the taxable proper
ty d the State and thereby make
the blan instructed by the commits
sionSa success. Out of the various
disassions entered into was cleaned
the TACT that there was nothing like
an Equality of assessment through
outhhe State, particularly on real es-
tat{; and that thousands of acres
aranot returned at all.
Some plan of equalization was ask
ed Ifor by auditors w. Y. Smith, of
Anderson: J. S. Mckenzie, of Flor
enje, and B. N. Richardson, Of An
deison. for their respective counties,
inIspeeches depicting the tax prob
leAs they had to confront.
Describing the relation Of the coun-
tylauditor to the tax commission, 3.
lWilson, secretary of the commits
sim, asked for the cooperation of
tle county officials.
Various phases of the law bearing
,oi the tax commission and the act
chatting that body were dealt with
h w. H. Townsend of the Colum-
ia bar, who assisted the office of
tie attorney general in litigation
xainst the tax commission. That
Suth Carolina should not fall into
tie condition of Kentucky, where so
nuch trouble has been experienced
i tax matters, Mr.. Townsend urged
he adoption of some uniform plan
i equalization for this State.
Junius r. Lilies, of Orangeburg,
dlairman of the waysand means COM
nittee of the house, urged upon the
county auditors and assessors present
lere today to devise some method of
EQUALIZATION to lift the ''tax burden"
is 1t is so frequently called. He
5iedged his support as a member of
!he general assembly to anything
which could be done to remedy condi-
ions in South Carolina.
Various other members of the con-
erence expressed themselves on the
Ax situation and the concensus of
opinion seemed to be that the meth
I'd Instructed by the tax commission
vas the most feasible that could be
devised at this time. The gathering
lefore adjourning this afternoon
pledged it's cooperation in the carry
ing out of the instructions.