The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-01-19
TAX COMMISSION HEARING.
SENATE SPENDS MORNING CON
SIDERING TAX VALUES.
After Hearing Tax Commission Fin
ancc Committee Recommends Tax
Value to Be Onc-third.

leruay morning practically gave itSelt
over to a discussion of what the tax
commission should do i'm respect to
the valuing of real property.
The question arose over the discus
sion OF the Toole house resolution
which was in tife nature of q sug-
sestion that the tax commission re-
Tcede from its recommendation that
real property be valued at onV-hall
Oh its actual value.
Upon the reading Of the resolution
Senator Christensen, chairman of the
finance committee. moved that the
resolution be referred to the finance
committee.
Senator Laney thought it should be
considered immediately He said thar
every one understood the resolution
and its purpose. 1t had passed thv
house unanimously and the passage OF
the resolution by the senate and the
needing OF its suggestion might save
the tax commission. He emphasized
the might He said that the tax
commission had been established t.
equalize values. not to raise tax
values. but that it seemed to have
neglected it's purpose and to feel that
1t was so far removed from the peo-
pic that 1t need not heed the wishes
OF the people. That the members OF
the general assembly were direct from
the people, understood their needs and
, would heed their voice. He thought i,
highly dsirable from the standpoint
Of protection to the tax commission
that the resolution should pass i'm
mediately.
Senator McGhee said that he prob
ably would vote for the resolution
but that he thought the resolution
should be referred to the cSmmittee
and the tax commission be given a
hear ng.
Senator Beamguard suggested that
II the tax commission could be heard
so that the resolution could be dis
posed of at the night session, nc
thought IT should be heard, but 9th.
erwise the resolution should be con.
sidcred imm ediately That the tax.
payers were making their returns ev
cry day now and the auditors were
acting on the recommendation of the
tax commission.
Senator Johnstone very lucidly
pointed out that the motion Of Sen
ator Christensen was the proper mo
ton made in the proper way and the
resolution should be referred. II,
said he did not propose to discuss the
merits OF the resolution, but that the
tax commission was a creature
the legislature and il would betray o
remarkable condition of the creature
was not to have the cooperation OF
the creator. To tell the tax commits
sion to rescind its order without Civ
ing ii hearing would indicate lack
of cooperation.
Senator Christensen said that ht
Knew OF no reason why q hearing
should not be had in the afternon, anG
he thought the tax commission was
entitled to u hearing.
Senator Banks said that he thought
the purpose of the tax commission was
to equalize tax values. and upon be.
ing persuaded that such was the pur
pose he had voted for it, but ht
thought the commission was straynt
from its purpose. That while he
doubted that the commission could
show him why he should change his
mind and not vote for the resolution
he thought it entitled to a hearin.
lie wanted to know all the facts.
On rising vote the resolution was
referred
Senator Christensen announced tha
the hearing would be at $50 in III,
afternoon.
After hearing the report Of the tn,
commission the finance committee o.
the senate last night presented q ma.
jority and minority report. The ma
jority report was as follows with tin
omission of the preamble:
Whereas. the tax commission or
ders that ii Will require all probert!
OF the state assessed at so per cent
of the value thereof. and
Whereas. we consider that tn.
same would be too violent n changt
in the practice of the State in sucl
cases: and.
Whereas. the gross inequalities il
tho assessment of the value of prop
erty cause great injustice. which
: should he corrected now