The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1919-01-22
mn. LAURENs, s. G. JANn deal of

.
(raR, n r. L1AURENs, s. G. JANa deal of
my llnl.' .'.H-A,----.-----,..---,r.---. question
of taxation. EVy-----t 49, q man Is will
ing 10 pay his pro rata part Of the nee
essary burden Of government. The
main difficulty with us, as | see it, is a
lack OF business method in this de-
partment. believe an effective rem
edy will be found in the adoption of
an executive budget somewhat simila,
to the law now in force-in the State of
virginia. Under this law the Governor
Is required to submit to the General AS
semDly at each session an executive
budget containing an temiZed state
ment or the estimated expenditure of
the various departments and institu-
tons OF the state for the ensuing fiscal
year with his recommendations thereon
This budget will be referred to the an
propriatc committees as any other bill.
Any item, Of course, may be increased,
decreased, or stricken out entirely, but
no appropriation, not included in the.
budget, is to I've considered until the
budget is finally disposed of, except in
emergency cases. This means that the
members Of the General Assembly will
nave the benefit of information obtain
w " IhS NoNSIhOl IL oill llC various
departments and institutions of the
state in preparing the budget, which
will enable them to act more intclli-
gently in this important matter. The
Governor during the several months
receding the meeting Of the General
Assembly will hold public hearings,
and require necessary information in
regard to each item Of expenditures
asked for, which information would
naturally be given to the public press
for the benefit of the general public as
we'll as members of the General AS
Scmbly. This is but brief outline Of
what think should be the first step in
our tax legislation. The details can be
easily worked out. But the vital qucs-
tiOn is yet to be considered. 1t is easy
to prepare and submit budget. which
in my opinion, will result in a consid-
cradle saving Of money, but this will
not relieve us Of the present inequality
of tho assessment of property. | con-
fcss that this phase of the question is
! lorc difficult than any other in conncc-
ton with the matter. | believe, how
ever, that in the course of few years
we will be able to approximately equal
izc the assessment if we adopt the fol-
| lowing plan:
When you have finally determined
the total amount Of all appropriations
| for state purposes the General Assem-
|b;y should by joint reSOl, on anpCr-
| ton the total amount to the various
counties according to taxable wealth.
| This would make necessary the main
tcnance Of your present tax commits
sion, or the establishment Of some cen
trail board whose duties it would be to.
obtain and submit information ncces-
Sary to enable you to determine the
proper appOrtionment to each county,
or you can authorize the Governor to
appoint the necessary clerical assist
ancc to enable the governors Office to
furnish this information a county
boaru snould be provided, charged With
the listing Of al! property in the county
for taxation. The county could be ap
propriately divided for this purpose in
to subdivisions according to township
or school district lines. In this way an
annual tax survey could be made at a
minimum cost and in the course Of a
few years all. property could be listed
for taxation at its actual value, as the
constitution requires In arriving at
tual value for the purpose Of taxation,
various questions vii lariSc. 1t Will be
comparatively easy TO ascertain the
taxable wealth of the county, which
~--~>.,u naturali" 1U%cd on prOduc-
tiOn and income from the various lines
of business and industries in the coun-
Ity. The taxable wealth Of a county
| will, Of course change from time 10
time, and new apportionmtnt should
be made each year. have stated re-
peat edly to the people Of South Caro-
lima that did not expect reduction
Of taxes, because I have felt. and now
feel that if the state is to dcvclOp, and
there can be no question as to this, it
means the expenditure Of more money
from the public treasury: but at the
save time insist that We can have, and
should have. an equitable distribution
Of the tax burden
There is a general demand and a
real necessity for improved transporta-
ton facilities. We must have better
public highways. Whether you decide
to build roads by direct state appro-
priation by bond issue OF the state or
the various counties. whatever method
you may see fit to adopt it means the
expenditure of more money. The pco-
pie of the state want better roads and
better schools, and are willing to pay
he necessary costs, but as you increase
the amount Of your tax the inequality
already existing becomes more burden
some, and the dissatisfaction with our
present system becomes more intcnsi-
fed.