The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-02-22
TAX COMMISSION
WHISKY y TO 13.
---
Senate Kills All Tax Commission.
Bills-No Change in
Law.
SENATE AGAINST PROPOS-
ED CHANGE IN TAX BOARD
Senator Moore Withdraws Sup
port-Many Speeches Made in
Defense of Commission.

Columbia. Feb. 20.-The senate
will meet at 11.3O a. m today
The bill to abolish the tax conmis-
sion was killed by Il vote OF y TO -
last night.
Senator Ketchin Of Fairfield county
was the first speaker on the blll TO
abolish the tax commission. The SEN
ator stated that though he had very
modest interest in n bank, that the
majority of property he owned was IN
land. He said that he could see no
equality in paying so much sreatef
tax on merchandise than on land. he
declared that the time to hunt IN
visible property was after the tax on
visible property had been equaliZed.
The tax commission, Senator
Ke1chin declared. should be given an
opportunity to perform its duties
without having a big stick waved
OYER its head
Senator McGhce Of Greenwood
stated that he was not concerned in so
far as the personnel Of the tax COM
mission was concerned That he was
not in the senate TO represent a rae
TON or section, nor were the otnef
senators. but that they were there
to make laws for the State OF SO lth
Carolina for all time The senator
said that were the bill under dis
cussion to pass. the chairman OF the
proposed board would be practically
an autocrat in power. He emphasiz-
ed the fact that no charge Of dishon-
hrn,1uht inst ff1f
present tax commission, but that the
| objection to the commission was a
difference of counties.
IF You will let the tax conlnlis-
| sion alone. and let it work out It's
own salvation. our children and our
grandchildren will call it blessed,
! declared the Greenwood senator.
Senator Alan Johnstone Of New
bcrrv made a thorough review OF the
/ old tax system. The senator saloi
that though he was elected TO the
senate by farmers. that he was rep
resenting all the people Of the State.
However, he said that he proclaim
| cd the voice Of the farmers as only
wanting justice done them. Senator
! Johnstonc declared that when the
commission has looked into the sit
! uation and rendered a report OF its
! investigation to the senate, then the
senate would know how to act. The
senator spoke at length on his per-
! sonal knowledge of the chairman Of
| the tax commission. He declared
that the chairman was man who
knew the struggles Of the people. and
a man whom the, people recognized
as friend.
Senator Johnstone said that the
same God who made Moses had made
Jones and as Moses was not a mag
netic man. maybe Jones was not, but
as Moses had Aaron so Jones had
Derham and Query. He told OF a
conversation with a banker about
Jones' The banker was condenning
Jones. but when the matter was
finished Jones was commended. This
man had not been returning certain
property because he feared other
banks were not doing so. bnt when
he found that Jones knew the whole
matter he knew that Jones would
compel all to return and he was salts
fed
Senator Joknstone said that he felt
it bis duty to give short analysis
of the situation because of the utter
ances upon the floor Of the senate.
Senator Moore said he was opposed
to Capitalization. therefore he was
opposed TO the tax commission Of
three, the law and not to the per
sonnet. But he was afraid if the bill
,uac nacSed cn1.on mon would hn rs