The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1919-01-24

the total amount of all appropriations
for State purposes, the general assem-
bly, should by joint resolution appor-
tion the total amount to the various
counties according to taxable wealth.
This would make necessary the main
tenance of your present tax commits
sion, or the establishment of some GEN.
trail board whose duties it would be to
obtain and submit information neces-
sary to enable you to determine the
proper apportionment to each county,
or you can authorize the governor to
appoint the necessary clerical assis-
tance to enable the governors Office to
furnish this information. A county
board should be provided, charged
with the listing of all property in the
county for taxation. The county could
be appropriately divided for this pur-
pose into 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 ac-
tual value, as the constitution re-
quiTes. In arriving at actual value
for the purpose of taxation various
questions will arise It will be COM
paratively easy to ascertain the taxa
BILE wealth of the county, which should
naturally be based on production and
income from the various lines Of busi-
ness and industries in the county. The
taxable wealth of county will, Of
course, change from time to time, and
new apportionment should be made
each year. I have stated repeatedly
to the people of South Carolina that l
did not expect a reduction Of taxes,
because 1 have felt, and now feel, that
if the State is to develop, and there
can be no question as to this, it means
the expenditure of more money from
the public treasury, but at the same
time I insist that we can have, and
should have, an equitable distribution
of the tax burden.
Advocates Better Roads.
There is a general demand and a
real necessity for improved transpor-
tation 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 peo-
pie of the State want better roads
and better schools, and are willing to
pay the, necessary costs, but as you in
crease the. amount of your tax, the in
equality already existing becomes
more burdensome, and the dissatisfac-
tion with our present system becomes
more intensified.
In a general way have submitted
to you what seems to me, after care
full study of the question, the proper
solution of our tax difficulty. I do not
expect to accomplish the object desired
in year, or even two years, but l
believe the general plan is workable,
and will ultimately give us satisfac-
tory result. 1t would require too much
time to go into details.
Will Uphold Juries.
The chief function of the governor
under our plan of government as de-
clared by our constitution, is to see
that the laws are faithfully executed
in mercy. 1t is gratifying to know
that there is an ever increasing de-
mand for an impartial administration
of Justice. / believe that the admin
istration of justice, to be effective and
satisfactory, should be tempered with
mercy, but first of all standard of
Justice must be maintained. The law
is the security of the citizen, and he
who wilfully violates it should expect
to pay just penalty. l do not wish
to be misunderstood on this subject.
know from my own personal expe-