Lexington dispatch-news. [volume] (Lexington, S.C.) 1917-1919, 1919-09-17
MORE ABOUT TAXES.

MORE ABOUT TAAES.
In recent editorial discussing the
proposal of Comptroller General Os-
Borne to place the property of the
State upon a basis Of 100 per cent.
valuation, the Newberry Herald and
News takes decided stand against
such step: Personally we believe it
is Of more consequence 70 have an
equal basis of assessment than to fix
that basis by an inflexible standard.
There is danger of course that in
settling upon basis Of 100 per cent.
valuation, the legislature may fail
to make proportionate reduction in
the levy, but when our Newberry con-
temporary asserts that the legisla-
ture has been extrawagant in appro-
priations we beg to take issue It is
quite true that the cry has often been
raised ''we kept the levy down." and
some Of our statesmen. have been
more anxious to keep the levy down
than to provide adequate means for
the support Of the States activities.
A business concern is not adjudged
successful because its expenditures are
kept at a low point but because Of
the wisdom with which. those ex-
penditures are made and the results
which they obtain. ~. ~
Z We in South Carolina have been
accustomed to, grumble about taxes
and more than one politician has tenn
porarily succeeded because he prom
ised to keep the levy down." Truth
to tell we have in fact had the. lowest
tax rate of any. State. According to
United States census, the per capita
cost Of government in South Carolina
has been no. more than s2.10, the
lowest Of any State, in the Union. It
may also be said that we have stood at
the bottom Of the list in other ways
as for instance in illiteracysl in the
number of diseased men sent to the
army, in the construction of perma-
nent roads. Is there not some con-
nection between our poor showing in
matters Of vital importance and our
low taxation?.: It is true in govern
mental as in private activities that
we get what we pay for. There is
nothing that is worth having which
does not cost either effort or money.
If we in South Carolina are to keep
up with the progress which is being
made by our neighbors we must look
rather for a scientific method of
spending the money raised by taxation
than at the amount. We believe that
Governor Cooper is on the right
track with his budget law and if the
general assembly will support his eff
fort we feel sure that more scien-
tific means Of spending the States
money will soon be worked out. The
Governor has been fortunate in his
selection of a clerk for the budget
commission in the person Of Mr.. Ben
M. Sawyer, a former lexington
ian, who has tackled COM
plicated and arduous duty in a man.
ner which shows tact and knowledge
Of the business in hand. Already good
results are beginning to flow from
this work and they will be improved
as time develops the shortcomings Of
the system.
But to revert again to the levy.
Certainly it has grown in recent years,
but has it grown in proportion to the
wealth of the State and how can it
be reduced? OF the sum total of ap-
by far the greater part
goes for purposes Of education and
for Confederate pensions. Have we
already so much education in South
Carolina that we can spend less for
This purpose? Are the Confederate
soldiers and their widows too. we'll
cared for by the state?: Ought we to
give them 1esse- Do Winthrop and
Clemson and the University and the
Citadel and the Medical College. re-
'eive too much morey? Are we
throwing away money from the Stat
treasuryAto keep up needy schools:
Are the inmates OF the State Hosplfta, "
TOO well cared for? If all these ques: .
ions can be answered affirmatiVel 4
maybe our taxes are too high.
j-Grumbling about taxes had almos =.
'ecome chronic in South Carolina, br
me- hears less and less Of this. CRY :
The taxpayers4do not mind spending