The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1920-12-01
CANNOT POSTPONE
TAX PAYMENT
Governor Cooper Replies to Skottowe
Wannamaker on This Question as
Well as Acreage Reduction.

1
Columbia, Nov. 26.-J. Skottowe
Wannamaker, president of the Ameri-
can CottonO Association, today made
public the following letter which he
has received from Governor Cooper:
1T has been impossible for me to
| answer your telegram Of the first in
slant until now. The delay is due TO
the fact that | wanted to give very
serious consideration to your sugges-
tons with reference to postponement
OF the time for the payment Of taxes
ard the reduction OF cotton acreage
by legislative enactment.
II am sure you know Of my deep
interest in the work being done by the
American Cotton Association. The
situation which confronts the people
OF the South is Il serious one. This
is 4 time for clear thinking and cour-
agcous and conservative action. We.
arc facing loss in the 1920 crop
EaScd on the present market prices.
l. is obvious that people now engaged
ii, agriculture must change their
method of farming If they are to cx-
pect 4 profitable return for their la
Dor and money invested. believe
Tie condition OF the farmer as a whole
is much better now than it was four
or five years ago. The present situa-
ton is only temporary am con
vinccd that the price of cotton will
materially advance before the produc-
tion of another crop. am also sure
that there must be a reduction of cot
ton acreage in 1921, and a correspond
ing increase in the planting OF grain
ana other feed and food crops. There
must be an increase in the production
0f cattle, hogs, etc. We must looI,
the situation as it is squarely in tho
face. We have every natural advant-
hSe am sure that your orsan;xa-
ton has sufficient intelligence and
courage to lead our pepolc in the
right way
AS to Taxes
answering specifically your sug-
EH"'ionS as to the Dostponement of
INC time for the Dayn,rn, OF ,aycs and
INC reduction Of Gotten acreage by leg
"atve enactment: IL .hc matter of
a%c&, YOU have doubtless overlooked
the fact that the State, in order to
meet current appropriations in The
yer 1870. had to borrow three million
dollars, which is payable during the
months OF January and February, 1921,
ana the ;aX levy has been pledged for
the payment OF these Obligations. To
9oStpont the timc f0v the paym.n, Of
l&Xcs would seriously cmbrasg tho
states credit Under our law & per-
son may defer the payment OF his
taxes until the first Of February bv
paying q penalty o: one per cent. and
until the first of March by paying a
penalty Of Two per cent. If tic tax !.
not paid on or before the frs; of
March, however, penalty of seven
per cent is added. The legislature
VIII be in regular session in ample
time to consider this question,
Acreage Reduction.
would like to submit some views
also on the proposed legislation look
lhG TO the reduction OF cotton acre
aGc. 1t may be that such pn Act
would be sustained as a proper cxer-
else of the police power. I am frank
10 say, however, that have scrious
doaDts on this question. But whether
such an ac! would be constitutional
or not you will meet with mapy se.
rlous and practical difficulties in it's
enforcement. 1t is your purpose. as I
Understand. to reduce the acreage one
thi:a. If an Act is passed Id this ef
rect, and If such Act Is held to be con.
Sti'ntional, it would necessarily in
'oiVe a survey OF each farm to deter
IAlne the number Of acres planted dur
ihS l920. so 10 know the number c,nh
person could plant in 1921. There
VIII doubtless be people engaged in
farming in 1921 who were not so oa-
ssscd n 1920. A person "ho operated
ten plowa in 1920 might Increase TO
hftcen in 1921. These are only some
or the questions to be considered in
preparing IN Act OF the character un-
der consideration. Whatever plan Won
ADOPT in carrying out your purpose
You MNllEt In NV nntnia. T.,