The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1920-11-29
CANNOT POSTPONE
ii PAYMENT OF TAXES
Governor Cooper Replies to Skottowe
Wannamaker on This Question
AS Well as Acreage Re-
duction-Believes Cot
ton Will Advance

Columbia, Nov. 27.-J. ~SkOttowe
Wannamaker, President of the Amer
lean Cotton, Association, today made
public the following letter which he
has received from Governor Cooper
=. "It has been impossible for ME to
answer your telegram of the first in
slant until now. The delay is due to
the fact that 1 wanted to give very
serious consideration to your sugges.
tions with reference to postponement
of the time e fS9r fSrr the payment of taxes
and the ,reaueettion of cotton acreage
by legislative. attihxf. enactment. ...
81 am sure YOU. know of my; very
deep interest in the work being done
by. the American Cotton Association.
The. situation which confronts the
people of the. South is serious one.
This, is time! for clear thinking and
courageous {and, conservative action.
We, are facing: a loss in the 1920 crop
based on the present market prices.
, 1t is obvious that people now engag-
ed in agriculture must change their
method ef farming if they are to ex-
pect profitable return for their Ia
Dor and money, invested. believe the
condition of the farmer as whole
is much better now than it was four
or five years ago. The present situa-
ton is only temporary. l am con-
vinced that the price of cotton will
materially advance before the pro-
duction of another crop. l am also
sure that there must be reduction
of cotton acreage in 1921, and cor
responding increase in the planting
of grain and other feed and food
crops. There must be an increase in
the production cf cattle, hogs, etc.
We must look the situation as it
is squarely in the face. We have eve
ry natural advantage, j am sure
that your organization has sufficient
intelligence and courage to lead our
people in the right way. -.
Answering Specifically your sug-
gestions as to tfb postponement of
the time for the payment of taxes
and the .reductica of cotton acreage
by legislative enactment: In the mat
ter of the payment of taxes, you
have doubtlness overlooked the fact
that the State, in order to meet cur
rent appropriations in the year 1920,
had to borrow three million dollars,
which is payable during the months
January and February, 1921, and the
tax levy has been pledged for the
payment of these obligations. To
postpone the time for the payment
of taxes would seriously embarrass
the States credit. Under our law a
personNmay defer the payment of his
taxes until the first of February by
paying a penalty of one per cent,
and until the first Of March by paying
a penalty of two per cent. If the tax
is not paid on or before the first of
March, however, penalty of seven
per cent is added. The legislature
,, will be in regular session in ample
time to consider this question.
81 would like to submit some views
also on the proposed legislation look
ing to the reduction of cotton acre
age. It may be that such an Act
would be sustained as proper exer-
else Of the police power. l am frank
to say, however, that I have serious
doubts on this question. But wheth
or such an Act would be constitution
al or, you will meet with many seri-
Gus and practical difficulties in its
enforcement. 1t is your purpose, as
I understand. to reduce the acreage
one-third. # an Act is passed to this
effect, and if such Act is held to be
constitutional, it would necessarily
involve: a survey of each farm to de-
termine the number of acres planted
during 1920, so as to know the num-
ber.each person could plant in 1921:
There will doubtless be people engag-
ed in-farming in 1921 who were not
so engaged in 1920. A person who
operated ten plows in 1920 might
increase to fifteen in 1921. These are
only some of the questions to be con-
e;dorad IN nronorino on Act of tho