The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1920-05-14
TAXATION AND EDUCATION

In the May number of S. c. Edu-
cation Gov. R. A. Cooper has the fol
lowing to say of taxation and educa-
ton in South Carolina:
"The greatest obstacle, at pres
ent, in the way of a rapidly expand
ing educational system in South Car
olina is our system of, taxation. The
people of the State, speaking through
the General Assembly and in othef;
ways, have clearly demonstrated
their interest in education. 1t Is no
longer necessary to preach educa-
ticn, per Sc. We have ali, or practi-
cally all, agreed as to the necessity
for enlightment. The question that
confronts US is one of means. In go
ing over the State l seldom, if ever.
find a community, or even an indl-
vidual citizen, who does not positive
ly favor education. Just few years
ago it was quite easy to find parents
who were extremely careless about
the education Of their children. Hap
PLY such parents are rapidly de-
creasing in number, the species IS
almost extinct. But. while I do not
find people who are indifferent on
this question, I often find communi-
ties which have inadequate school IA
cilities; often find parents who have
difficulty in procuring for their chill
dren the kind of education they wish
them to have. The school buildings
are frequently poorly equipped, and
almost always the school teachers
are poorly paid. This lack of facili-
ties is not only found in the primary
schools, but extends to the high
schools and colleges.
Having created the sentiment for
education the next step is to provide
the means. 1t is often unpleasant to
come face to face with the cold fact
that money is necessary for the pro-
pagation of ideals, That's a 1act we
must see, however, before we can go
much further along the road of edu-
cational progress. The present State
levy is about all the people will bear,
and yet we must have more money
for all degrees of education. What
is to be done? The answer, given in
general terms, is easy: Revise the
tax laws. The process of revision is
far from easy, though, and we are
called upon to give it our best
thought. / wish all schools would give
this question more attention; In
deed, it has always seemed to me
that problems of government do not
receive their due proportion of study
in our schools. Taxation underlies all
governmental undertakings Money
must provide the physical equipment
and pay for the intellectual instruc-
ton. Is it not illogical to pass by this
fundamental question of taxation
with just lick and a promise sort of
consideration?
eff all property in South Carolina
were returned for taxation at its
true value, and if we had in opera
tion laws which would place tax
upon inheritances, incomes, fran
chises, and so on, our levy would be
exceedingly small. One mill now
raises approximately four hundred
thousand dollars. If all property were
returned at it's true value, one mill
would raise from three to four times
that much, conservatively estimated.
And, moreover, if property were re-
turned at its full value, the glaring
INEQUALITIES which now exist would
disappear. Our present system-we
call it a "system," though it hardly
deserves that name-is full OF in
eaualities. In order to remeay the
defects, a re-valuation plan of one