The dispatch-news. [volume] (Lexington, S.C.) 1919-2001, 1921-12-07

.StQ aex4nntne into the opeTatlcn OF tne
! stste government and report to the
coniing session a plan tor effecting
sAeonsny In the operation Of the gov
Reduction fjthe state levy for 1922
af least sone-tihrd is to be the ma
ser proposal Of the Joint Legislative
& 5CouaRaittee on Economy and consoli-
sdstton, according to an announcement
4following a two day session Of the
8 8 sesabrnnitte in Columbia last week. The
s naAsting was attended by Senator
Nteis Ghristensen, chairman, Senators
*. Miller and:W. Fred Lightsey,
ana Representatives E. T. Hughes
/ and =. Ed. Anderson. The. only
] member absent was Representative
Ohm K. Hamblin, who was unavoid-
ably detained by cases in court.
According to the: Committees state
& n1ent. three different, devices will be
s used to REFUGE the state tax levy from
twelve nails to eight mills or less. The
first ii to- postpone the construction
sof practically ali building operations
FOR aS year. The second Is to carry
on the state government. at smaller
cost ghy means of better organization
and improved operating procedure. {.
The third is to raise part Of the states
money by leyies on those now escap-
ing wholly or partially their fair share
of the burden. All told, according
TO the committee, the general prop
erty tax can be reduced over $4,000
100 as compared with 1921.
g. After considerable discussion the
committee came to the conclusion
!. thak iisancial conditions in the state
YOU'D juAtify it's Recommendation to
the lesislstture Of deferring practically
All building operations by state instl-
: E.nf,,ns-frt Il s2as1S tfet>aetieAessse
.esuat in reduction of the appro-
priations by approximately half a mil
gtinn dollats. The committee realizes
i thas this, means merely the deferring
sfef expenditures which in some cases
Win have, tto. be made later. In only
"a q few instances, however, was the
committee able to learn of conditions
ma kinpstiie erection of new buildings
! IL once sery desirable and in most
]. ]: cases fes It was thought no great hardship
sswould result from postponement
Of the ht,itding program for one year.
The principal attention Of the COM
/ lnonittee was given to the possibility OF
savings through the consolidation OF
state agencies, through better inter-
nal orxaniaztion in departments and
sinstituticnb, through the central pur-
chasing OF supplies, through improve
= tments il the states fiscal system, and
through better operating procedure.
After carefully considering conditions
as found in each separate department
commission, board, and institution
the committee concluded that the ap-
preparations for 1922 might be de-
creased BIZ another half million in
:. this mannh hr. In this case the COM
mitee points out the savings will not
be for 1922 only but will continue
year after wear Indefinitely. Members
expressed the further opinion that
closer financial control according to
q plan which will be presented to: the
Legislature may be expected TO pre-
vent any rapid and unreasonable in
crease in the cost Of state government
] dsring thelprosperous years which the
= se.nlllrraittee "A believes will in the course
Of time Inexperienced again in South
Carolina.
Additional relief should be given
hard pressed tax payers, the commit
s zee believes, through changes In the
! tax system, and the committee is
working % definite proposals to pre-
& sent to the legislature: These propos-
s ais win deal both with new source OF
!. revenue and with means Of so shift
/. ing the tax burden that it will be more
fairly distributed. In particular the
committee expects to recommend the
adoption Of plans to provide for the
raising Of at least million dollars
Z frofR those now escaping taxation in
whole or in part, with a consequent
= ..issening OF the 1eries on those now
carrying the. whole load.
s. Before adjourning the committee
went over the reports on the various
>. state AGENCIES made by Griffenhagen