The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1921-01-18

automobile and professional cqv:ip-
naent. which nave been assessed at
So, 100000. and h;s annual income IS
something ike $5C.00000. Under
our present system lis income es-
capes taxation and he would pay
property taxes of about $4,000. On
Gec the proposed plan The physician
would pay property tax OF about
s1CS.0G and IN income tax Of atout
81 ,500.00. This substantial! increase
1caresents an amount which would
be transferred from the property
owners tax to the physicians IL
come. which has heretofore escaped
taxation,
5. An attorney OWES no property
except his oilice equipment and Law
library, which has been assessed az
$5Go.00, and his annual income is
about 5l0,cC00o. Under olr pres
ent system os taxation this attorney
would pay property taxes II ta@ sIs1?1
Of ab5ut sG.G0; whereas, un&er the
proposed system ne would pa2 prop
e.yv ana income taxes Of about
s25a.GG, which amount wo2id repre-
sent a j..st t1a1sfer from The taxes
CT property owners to tAe income of
tie attorney who aas heretofore not
pa;d his shaG, Of The cost d govern
.n2H5.
These examples WI serve il a
measure to illustrate the practical
operation of the legislation recon-
menGoa, and, in my opinion, will a;d
in securing The necessary amsHanle'!t
to the constitution 10 byi.g aooat q
complete reform n the entire tax
syatena. When. you submit 20 the
eleetaTs Of the state q proposition TO
:smard the constitution, your appeal
would be more effective Il YOU have
an actual demonsgyration Of your
purpose. i agrsc' fully with the leg
is.ative, committee on revenae and
taxation that there "can be no sound,
sane, thofough-going reform Of the
tax system Of the state until the con,
s.itutional restrictions upon the pow
.er Of. the general asselnbly4iu relation
to the general property tax Is re-
moved" but It seems TO me tha&:%si
would be mistaken policy to defer
the enactment of such legislatIoH'~as
IS permitted by the constitution afntl
the constitution has been amended.
# the proposals which | have made
can be enacted into law 4now, audfl
enactment VIII be The best assurance
ST ST onr j. ,.G.:c r1-aasc and the bsHSS
ey::dcu.c & ,:u:r s,h,l;tv 10 dist"in',t3
taxes ::;- n n "a. J; Ntas. az to relieve fho
present excessive levy on tangible
-pro;:"ty /
The budget for the fiscal year;
1925 must provide more :noneg SoH:
public education 4 earefar les:;-.!
Isaste of the anouaE CT money neea-,,;;
sed to carry out the provisions Of ex-
listing law shows that the state, if II
|. meets its c,o1igatio% to the gaFioas
School districts. nnss appropriate az
sun in excess of swo m:..:bn :3'aiiafs.
This money must be raiseds from,'
some SOURCE, Q" it viii be necessary
fos the state to take 4 Daa:Nward
stgp and neglect her edicaiicnA n
terests which is the basis Of i happy
and prosperous people. The accept
aaea. Of the Latter aiterdati7e is to-
ray nind fnconc5 ssvaiola and would
mean imme date. stagnation. We
can not overlook the fact chat South
Carolina already occupies an; amen
viable positi53i in the matte Of eda-I
eaton. Retrencllaent IS not only
advisable but, necessary in mary of
Iour departments and activities, but
tttffailureAto provide adequate eaGea-
tioral facilities for the people b net
economy, but:a most reckless ex':av-
aganoe. In order properly To sup
port, the best interests Of the ;lnlh!ic
schools, you mast include sum suf-
I1icTieat to maintain adequately the IN
st! 4utt ioons for higher education. The
college is the source Of supply for
the. talent necessary so s.direct tie
5l,s5n ,5i.nrt1 sokeolss Utr COLLEGES are at
present overcrowded, ard unless the
ideofess sa1i rf bu:i:4ss shal! :oatlae@
for q. longer period than IS antieipat-
led, this cnowaedE condition IS likely to
! continue. There IS still a saosSage Of
.competeat feathers; The present tax
i levy is, as ! haze already stated, ez-
ce&siye, the, property taxpayer IS
jaa.ly complaining of his b"rden;; .aE;d
- ,.,t, i:,1 rtIar .l:ui,ria ar If