The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-01-15
PROTEST AGAINST
HIGH TAXES
Taxpayers Hear Strong Speeches
at State House
PROPERTY OWNERS
WANT CUTS MADE
Call on Legislature to Reduce
Appropriations for 1920 to Fit
Economic Conditions

. Jun. l-.-lnc taxpayers
convention, held i'm the hall of the
house OF representatives last night.
resolved itself into "a free for all dis
cussion. I'm =. hiCh every subject from
razor back sows to the president of
these great United States" as Jess
~ Leopard said. was handled and
that without gloves of any dcscrip-
ton. The convention adjourned after
adopting resolutions which request
that the general assembly reduce tax
alton and that II extend the time of
payment OF taxes for 1920 until March
81 and that joint committee be
appointed 20 study the tax system of
the state 90 make recommendations
to the present Legislature which will
Correct present inequalities Anoth-
tr resolution providing that so per
cent. OF automobile license fees he
used I'm the counties as the county
. commissioners may deem wise was
siso adopted
II. w. Dabbs OF Mayesville was NOM
mated as chairman and presided over
the meeting. After stating its pur-
pose he threw the convention open
for discussion. His invitation To his
audience generally to enter into the
discussion xas quickly accepted and
numerous speeches were made. While
many OF the speakers wandered
somewhat from the subject in hand.
the response given To the invitation
was clear indication of the deep
interest which tho people are taking
In the subject OF taxation and of
their desire for some sort of relief
Hofne demonstration agents. farm
Al faf ftl.p
crs, college presidents. canning club
eirls." the tax commission and the
state highway department came I'm
for much attention and had their
warm defenders among those present
ana the replies To the proposals To
cut them off were given the same
renptctful hearing as were the criti-
cisfiis. II was meeting. which. no
matter how far some of the discus
sions wandered astray brought to the
Attention Of the general assembly the
dfmand for some revision i'm the ap-
preparations.
After Mr.. DabbS had been elected
chairman. he said the convention was
called TO protest against any Increase
In state or county tax,s. He wanted
appropriations not absolutely neces-
se-y for the progress of the state to
be- cut OF from the tax commission
and the highway department on down
to the lowest Office"
DIR. T.. ri. Drehcr introduced the
resolution asking that the legislature
amend the road law so that each
county shall receive so per cent. of
the money collected In them from
the sale OF automobile licenses to he
used on the roads OF the county as
the commissioners deem proper. Dr.
Dreher protested against "centraliza-
tion Of government ip Columbia" A
v. Shell OF Charleston made n few
com On TIE work of the high
way ,Partncnt. j. n. Manning OF
Latta then offered the resolution
which brought forth most discussion.
as follows:
That we. the taxpayers OC South
Carolina and the rcprese natives OF
the taxpayers I'm convention assem-
bicd earnestly call upon the COVER
nor Of our state and the general as
scmbly to reduce the appropriations
for 1921 as nearly tn that prevailing
before such extraordinary conditions
obtained as may bc done with proper
regard for the interests OF the irrsti-
tuuons OF the state operated upon a
basis OF most rigid economy.
And that In view Of the distressed
condition OF our people we request
the general assembly to extend the
time for the payment OF 1920 taxes
without penalty to March 81 and that
this measure be adopted at once.
And we further request the gem
rral assembly To appoint n bint COM
mittee Of tn" senate and house to
carefully study the taxing SECTORS
OF the constitution with view to
submitting To- this session OF the gen
Yd assembly such modification of
the same rs will correct the present
unequal. unjust and unsCicntinc meth
od of assessing property and levy
Ing taxes. That the same bc sub
nitted 90 the people i'm the next
general election"
This resolution brought forth com
ments from c. r. Hodges. Marlboro
county: IL. j. Wade. Aiken: B. a. Sci
lers and MIR Mckenzie OF Florence.
A. j. Bethca, Jess :. Leopard. :. j.
sellers OF Chesterfield. Ncils Christcn-
Gen. j. ~. Marion, j. -. Carter -. II
Puerifoy. Donald Mcqueen. claude y.
Sapp. O.. n. Tauey and others. The
speeches he'll the closest attention
OF the audience and brought forth
from several Of those addressing The
audience the assertion that they in
tended Ia attempt Co hold apprOpria
lions down to nS low figure az in
possible ana consistent with the
growth of the state. many Of tho
speakers saying that they Intended
To- support thc public school system
literally.
After the resolutions had been
adopted. the meeting adjourned.