The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1921-01-14

ton.
These three causes are open to
you; personally I do not believe that
we will or should take a backward
step.
+ Contrary to Constitutions.
j In my opinion the state has con-
tinued for years policy that is con-
demned by the constitution and has
provoked much Of the evil of an ex-
cessive appropriation bill, and that
lis, to pay for permanent improve
ment sout Of the current taxes. Year
after year vast sums of money have
been appropriated for new buildings
at the hospital, Winthrop college,
the university, the Citadel, the insti-
tutions for the blind, the feeble
minded institutions, De Ia Howe ard
others. During the last five years
the appropriations. for permanent I'M
.proyements, paid out of current tax
les, approximate 81, 100000.
The constitution provides, in my
opinion, the general assembly to ap-
4propriate money only for the ordl-,
nary current expenses of the state. l
have more than once called atten-
ton to this and at the last session
prepared resolution providing, for
the submission of a proposition to
issue So 200. 900 of bonds to provide
for such improvements, as might be
necessary, for period of ten years;
it was defeated by large majority
in this house. still think that this
should be done. So
Hears Many Complaints.
It isl unfortunate, perhaps unmer-
tied, but I state what believe to be
fact, that the people are distrust-
ing these representatives in the mat
ter of appropriations. have never
heard as great complaints in my iife'
from the people upon this subject as
are now coming up from all parts OF
the state, and while ] speak, meet
ING Of taxpayers is being held in this
city to protest against further IN
crease.
1t seems like a dream to recall the
: 20. NJ, -. y -
fact that il 1908 I introduced a reso-
luton providing for, constitutional
limit of the amount, of appropriations
to s1,250, 900, which sum at, that
time had not been exceeded. 1t dice
in the committee. In 1920 the ap-i
preparations amounted to over So
600, 600; and requests are now IN fof
over IS, 700, 600.
It is not too late now to put a
check upon this outlay, and II the
limit should be placed at SIS, ,0O0,0oo
for the next ten years, we could ilve
within it and restore q feeling OF
confidence and restfulness.
At to Taxation.
/ believe too that such cause
would secure a fairer and more eqult-
able return and assessment OF prop
erty FOR taxation. The real under
living reason why men do not tAreturiA
their property at full value is the
fear that with a full assessment, the
psychological effect upon the general
assembly would be to increase ap-
preparations and it seems reasonable
that if these appropriations continue
to pile up as they have done upon
a scant assessment the result would
be appalling upon a full one, unless
there were a constitutional limit.
Any plan that will secure equality IN
the: burden of taxation will be well
coined, and the natural and logical
basis of this equality is the: actual
valuation of the objects of taxation;
that therefore which tends to secure
this valuation necessarily leads to
equality.
I believe further that the matter
of valuation Of property for assess
ment is essentially a local one, where
it can be accomplished by those who
are not only familiar with the prop
ety but directly intrusted in its
bearing just proportion Of the bur-
den. Should I be assessed at sl0o
for property worth $1,000, and my
neighbor at $500 for similar proper
ty, the deficiency in my taxes would
be made up by the entire state, not
by my neighbor; hence his interest in
forcing me to come up to his stand
ard would be so remote as to be lg-
nored by him. But if the township,
school district or ward in which we
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