The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-02-22

NOW BEFORE
THE SENATE
Several Measures that
Have Passed t h e
House Now Have
Hard Shedding in
Upper House

senate reconvenes Monday night the
general appropriation bin is likely
TO be reported 10 that body for ref
erence TO the finance committee
and then all of the revenue meas
rreS, including the new bills will
have reached that side OF the leg
islature.
The tax reform program as sus
Gested by the South Carolina Tax
payers association is still quite
speculative 81 far as final results,
by the general assembly were con-
ccrned. OF the various measures
only one is ready to become law
and that must have the signature Of
Governor Cooper. This measure is
the inheritance tax bill. which has
been passed by both houses and
the two bodies have agreed TO the
Tree conference amendments. The
gasoline tax bill is still before the
free conference committee to iron
out the differences between the two
houses. This committee has been
delayed in its work on account Of
the services OF Representative S. r.
Hughes Of Marion being needed in
the house during the consideration
of the appropriation bill.
Another of the revenue bills
that providing for q tax on hydro
electric power has been killed by
,ha capoto oTtor bo1,;Dr ,,orcaS the
house This will hardly be resur-
rected during the present session.
The luxury tax bill is threatened
with death. 1t has q unanimous
unfavorable report from the fin
ance committee and is on the SEN
ate calendar only by unanimous
consent, which does not prcsage its
passage but merely gives the pro-
ponentS Of the measure chance
TO push ii on the floor OF the sem
ate. However it appears that il
Will have little chance OF pasSa &c.
The income tax bill is somewhat
'up in the air" too as the senate
has shown its preference 70 meas
IRE vastly different from thar pass
ed by the house and the senate has
had q select committee appointed
to draft up bill similar to that
introduced by Senator McGhee Of
Greenwood which provides for 4
Very simple operation--to take the
federal income tax returns and by
4 short and simple operation to
have the taxpayers fill out a blank
upon which a certain percentage
sugGeSted by the author at ten per
cent of the federal tax paid The
Feasibility OF such 4 procedure has
been questioned as doubt is express
cd as to how much assistance can
be expected from the federal au
thortieS.
The movie tax bin has been re-
ported with 4 favorable recon-
mcndation with amendments by
The entire subject has been chang
ed by that committee in that it
provides FOR a license by motion
picture theaterS instead Of on the
films as the house had provided.
This however is not considered
of rs vast importance rs are some
Of the other measures.
The senate has passed the cor
poralion license tax bill with
amendments and returned ii TO the
house, which may or may not
agree 10 the amendments and an
other free conference committee Is
probable Another minor reveue
raising measure is that which has
passed both houses. with amend
ments by the senate providing for
q schedule Of graduating fees on
foreign corporations.
The eyes Of the people Of the
state are also turned on the appro-
priation bill This bill has a two
fold interest. first because OF the
close watch on the reduction or ad-
di,:onS that may be offered by the
senate and also because OF the dill
tcrcnccS existing between the gov
crnor and :he ways and means COM
mittcc with the house evidently
backing up The committee 10y its ac-
lion. in the matter OF reductions
made by the ways and means body
on the department of education APP
preparation. Governor Cooper con-
tending that he ioreSeeS possible
handicapS TO the public school SyS-
tenn in these reductions. The bill
rs il passed The house carries 4
reduction Of about II million dol
lars ironI last Year or from twelve
10 five mills. Efforts To further re-
durr the appropriations and TO
add 10 lh. school appropriations
failed after one OF The most memor-
ahl,. fights ever Staged in the house
on n similar bill in previous years.
The house after burning the
midnight electricity" Friday night
ard Saturday morning in order 10
pas. The appropriation bill on TO the
senate adjourned until Tuesday
night The senate has Il somewhat
larger calendar with measures OF
more general interest although the
house has quite 4 lot of statewide
bills ON is calendar too. Therefore
the hous,, is irctr than the senate.
Among some OF the important
lnraSurcS before the house which
ar1 likely 10 get early consideration
is included the resolution by rep
Representative Sapp 10 repeal the
special three mill school levy. On
I ht. Snna;r side is n reSOlutiOn 20