Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-01-17
THE'TAx ON COTTON
II Was Deliberate Extortion and u
Should be Refunded.


Washington, Jan. 13.-Again the
South makes a fight for n return by
the United States of approximately
$500, ,0O0.00 collected from cotton pro-
ducers and other citizens, Immediately
after the Confederate war; in viola
tion of the constitution of the United
States.
For taxes collected on raw cotton,
the United States owes money to citi-
zens in the following states in the
sums set out: Georgia, s11,S97 094.9S;
Alabama, $10SSS,O72.1O; Louisiana,
$40 O9S,51O: Mississippi, sS,742,sS5.9$
Tennessee, $7S73,46e.71: Texas, s5.-
502, ,i01.24: South Carolina, aS4,172,Ti
42Ol6: Arkansas, s2,555,63S.4S; North
Carolina. s1,95S,7e4S7: Florida. $slS,-,
944.9S: Virginia, $657,5SS.5S; New
York. sS67, ,9246S; Missouri, S592, ,O9s.SS;
Kentucky, s55S,S27.45; Ohia. $447pT'
127.12: Illinois, $S7S,l4442; Vermont,
$l6S,26S.29; Indiana, $s2,72722; Penn
sylvania, $7S.5S5O6; Massachusetts,,
s66,679.31: Maryland, $51,S49.52; New
Jersey, $S,656.42; Rhode Island, ST.
424.73.
The present fight Is based on the
fact that some of these days the Uni
ted States government will make res
titution. Representative Scott (Re-
publican) Of Tennessee has introduced
a Joint resolution which would au-
thorize the supreme court to reopen
the old case initiated in Memphis in
1857 by William NJ. Harrington against
Rolfe Saunders, at that time a coliec-
tor Of internal revenue. BY district
Judge the case was, decided against
the plaintiff. He took 1T to the su-
preine court and the verdict was
against Harrington, the. decision hav-
ing divided the court equally, and 4
Chief Justice Chase was absent on ac-
count of illness.
The Joint resolution of Scott sets out
the fact that the taxes were Illegal
and void because laid and collected
IN violation of the constitution or the
United States in that they were dl-
rect taxes on the ownership of person
nj property without being apportioned
among all states of the union on
basis of population"
The present fight is the successor
of many that have preceded. All prior
has been lost rot on ac-
count of any demerit II might nave
because it Is generally rec
ognized that If the supreme court IN
this day when sectional passion Is dead
would necessarily decide in favor OF the
owners of the cotton that was taxed
the payment Of the enormous sum IN
yolyed, with interest for SO years ana
more. would constitute a staggering
blow to the government. .
The new movement resulted from an
made by H. X. White
lawyer of Birmingham, who acteo on
of Alfred Hampton, assist
ant commissioner general Of immigra-
ton, the only surviving son OF Genera
wade Hampton Of South Carolina AS
result of the White investigation, Rep
Scott was moved to intro
duce his joint resolution. Mr.. White
has had the legal advice of Charles A.
Douglas of South Carolina, William J.
Bryan, William l.. Chambers, formerly
of Alabama and others.
An organization has been formed
with membership throughout the SOUTH
called "The Cotton Tax Recovery as
Former Governor Enlihe'
q Neal of Alabama, is president. Mr.
Bryan is chairman Of the advisory COM
mittee, and other members are the gov
ernors of Southern states. Others nav
ing official position in the association
are Alfred Hampton, Howard BOYD oi
Georgetown univel sity; Charles M'
Galloway, former commissioner OF the
civil service: william L. Chambers
Charles A. Douglas, Frank Hampton Oh
Co 'umbia, nephew Of General Hamp-
ton.