Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-01-31

Let us as a people guard this right.

| Let US as a people guard this right
We need
1st. To get the assessment of prop
erty out OF politics. So long as the Of
fcials assessing property are aspiring
politicians, there will be favoritism.
End. A governor. who win throw the
responsibility for excessive taxation on
the legislature by firm use Of the
veto power.
3rd. Do away with SO many boards,
commissions, etc. by having one ad-
ministrative board to control all state
institutions, thereby ceasing to dupli-
cate state machinery.
4th. The recall to apply to every
elective officer, from governor to coro-
ner, so that we can fire the men we
hire.
Our free institutions can only be
preserved by getting back to first
principles, and the matter Of taxation
will either force reform or revolution
will overtake our republic as it has
those in the past. No saving in mere
money will compensate for lowering
our standard Of life, but popular gov
ernmcnt is on trial the world over.
Amendments to the. constitution can
give four year terms and biennial ses-
sions of the Legislature. saving election
expenses, ETC., amounting to at least a
fifth of our necessary expenses. o..
The greatest problem is to equalize
taxation, and the county should be the
unit, instead Of as now having a rival
ry between the counties in the matter
of low valuation. The general assem-
bly, should first determine just what
amount is necessary to conduct the
state government, and this should be
apportioned among the counties in pro-
portion to wealth and population. Then
the county commissioners in each
county elected by the people, should
assess the property In the county and
levy tax to pay its proportionate
share of the state government, and
whatever they may determine to spend
for the county in addition. The money
would be kept in the county, and II
would be to the interest of each citizen
to see that all Of the property of the
county was returned for taxation, be-
cause every dollar that escaped would
mako his taxes higher. The burden OF
taxation would be more widely distrib-
uted by bringing thesipvisible property
out Of hiding. II
Instead Of so many trustees, one
board consisting Of the governor and
other state officers and five elected by
the general assembly could look after
every charitable and penal institution
in the state. We-n pw virtually have
three agricultural departments The
state warehouse, Clemson college and
the regular department OF agriculture
should be combined under one head, so
that when an inspector went to a town,
he could inspect warehouses, attend to
pure food enforcement and other kin
dred duties If he is qualified for one,
he can be for all. Why pay three men
when one can do the work?
The railroad commission and insur-
ance department should be placed in
charge Of the secretary of state, and
the highway commission, in charge OF
the comptroller general, because with
this new mode Of assessment he would
have ample time.
In the judicial department, the trial
justice at the county seat should be
given Jurisdiction In civil cases where
the amount involved does not exceed
one thonsand dollars and in criminal
coscs where the punishment is not over
one year. This alone would save many
thousands In court expenses and not do
injustice to litigants.
The idea that money for roads or
other improvements costs the county
nothing when it comes from Columbia
or Washington is false. In the long
run we pay it all and for much red tape
and bureau expenses in addition. 1t is
not charity, and is one of the means Of
encouraging extravaganza, graft and
incompetency.
Respectfully, Taxpayer.