The dispatch-news. [volume] (Lexington, S.C.) 1919-2001, 1922-02-15
House Committee Reduces
Expenses By Million Dollars

Columbia, Feb. 14.-Very little
progress has been made by the legis-
lature since the last issue of The Dis
patch-News went to press. The house
has compelled its program Of redis-
tribution Of the tax burden, sending
over to the senate today, the so-called
luxury tax bill. But the senate. has
taken no definite action on any of
the revenue measures except the gas
oline and inheritance tax bills. 49,
1t may be well to give some idea of
what the luxury tax. bill as it now
stands will nean.s,It carries a tax
OF 10 cents on a gallon on sofr drink
syrups. For admissions to amuse-'
ments given for the profit Of indt-
viduals there; is a tax of.one cent for,
each 80 cents admission charged.
Chewing tobacco. pipe-tobacco, cigars.
cigarettes and snuff are taxed one
cent for each 10 cents. Dice and play
ing cards come in for tax cents a
set; while perfumes. toilet water
carry cents on each sale and chew
ing gum will come in for l cents a
package. Candy costing SO cents
pound or more will bear, one cent 2
half pound. The Bill also provides
one per cent. sales tax on the price. of
automobiles, while ammunition of all
kinds is to be taxed s1.0O per thous-
and rounds.
The estimated revenue from such
law is said to be about q million
dollars year. 1t is proposed to
have the tax commission enforce it
: and to collect the revenue by means Of
stamps as the United States govern
ment gathers a similar tax.
Appropriation Bill. :
The ways and means committee OF
the house has completed its work on
the appropriation bill and Tuesdas;
night introduced the measure in the
house. The bill carries a total Of So
671,6S4.67 compared with sG,767.-
1852 appropriated in 1921, making n
cut of little more than 4 million dol
lars. This is n cut of nearly a mil
lion dollars below the reconn1enda-
ti6ns of Governor Cooper, which tot
alcd $6,iG6, ,24O.15. Severe cuts were
made in the appropriations for. aid &c
schools. some salaries were cut ten
per cent and all new building pro
jects for institutions were eliminated
The house having passed all of the
revenue bills, placed the levy at 5
mills. which is 4 reduction of seven
mills over the levy for the past year.
Without these new revenue measures.
however. levy of about 10 1-o mills
would be required to meet the aDnro-
rriation bill as brought in by the ways
and means Comn!ittce
Cthcr Ncueurrs
Among measures Of state wide in
tercst which have occupied the at
tcntion OF the legislature the past
week may be mentioned the bad
check" law. which has nasseI the
hoUec and is now before the senate.
This measure is intended to give bet
ter protection to persons who suffer
because Of having bad checks passed
upon them. -
The senate last week by vote of
lG to IS killed the bill by Fepresenta-
tive Simonhoff which would have re-
Guired all men to secure q doctors
certificate before marriage. ="
The house today killed bill which
would have allowed absent citizens TO
vo;e by mail. " =
The legislature will certainly be in
session three weeks longer and maybe
four. 1t will be way up March be.
fore final adjournmeuts. -"
Notes.
Members Of the house will watch
with interest the race which Hon
e. T. Hguhes, chairman of the ways
and means committee. will make for
congress this year. 1t has been q long
time since the house numbered among
its members Il leader who inspired
more confidence and who is so uni
vcrsallr esteemed AZ is Mir. Hughes
This year he has had a very difficult
problem to face, but he has at all
times been master of the situation and
has carried through the program of
his committee in fine shape.
Another member of the house who
is extremely popular with the boys"
is the Hon. Eugene Buckingham of
Aiken. fThc Duke" as he is fan,iI