Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1922-02-08

In 1906 the assessed value of pro-
perty in South Carolina was $780,
100000. The revenue, at rate Of
~ mills, was $1,550,000. Ten years
later the assessed value was $780,
907,101. The levy was mills. SO
that in ten years the increase in tax
able values was less than per cent,
and the increase in expenditures was
100 per cent. In 1921 the assessed
taxation was $6,767.135 on a 12-mill
levy. The assessed values were $452,-
100000. SO that the mills increase,
instead Of growing less, continue to
increase, thus doubling the burden
Of taxation. Can this continue?
During this period there has boen
an increase Of about Is per cent in
population. Now, all experts in tax
alton agree that when taxes increase
faster than wealth and population,
an unbearable burden is placed on
the people. Who is responsible?
No State, county or town official
will admit that this condition is the
result Of his administration. 1t is
| not. 1t is the system which piles up
the expense account, which the tax.
payer is compelled to settle. We
have built up a spoils system from
the little town to the Congressional
pork barrel-a government by bu-
reau instead Of a democracy. The
taxpayers Of this State have been
bullied and brow-beaten by bunch
OF pretentious tin-horn politicians
until they have got into the habit Of
standing in line to have their pocx-
cts picked
Useless boards and commissions
are created each year, because of tho
growing horde of spoilsmen, seeking
reward for services performed for
the machine, and this demands a
constant extension of the system.
There has been little effort in this
State for real business administra-
tion. Taxes in South Carolina have
trebled in twenty years, yet who
dares say, in the maintenance of Jaw
or efficiency, that we have been bet
tered?
This State and every other State
in the nation Is flooded with politi-
cal leeches performing no essential
work, but bending their energies to
keep up a machine which will per-
petuate their jobs-food inspectors,
oil inspectors, internal revenue
agents, special tax collectors, whis-
key constables. charity inspectors,
pellagra experts, horse doctors, hog
doctors, bureau agents and hundreds
OF trustees-all moving up and down
the land at heavy expense, everlast-
ingly drawing salaries and piling up
expense accounts to the profit Of the
political machine and the impoyer-
ishment OF the ordinary citizen, who
pays the freight"
Il venture the assertion that, leav-
Ing out the lately enfranchised wo-
men. thot one voter out Of twenty
In the primary Is on either State or
Federal payroll in some capacity.
Only voters ate useful. to the politi-
clan, and this means the balance Of
power Is held by the machine.
Where Is 1t to end?
Amy man knows that such a course
would bankrupt any private business
within six months, and this govern
ment, State and national, Is only
able to survive the increasing drain
at the expense Of the taxpayers.
efficiency Is the only basis for
progress, and the economic struggle
demands it.
The entire nation Is in the dead
season Of it's fortunes. The reaction
from the exertion and fears Of the
war are at their height. We were
moved beyond endurance, and never
in the world has the universal ole
ment in tho soul Of man burned &c
feebly.
For WHO does not SEQ that we dc
not end war when we put stop tC
actual conflict between nations? This
! Is only superficial view. Any wide
social and industrial struggle thai
| Is attended in it's natural course with
great suffering Is war.
The essence of war Is n needles!
competition between states, corpora
tions and individuals that results IL
! widespread suffering-and surely W.