The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-01-28
A Taxpayer Suggests
Plan For Cutting Tax
County Should Be Tax Unit
Instead of the State

From the Pee Dee Advocate, jan
uary 26. 1922.
Mr.. Edito.:: 1t has about reach
ed the port, where:
When man has built a barn
Go and tax him;
When he has cleared another farm,
Go and tax him,
When he lays another roof.
When he grows another hoof.
Hustle round and get the proof,
Then go and tax him.
Has man pot Of money,
Don't tax him.
Though it's sweet like honey,
Don't tax him.
Let him reap what others SOW.
People are rather fools you know;
If they were not, they would go,
And Tax HIM.
In 1905, the assessed value of
property in South Carolina was
20,000.000. Tie revenue at a
rate Of Ia mills was $3.50, 600.
Ten years later the assessed value
was $310,907,101. The levy was Z
mills. So that in ten years the in
crease in taxable values was less
than per cent, and the increase
in expenditures was 100 per cent
In 1921. the assessed taxation was
S6.767,135 on a,12 mill levy. The
assessed value of property was
452,490,G00, so that mills increase
as assessments increase, thus dou-
bling taxes.
During this period there has
been an increase of about Is per
cent. in population. Now all eX-
perts in taxation 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 taxpayer is compelled
to settle. We have built up a
spoils system from the little town
to the congressional pork barrel, a
government by. bureau instead of
a Democracy. The taxpayers of
this state have been bullied and
brow beaten by a bunch of pre-
tentious tin horn politicians until
they have got into the habit of
standing in line tC have their
pockets picked.
Useless boards and commissions
are created each year. because OF
the growing horde of spoilsmen,
seeking a reward for services per-
formed for. the machine. and this
demands a constant extension Of
the system.
There has been little effort in
this state for real business ad-
rninistration. Taxes in South Car
dina have trebled in 20 years, yet
who dares say in maintenance OF
law or efficiency We have been bet
tered?
This state and every other state
in the nation is flooded with Doliti-
cal leeches performing no essen
tial work. but bending their ener-
gies to keep up a machine which
will perpetuate their Jobs. Food
inspectors, oil inspectors, internal
revenue agents, special tax collec-
tors, whiskey constables, charity
inspectors pellagra experts. horse
DOCTORS, hog doctors, bureau agents
and hundreds of trustees, all .nov-
ing up and down the land at heavy
expense, eyerlastingly drawing sal
aries and piling up expense ac-
counts to the profit of the political
machine and the impoverishment
Of the ordinary citizen, who pays
the freight
l venture the assertion, that
leaving out the lately enfranchised
women that one voter out Of 90 in
the primary is on either state or
federal pay role in some capacity.
Only voters are useful 10 the poll
tician and this means the balance
Of power is held by the machine.
Where is it to end?
Any man Knows that such q
course would bankrupt any private
business within six months. and
this government, state and nation
al. is.only able. to survive the in
creasing drain at the expense OF
the taxpayers.
Efficiency is the only basis fol
progress and TIE economic strug-
gle demands it.
The entire nation is in the dead
season of its fortunes. The reac-
ton from the cxertion and fears OF
the war are at their height. We
were moved beyond endurance
and never in the world has the
universal element in the soul OF
mar burned so feebly.
For who does not see that we dc
rot end war when we put q stop tC
actual conflict between nations
This is only superficial vicw. Any
wida social and industrial struggle
that is attended in its natura
course with great suffering is war.
The essence of war is q needless
competition between states corpor-
ations and individuals that result:
iii wide spread suffering. and surely
we are in the midst Of that.
Remedy.
The rapid concentration of pow
ers, taken away from the states
! in Washington is alarming, but this