Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1922-01-12
LETTER FROM REPRESENTATIVE
WANNAMAkER

Editor Cheraw Chronicle,
Cheraw, S. c.
Dear Sir:
AS the General Assembly meets
next week, and the writer is one OF
Chestarfeld's Representatives, l am
taking the liberty of outlining some OF
the work to be done at the approach
80 session.
a great hue ard cry is raised
over the state for the reduction Of tax
es, and CT course a representative
body, responsive as it should be to
tie VII Of the people, will immediate
/, heed such a public sentiment.
In studying this great question OF
taxation one 1nds some very interest
ing matters. The expenditure per
capita in South Carolina for state pur
poses is among the lowest Of all the
states in the Union. AS compared
with The other states in America,
south Carolina in her educational eff
forts is spending a small amount OF
money. In the matter Of road build
ing and maintenance the people
cur state are really just getting fairl
WI started in doing what neighbor'
lug and other states have already ac'
l,.-l T. +bo r,oftar Of carin{
for our poor, feebleminded and men
tallyidefcient citizens, South Carolln;
has not yet solved the problem. In
the matter of Court expenses, Judges
salaries, and in general, the conduc'
Of the government, our state mas
low sum total as compared with al,
the other states.
Even considering the above MAJ
ftere remains the opportunity for the
closest scrutiny in the expenditure
every dollar for governmental pur-
poses in this state; and in determin-
ing what is absolutely necessary for
1922. l have the highest hope tina
each member of the House and Sen
ate will bear in mind the economic
depression now prevailing, and The In
equitable tax system LOW existing, to
the end that our tax burden for 1922
may be considerably lightened
It cannot we'll be disputed that
whether cotton sells for 15c or SOC
per pound, it is an unjust tax system
which has around ninety per cent OF
tax revenue derived from a direc'
levy which, in it's practical applica-
ton, applies only to visible, tangible
property such as real estate, merchan'
disc, mules, household furniture, etc
There is estimated to be approximate
" three hundred million dollars worth
of invisible, intangible property, suct
as notes, securities, ETC., which are
not on the tax books of South caro-
lima. The property that can be seer
cannot easily escape the books, ant
that property which cannot be seer
would more quickly be withdraw
from the state or hid away from th'
prying eyes OF the government, thar
it would get on the tax books at tn
present confscatory tax levies.
To remedy the above state OF affair
a constitutional amendment is pro
posed 10 be submitted to the people a
the next general election, (see the de
lay), wherein the Legislature woul
be given the power to classify proper
ty and have different leyies for differ
ent classes of property.
For immediate relief and especiall
in. order that the present leVies ma
be. reduced at once, it is proposed il
addition to cutting down eXpenditur
to a minimum: For the placing o
(a) A gasoline tax; (b) An occupa
ton tax; (c) An inheritance tax
ID An increase in the corporate,
license tax; (e) An income tax no
to exceed ten per cent of the Fedora
Income Tax; and (D A luxury tax.
You are referred to the writer's pre-
diction made through your pape
about one year ago THAT within tel
years there will be no levy on rea
property for State purposes" l hop
it will come to pass within one or twt
years.
Yours truly,