The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-02-25
SENATOR TRIES
TO RESIGN
Christensen Would Quit as
Finance Chairman-Says
Business Wins

/ that the senate Was opposed to lii;
views on the important lax pro-
gram and that business has won
III The senate against agriculture
in a crisis when agriculture is in
desperate straits. Senator Niels
/ Christensen. chairman Of the up
per house finance committee. last
night handed il, his resignation as
chairman Of this important com
mittce. but the senate by unani-
NOUS vote refused to accept it.
i Following urgent pleas from Sen-
ator Johnstonc of Ncwbcrry. Sena-
! tor Watkins Of Anderson and Sen
ator Duncan Of Union that the res
! isna tion not be accepted the upper
i house refused to acccde to the re-
quest Of Mr.. Christensen that he be
/ allowed to retire from the chair
lnanship and also extended a vote
! If confidence to Mr.. Christensen
unanimously.
After the senate had refused to
accept the resignation and had ex-
tended the vote Of confidence, Sen
ator Jonnstone moved that further
consideration Of the matter. il there
was 20 be further consideration. be
postponed until today. which WAS
agreed to.
! Senator Christensen plainly told
! the senate last night that he would
! insist upon being relieved as chair
man. but after the upper house had
adjourned number Of senator's
gathered abound the chairman and
F! urged him to press no LONGER his
( resignation. Senator Christensen
said the matter was final with him.
In submitting his resignation.
NJ. christensen said:
Position in Detail.
when the chairman of any lead
ing committee here finds the SEN
+ ate opposed to lis views on an inn
portant program the situation be-
comes embarrassing. The only so
luton may be his resignation. SO
that he may exercise his Judgment
/ 'ree from tue restrictions Of 3
chairmansiip. and so that the SEN
atc will he free to choose leader
in accord with its views.
! Some weeks ago, the senate
showed itself opposed to tho con-
stitutional amendment allowing
] classification OF property for pur-
! poses Of sssr&sIncnt. l advocated
this amendment. 1t would leave
the way open for the legisiatur" to
! tax notes. bonds. stocks and other
intangible property which now ts-
/ .apcs taxation. Th" socalled Mar
{ ION report which signed. present :
Cd this amendment as the most
/ important tax reform measure, and
! holds it to be fundamental to a
fair distribution Of tax burdens.
''.As chairman OF a special lceiS-
lative committee appointed last
winter to recommend relief from
our intolcrahle tax situation. have
advocated on this floor u series
of re.enuc measures designated to
relieve real estate and other tanGi-
i,le PROPERTY from the support CT
the stare government. This com
mittce Recommended that the state
appropriations be cut Sl.noo.poO
and five now tax measures: y gas
oline tax. an inheritance tax. A luX-
,lv tXa. water power tax ana dn
income tax. designated to raise oEeT
g.; so .0nD annually. The finance
committee has condemned the lTA-
ury tax. the senate has defeated
tho water powcr tax and tie KIND
OF income tax for which | stand
This is a break down of the pro-
gram of the legislative committc"
Of which J was chairman. aud
makes impossible the relief we pro-
posed for the orcrburdened land
holders unless the senate recon
Siders its actions. I wish TO he u
l,nticr position to advocate this re
cunSid Grafton.
Business in Control
"E,i*ucSs has won in tile senate
against agriculture il, 3 crisis wh"'
a-rirulturn is in desperate :tralt2
an, business man and know
from experience tho reason h'1sI-
ness protests against shifting the
burden. But as q legislator main
.ain the interests of all demand thus
shift. We need t" even up. 1t Is
time to fa:.c upon those who are
losing each year and TO bear heaN-
ic, on those who are making prot :
its and on those who are spending
for what arc not necessities. dc
not inpuen the motives OF those
who hold that canital must haze Its
way in these matters. but l differ
viii, their Judgment. Some ht ld
that agriculture as we'll as indus
trv aud business VIII go 20 "nlaSl
unlnss capital has control OF tiscaI
Legislation. There arc many patfI-
otic and sincere mon VIII" haze thai