The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1922-01-27
HOUSE ADVANCES
NEW TAX BILLS
THREE NEW MEASURES TO
THIRD READING
Hydro-electric Tax and Two Corpor-
poration Tax Measures Given
Approval
The State. 26.

The State. 26.
Approximately S475,O00 is expect
ed to be turned into the Golfers Of the
state annually should the senate ac-
cord it's agreement to the three tax
bills yesterday given the stamp of ap-
proval of the house. These three
measures, the hydro-electric tax bill,
the corporation license bill and the
foreign corporation tax bill, came up
for consideration on second reading
and were passed by substantial ma
joirty and are therefore expected to
meet with little or no opposition
when they are given their final read
ings today.
The hydro-electrice tax, which was
passed at the morning session, is es-
tinated to produce revenue totaling
approximately 100000 annually
while the corporation license tax is
calculated to bring in 100000 annu-
ally and the foreign corporation tax
bill will produce an estimated annual
revenue of $4,000. The corporation
license tax and the foreign corpora
ton tax bills were both passed at the
night session meeting with little op-
position. The luxuries tax is the only
one of the series Of special revenue
measures yet to be reported out by
the ways and means committee.
The hydro-electric tax bill, which
was taken up as a special order at
the morning session, was the first OF
the quartet of new revenue bills IN
troduced by the ways and means COM
mittee at this session, to meet with
serious opposition on the floor OF the
house. the final victory of the pro
ponents of the measare coming Row
ever by an overwhelming majority,
no record vote being taken. Represen-
tative Jessie S. Leopard Of Plckens
county and Representative j. X. OW-
ems of Marlboro county led the at
tack on the measure, both suggesting
amendments to the bill. Mr.. Leopard's
objection to the measure was the fact
that it didn't exempt anything when
Mr.. Leopard thought, he said, that
cotton mills generating electric cur
rent from water power for their own
use should be exempted.
To accomplish this end Mr.. Leopard
moved to amend the bill to make 1t
applicable only to electricity offered
for sale or sold within the state. This
amendment, it was pointed out by
Representative E. T. Hughes of Ma
rion and R. B. Belser of Sumter,
would defeat the purpose of the bill
which was intended, they explained,
to bring into the states Golfers some
return from persons and companies
using the water power Of the state
for commercial purposes. The amend
mgnt was so worded that companies
having offices out Of the state might
have evaded the tax by offering their
current for sale outside the state.
sWe intended to tax the cotton mills
that use the water power for CONNER
cial purposes just as the hydro
electric power companies use it, Mr..
Belser explained. Mr.. Leopard's pro-
posed amendment was then tabled and
the Pickens representative introduced
another amendment producing a SIM
liar effect. which was also tabled. Mr..
Owens proposed an amendment to
exempt municipal hydro-eleetnc
plants. which was carried without op-
position, and the bin sent to third
reading. having come through the at
tack substantially unchanged.
The only move in opposition to the
corporation license Dill came IN the
motion of Representative R. V Falie
of Lancaster county to strike out the
enact;ng words. Mr.. Faile's motion
was defeated overwhelmingly and The
bill was sent to third reading With
only one vote cast in opposition to It,
Debate on the measure was brief.
The foreign corporation tax bill
was passed unanimously, discussion
on the measure being confined to the