The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-01-14
GOVERNORS
ANNUAL
MESSAGE
Cooper Speaks Of
Finance and Eco
nonics and Taxa
ton in Annual Ad-
dress to Legislature

ernment is not TOO expensive, but
our method Of raising revenues is
intolerable and indefensible."
Thus spoke Governor Robert A.
! Cooper in his annual message to
the general assembly, delivered by
him in person from the speakers
stand in the hah of the house Of
representatives. at noon today and
/ when he said these words he sum-
med up the entire burden Of his
message, a burden which he en-
deavored to place on the shoulders
Of representatives and senator's. as
] their load for the next forty days.
The governor had nearly finished
: his address when he reached these
! words, but in them, it was plain,
was summed up the entire mean
ing Of what he was saying.
! The governors message was a
comprehensive and forceful review
Of the tax situation in the state and
Il plea with the legislators to do
/ the thing that the state most needs
reform the tax system, relieve tho
; tax burden OF the small property
owner. shift it in part at least to
! property now ecapins taxation,
! amend the constitution so complete
! tax reform can be possible. and
provide new sources Of revenue, SO
that the farms and homes: of the
state will never again be taxed TO
the breaking point to finance the
state government, for the benefit
I. as we'll Of the men whose dividend
income, whose inherited wealth,
whose large business privilege and
profit and whose luXuries Shall go
scott free
The governor outlined state
! financial methods which would re-
ducc the state property levy to FIVE
mills or less. with new sources of
revenue. The new sources Of. reye-
nue. touched upon by the governor
have, most of them. been suggested
by the tax. commission. the state
taxpayers association, and even by
; the governor last year. They are
an income tax, all inheritance tax,
q tax on gasoline and other pc
troleum products, an occupation Ii
cense, tax on luXuries and a tax
or hydro-electric power.
The governor also urged the
passage Of a constitutional amend
laent. endorsed by him last year,
for the classification Of property for
various scales of taxation.
The governor also gave the legis-
lators information regarding the
! budget to- be recommended by him.
Us chairman of the budget COM
mission. for this year. The total
budget he said would be s6,466,834.
and discussing each item separate
ly he explained its needs He
urged strongly against any .reduc-
:ion Of the states educational pro-
gram.
The governor urged very strongly
the enactment of tho income tax
law. on the house calendar from
slast year. and said he estimated it
! would yield between one and two
million dollars. He said he knew.
there is strong opposition to this
measure. but he feels that it is
right-it collects revenue from the
person whom it is intended to tax
1t also, he said, is based upon tax
paying ability. and its yield is GER
tain. 1t asks nothing Of the man
who has no income. whose business
has gone to smash. 1t takes moth
ing from the man Of small income.
said the governor.
The governor also urged pas
sage of the inheritance tax bill,
wh:ch has already passed the house
and is. from last year. on the SEN
ate calendar. This. he said, will
produce from $200.O00 to $500, 900.
Regarding the tax on gasoline
and other oil products. the govern
! or urged that this be one or two
! cents a gallon. The bill for this
i purpose. already passed the house
and now on the senate calendar
Will he said. produce a half mil
lion dollars a year. or more.
j Regarding the occupation and
/ privilege licenses the governor said:
Many persons engaged in profcS-
Sions and certain occupations. oper
! ate without invested capital. but
are protected in the practice OF
! their privileged professions or oc-
! equations by the laws Of tho state.
/ and it is not unreasonable that Il
moderate fee be paid the state for
! this privilege and protection"
] bill 10 this end. he said. has been
! prepared. and it is estimated it will
produce $3o0,0o0 per annum.
The governor mentioned. in CON
ncc;ion with the proposed luxury
! tax. Il snail assessment against to-
iaacco. soft drinks and movie
tickets. but he said further that
he thought moro luXuricS than
these should be taxed.
Tic newest sourcc Of revenue
suggested by the governor is the
tax on hydro-clcctrtc power Since
natures has provided htc chief as
sets OF these dcvelopmcnts. he
said. Il small rate per killowat
hour on the hvdroclortric power
can certainly be justified and yicid
considerable revenue.
Speaking OF the budget which he
has prepared Tor the year. TO be
considered by the general assembly
the executive mentioned the fol-
lowing totals for various branches