The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1922-01-10
GENERAL ASSElSl8l4Y
WILL MEET i0DAx
ONE OF MOST IMPORTANT SES.
SIONS IN YEARS
Taxation the Main Topic OF Discus
sion-Newberry 10 Have
New Member
(By J. X. A.

Columbia, Jan. 9.-The general as
senbly of South Carolina Will cen
vene tomorrow for one of the most
important sessions in the history Of
the state since the days shortly fol
lowing the War Between the States,
In fact, it is doubtful if there has
been a more important session since
1876.
The reaction following the war and
wartime money and prices has set
the people wild on the subject OF
taxation, and they are. demanding
that taxes be reduced. Meetings
have been held in Saluda, kersh&w,
Richland and good many other
counties calling attention Of the coun-
ty delegations to the burden" and
the demand has grown for reduction
in the state levy Of at least four
mills. The state levy is now twelve
mills. Very little attention seems to
be paid to the city and county Ievies,
where the main burden" is.
Governor Cooper has his annual
message in readiness, and it is IN
derstood to deal at length with the
tax problem-a problem, Ike unto
the liquor problem, and<the problem
of Nagdalene, Of Bible fame, as old
as the everlasting hills. When it IS
finally solved, the millennium will be
at hand, and there will be no need for
the people to concern themselves
about either death or taxes.
Would Reorganize State
The Joint Legislative committee on
economy and consolidation, as It s
stvled in Columbia newspaper, has
a plan for recognizing the whole
state government, including the redUc-
ton of the state levy to four mills,
their idea being the reduction OF the
general property tax through the pas
sage of new revenue acts" This
committee, it is stated, has made q
study of the tax systems of the va
rious states throughout the. country,
and proposes, in permanent say
ings" to change the organization OF
state agencies, etc, so as to effect .
saving of a half million dollars. Iney
would combine some Of the various
boards and commissions now fuEc-
tioning, and would coordinate some
of the states activities so that there
would not be "overm&nning' o.
.oveyIapping." This was recon-
mended to The general assembly oy
Governor McSweeney more than
twenty years ago, when the editor OF
The Herald and News was then con-
nected with the governors Office, AID
the recommendation was strongly re-
iterated by Governor Blesae IN near
" every message he sent to the. leg
ilature during his four terms as gov
ernor.
The joint legislative Nvestig2ting
committee would also defer poohe
inorovement, such as building opera
tions, which they say would reduce
the appropriation for the current year
by something ike S700,CC9.
They would also improve the fiscal
contrc! Of the state, which they say
will result in the saving OF something
like 100000.
Also trey would readjust the gen
eraI TAX system by the levy;ng Of new
taxes through the enactment Ct an
income tax law, an inheritance tx
law, ard a gasoline and oil tax la~,
New Sources OF Income
The suggestion Of the committee 2S
to ne new sources Of income seeNs
to be excellent, because the fene"
who can own an automobile oug"1
rot to mind paying just little mere
for Gas. and tae fellow VINO inherl.s
prcYerty ou2ht 20 aa satisfied to &e1
as much as ne can of what he dlda
work for, and a bill 70 this effect was
introduced " the late NH. George X,
Renbert, and strongly wged oy Coy
ernor Blease, years ago and The
fellow VINO Is making enough money
IN - rearirad 20 paw IN income tax