The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-01-14
THE wATcHMAN AND soUTHRoN, JANUARY IA, 1922
Taxpayers Meeting
Z Resolutions Adopted by Meet
ing. Citizens E xpres S
Themselves in Favor of
Any Reductions in
Taxes Possible

ClAOO = ODCAG1S
1t the public meeting Of the tax
payers and voters of Sumter coun-
~ held at noon on January 9TH in
the court house auditorium, the
object OF the meeting. as stat
ed by Mr.. f. w. DabbS, elected
chairman of the meeting, was for
the purpose Of submitting before
the people Of the county for their
approval or in order that they
might take whatever action they
saw fit in regard to the program
rs outlined by the executive COM
mittee of the South Carolina Tax
payers Association at their recent
meeting held in Columbia on De-
cenlber 29tf, 1921.
Mr.. Dabbs made short intro
ductory and explanatory talk in
which he read statistics giving the
budget sums Of the taxes paid "
Sumter county. He also made
statements showing that at the
present time the greater burden Of
all our taxes was being carried by
the visible property and that I'M
der the present and existing meth
DDS Of assessing for taxation pur-
poses, there was much taxable
property in South Carolina and in
Sumter county which was absolute
ly escaping any form of taxation
whatsoever. The entire ground,
he stated, had been gone over
carefully by this Taxpayers As
sociatioE meeting in Columbia and
that six methods Of obtaining nee
essary tax monies had been sus-
Gcsted at this meeting. Each Of
these methods would be brought
up individually and receive the dis
cussion Of the meeting.
Mr. p. G.. Bowman at this time
offered the following resolution
which was seconded by Mr.. j. K.
McElvcen and was adopted by thc
meeting:
Resolved That we, the citizens
of Sumter county, in. convention
assembled are heartily in favor Of
any movement that will tend to the
reduction Of all unnecessary ex-
penSes and to the removing Of all
unnecessary Office holders and 20
run our government as economical
ly as we are able to do, having in
view the economical and efficient
administration and to oppose any
and all increases in the aggregate
taxes from whatever source for
any-and all purposes.
The suggestion was made by Mr.
E. ". Dabbs that the county
grand jurymcn be called together
and have, them Investigate all eX-
penditureS Of the county funds,
submitting report and Offering
any suggestions. This was thought
we'll Of by the meeting:
The resolution was then offered
by Mr.. J. F. Williams that: This
meeting adopt all resolutions
drawn up by the South Carolina
Taxpayers Association at their re-
cent convention on the 29th day
Of December. This resolution was
seconded and carried by the meet
ing
The following recommendations
were discussed in detail as to their
propriety and adrisability:
First, a proposed change in the
constitution as regarding tax laws:
This was adopted by the meeting.
Second. A tax Of one cent per
gallon on sasolene. Adopted.
Third: The advisability Of an
occupation tax This would have
to do with the taxation Of certain
businesses that were escaping all
forms OF taxation under the pres
net order. This was adopted.
Fourth. An increase in the cap
ital stock license tax Of corpora
tions and in the franchise Of pub
lie. service utilities This motion
was lost.
Fifth. An income tax based on
the federal income tax. Carried
Sixth. A luxury tax. An amend
nlent was offered that in the stead
Of this tax as q substitute for same.
study the propriety and the prac-
teal side Of the putting on of a
sales tax. This amendment was
carried
II the general assembly enacts
the necessary laws imposing the
above taxes. il will result in the
bringing into the state treasur-' ap-
proXimately the following amounts
Gasolene tax 100000; occupation
tax, s350,000; inheritance tax,
$250.o00; increase in corporation
license fee, $4,000: increase in
public service corporation license
tax s150.000; income tax $1,000
900, and luxury tax $4,000, MAX
ing q total of S2.750.0O0.