The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-02-11
ASSEMBLY
DISCUSSES
TAX REVENUE
Levy on Luxuries and
on Incomes Chief
Bones Of Conten-
ton, It Seems

Columbia, Feb. 6.-This week
will mark the crest OF the tide OF
debate in the general,assemhly, for.
when recess comes next Friday, a
definite ideal Will probably have
been reached as to what new reve-
nue. legislation is TO be turned out
by the house and the senate.
Practically all the proposed rev.
enue measures are on solsae status
in the legislature and this week
will either mark their defeat or
their acceptance IN some form.
The gasoline and the inheritance
tax bills have been passed by both
houses. and they are now in the
mouse for consideration OF the
senate. amendments. The atajor
ch:.a.,e in the gasoline measure as
ts was passed by the house. is
the increase OF the tax ON gasoline
from ono TO two cents r gallon and
the elimination of all petroleum by
products from the bill The reve-
nue. isto be divided equally, one
half to go into the state treasury for
general state purposes and the
other half to be prorated among
the counties for highway construc-
ton and maintenance. The princi-
pal senate amendment to. the in
heritanee tax bill made by the SEN
ate was tie deletion Of the retroac-
tive feature Of it.
The corporation license tax bill.
increasing licenses on corporations
from one-half mill to one: mill on
each dollar Of capital invested. will
come up for debate in the senate
Tuesday night. The uppefs body
by the narrow margin Of one vote.
refused to strike. out the ,enactlng
words of the measure Friday and
then adjourned debate.
The bill, which prpbably will
take up most of the time, OF the
senate this week. Is the income tax
bill. While a measure OF this
character undoubtedly Will be pass
ed, yet it is not probable that 1t
Win receive the approval OF the
senate in the form in which 1t was
reported from the house. The sen
ate finance committee contemplates
reporting this blu Tuesday night.
The hydro-elecfrie tax bill, which
already, has passed the house, is
with the senate finance committed
and it probably wiIr be reported
61frjpfy- sB1e yyoa},
The timber tax bill was with
drawn from the files OF the SEN
ate last week.
Other important legislation to
come up in the senate is the bill
10 increase the number OF elective
trustees Of the University Of South
Carolina from seven TO twenty-one
members. This bill passed the
house last year lt will receive
opposition in the senate when II
comes under debate. Another meas
ure Of interest is the Christensen
resolution 10 amend the constitu-
ton SO as to place more latitude
with the general assembly IN reg
lilatins the fiscal Affairs Of the
state and doing away with the
three-n.in constitutional school tax.
There apparently will be no fight
IN the senate this year on the state
tax commission. for the measure
abolishing that body ard devolvins
its duties on the state beard Of
assessors. introduced by Senator
Crosson. OF Lexington. was with
drawn by its author last week.
The principal revenue measure 10
come 10 the attention Of the house
this week is the luxuries tax bill
which has been reported from The
ways and means committee. Already
q number Of amendments have been
placed on the desk OF the speaker
TO be voted on when the bill comes
under debate.
The bill providing a tax on pool
rooms has no, been reported from
The house last week passed the
Hamblin- Blease substitute bill pro-
Yiding for 55-hour weeks for tex
tile operatives. and which undoubt-
edly will receive strong opposition
in the senate The Gerald bill pro-
viding for compulsory arbitration
of disputes between the manage
nent of the Columbia Railway. Gas
e Electric Company. has been sent
10 the senate, as has the Foster
bill requiring the Southern Bell
Telephone & Telegraph company 70
reduce its service rates 10 what they
we're before January /. l922, when
a 90 per centum increase allowed
by the State Railroad Commission
went into effect.
The house is in possession OF the
Miller bill increasing the personnel
Of the state railroad commission
from three TO seven members. one
from each congressional district &c
he elected by the general assem-
bly,. instead OF by the people. The
present commissioners. with Frank
~. Shealy as chairman, will re-
main in Office until their terms of
Office expire There will be u hard
fight 10 defeat the bill in the house
but il il passes, it will not be in
its present form, so members et
the house say.
The Wells resolution for the eX-
tension OF the time for the pay
ment of taxes has passed the house
with amendments and goes TO the
senate for concurrence.
The house viii meet tomorrow
or poop and the senate. viii CON