It p I 1 #*?'^pre ,| _ _ . I VOLUME LVIII, NUMBER 9. NEWBERRY, S. C., TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 1922. TWICE A WEEK, $2.00 A YEAR ?? ? ? ? ? ? - ?? -?? .- . .--> ? jjtt-Mnn-.-T-urrawattJK.j^m^racrr^-L.mi.ni^jfr.:avr Tfnii Htm~munx~<. ! ! ?BWJIMMI I, ^ a*!Xi?t?aaa^zu'iaBBy3rjTaiiiJ?amtJ>j*a3BWMMWH?WHMMMwawMwwBWMMWMMMMMMnwMMMMM?"WWi^"MM"*M^^ "M"""MWi GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON TAX MEASURES PUTS IN STRENUOUS WEEK Of CON5IDEKA1IUIN House Has Passed Most of th? Measures Over to Senate?Adjourned Friday to Monday (By Jno. K. Aull) Columbia, Jan. 30.?The genera assembly has made remarkable prog ress during the three weeks of it; session, and, if only the old-time cus toraary forty days are to be consum ed, then the legislature is half waj through with the session. However in the past several years, the sessior "hue crrmp npvond the forty days, anc it may go beyond that this year though both senate and house have been working hard both at day anc night sessions. The principal matters so far considered, of state-wide importance are the new tax revenue bills, anc' *. +i,OM 5,rf? on a fajr way tc mvsi vi uiviii ?. passage. It is understood that the ways and means committee of the house, which prepares the appropriation bill to be introduced in the house, is somewhat indisposed to take any definite action on various matter? until it knows what the final disposi tion of the new tax-raising bills will be. If they should fail, the appropriation proposal, as introduced by the committee, might be cut more than it otherwise would. The idea seems tc be to reduce the state levy in one manner or another, in response to the popular demand for a decrease c-f taxes. As matter of fact, anybody ? u^ v,r,c ctnHipH the tax situation in W11U uaj South Carolina, knows that the main taxation is by the municipal corporations and the counties, and that a reduction in the state levy would not amount to very much, anyway, but the people are demanding: a reduced levy from the legislature in the state appropriation bill. For instance, to reduce the salaries ot state omciai: would amount to practically nothing, comparatively, when taken :nto consideration with other appropriations. The ways and means committee is composed of men who have been studying the situation, and they will reach a decision which seems to them right and proper. Then it will be up to the house first, and the senate next, to go over the bill, and make such fhans-es as either body sees fit. The measure will go on the gridiron of the house, and after being passed by :ha1 body, with such amendments as it sees fit to make, it will go to the finance committee of the senate, and from the finance committee of the senate bad; to the house and then to a free conference committee of both houses who will at last be the final arbiters Kevenue-Kaising The house has passed, almost without debate, all the proposed measures looking towards new sources of rev enue, except the luxury tax measure and these measures are now up to the senate. Ii has been contended thai with the passage of these new reve: nue bills the state's levy on propertj as at present assessed could be re duced by about one-half. Beth houses have passed the inner! tance tax measure. The senate pui in some amendments, and the tw< houses will likely get together. The house has passed the measure for a tax on gasoline, the income :a? bill, tax on water powers, and, a. stated, both .houses have passed tin inheritance tax bill, though they w have to get together on the amend meats adopted >by the senate. Ii other words, all of the new revenue raising bills, with the exception of th< luxury tax bill, are now up to iht senate. Fcr Extension of Tax Payments The sthas finally agreed or the measure introduced by SenatD' Wells of Kdgefield, providing: for * lit extension of the time for the pay men of state and county taxes. The bill a: it oasseti the -f'liate. ;i*i< \i \v;! row i?:o to house, would ex:or.< the time for :'-M' payment of taxes u:i til June 1. with a penalty of 1 pe cent for January, two per rent fev February, three per cent for March four per cent for April, five per een for May, an i a seven per cent pen aity thereafter, the penalties no: !,e i;iL' cumulative. After June i th< executions to he Issiud acanthi f>roin-rlv on vhir*:.\c b::v?* > , been paii!, but are no: t.; be execut< until the iii>: day of Septeh.jer. ), The senate also provided in the b ! that any one paying: taxes during t r | period mentioned should not be d j barred from voting in general eie | tions. As the law now stands, o: a i must have paid his taxes before De " j ember 31, in order to vote in ai ! crpripra] election within six mont thereafter. THree-Mill School Tax , The resolution of Mr. Sapp of R:c land county, providing for the su 3 mission to the people of a conitit tional amendment doing: away wi the three-mill school tax, was giv< . a favorable report by the ways ai means committee of the house, {j was also his resolution providing: i \ amendment to the constitution " establish a just and equitable syste , of raising: public revenues." T! I idea of Mr. Sapp is that the legisl ture should be empowered to provi. the funds needed by the schools, ^ J these needs may appear each yes > ! Rpanncrtionment in House I r z > Under the census of 1910, it . held that there must be a reapportio > ment of the representation of cou . ties in the house. The house is coi ? posed of 124 members, to be appo . tioned according to the population ; the counties, as shown by the censi o Km whifh hn* been Intro.!u , | t IIUvl Ci W.41 M 4?.v. ? I } ed, after careful figuring: by math . | maticians onl the census report, Bai . i -berg is reduced from two members | one, Florence increased from thr< i ; membes to four. Marlboro decrease . from three menvbers to two member . and Richland increased from, n members to six members. Take Short Recess i Roth houses of the general assei b!y. after a strenuous week's wor . adjourned on Friday afternoon un . Monday night. ; This general assembly has be< ! working perhaps as steadily :.s ai i ceneral assembly in recent yeai ' There is a lot of work yet to be don , however, in view of the new taxati< ; program which has been undertake , | and it is problematical whether ti .! session will be concluded within t, , | next three week?. ; | Warrant Against Senator Mr. August Kohn of the News ai I Courier, writing to his paper, has tl ! ! following to say with regard to a pr i I hibition law warrant issued again (J the senator from Oconee: t j The members of the senate a .; very much interested in the repo . 1 from Seneca that the assistant chi I ;! of police of that city had issued ; j warrant against Senator Mason . j Oconee county. Senator Mason is i ' At . j sis10111 mat mere is ciusuiuicij? ujt : i ir?sr in the charge other than that . j friend sent a bottle of scuppernoi J wine to a restaurant for him to _ | that he declined the wine and nev I called for it and that the wine w . | pcured out and that is all he had to i ; f with it. Of course, memlbers of t' .| general assembly are immune to a ! rest during the session on charges >i .! this character. Senator Mason sa ; i he has no idea of claiming immunit : | and wants everyone to know that - i the earliest possible momemt the . i must be some mistake in the char? | as he has neither directly, nor inc . | rectly, violated the prohibition or ai r! other law, but lie is anxious ty answ I } any cnarges. Income Tax Bill ? ; The income tax bill which is r.c ' ~ ? ~ ^ ~ fl.1 v> n frtiiimi*! - j UfTOifc* t.'itr truuic iniotiv i . j will probably be reported Tuesda ^ ! This is perhaps the most important j I the pending bills. Ir is understo . j that the finance committee of the se , | ate w'11 probably recommend a ~>0 p . j cent reduction in the rates of t i nonJinf Kill fro Mi the bill as T)aSS< > l?y the house. In other words, t present tone of the finance comniitt I i? to int the rates of the house b , exactly one-half, that is. where tax rale of 2 per cent :s provided f Jin the house !."!!. t<> reduce that to , j per cent. ;$nd where per rent, is pr . j vided to reduce that to i 1-2 per eei . : C\f coiT.-vc : }if :i:)nrfi inieil h> I i " I r . ; important this ch'ingi will he :;i ) ' sul's. r The c-unty supply hills are the house with rapidity. Beaufc j-eported first on its c.-unly :>udg< then came Aiken and Calhoun. I I A Philadelphia bankers savs. "T i'?!:sumer is king." A v. ! you i;;:-. .: what the worid has been :i':nj; L-irov .'ii th?> : s' te.v ven I ; WHERE JUSTICE IS ! ,i!l! ONLY GRIM JOKE n? e v\ s: , ?n i i. ^ Might it not be possible to so jm- pose upon the farming: class that they might resent it? While unquestionably the most patient and long suffering of all human beings might there m , ? net be a limit? Was not tne farmer ne i before the civil war considered a ; Q, , "Country Gentleman." and is he not : cie after the world war approaching Rusas _ , . si an peasantry? Is there any other class doing business with him not "soaking" him for the limit? Does is not the doctor, the lawyer, the bank-. ? er, the merchant?in fact everv class ' nmake mm nav them the.r prices, and 11- * does he not have to take anything he >r- * ?. can get \v;tnout any say so? j' If he brings a cow to town for sale, i does he net get from three cents to . live cents per pound, and if he wishes to buy a piece of the same beef, does j , he not have to pay from 25 cents to, i o 40 cents per pound? If he brings a ^ cow hide he will probably get 75 cents or a dollar for it. but if he . *s? ? wants a pair of shoes, will he not have to pay from $3 to $15 for them? If he breaks his wagon and has to have i ^ it repaired in town will it not prc|> j i. ably cost him a cow? Are not all rv. ,-j tools, machinery and h:s necessities on ine same basis, and is not every-: thing he produces practically carried on in the same manner? Takinz Rock Hiil for a comparison, cannot a man I hire a farmer and his family to work e, , from daylight till dark, and later if >n - ? ti necessary, for less money than is paid , a hotel waiter, a janitor, a l~?-y ear-old , clerk, or any employe-of any description of a railroad, or any one en-: gaged in any other bu i '.ess? , 7 Have the politicians been worth a i Ci ; r.ickcl to him? Have not most of the schemes, gotten up siin^csedly for his benefit, been a means for creating a lot of useless jobs? Kasr/t most of rc the speaking and ranting on different t things been rather with a view of f holding or getting a job either for t'no enpstpr or for somo of h'is friends a v'"~. " who cculd so adminb!y 111! the position provided salary was sufficient? ,, Would not the politician telling him , a about his poor wife and children cooking, milking and working in the T fields, be more of a friend, if he were * I, to tell him, they are doing so, ;but if ' .1 i j __ vcu were not a tool, inev wouia not as ** be? Is not the advice and persuasion ; i usually driven the farmer for the real v benefit of the man giving the advice, o? and is not the farmer the same old . "sucker" who falls for it. Is not evys " ery other class organized for protec\ lion? Is not "equal rights to all soeci v re cial privileges to none" a farce when , .e combinations of every description are i j;' allowed against a particular class? Is ?v tilt're r.ot price nxing on a 1 most every- : * thing he must buy? Have you heard J . such a conversation iately between a ; ,farmer and fertilizer man: "What are fertilizers worth this vear?" "I don't' >\v j , know, the prices haven't beer fixed v yet." Why allow a professional say ' e in New York or Chicago to cell the Oi , labor of everv farmer, man, woman :d and child and torce tne iarmer ro 11t>v take the fictitious prices createi;? , Does the professional know that as a ,le i J , . , rale tne fanner is poor and ignorant e(1 . - v u- i- i an buv? Pca't thev haw to have some 1 one to buy from, who 'hen unless the u nrr.fes.-iona]? \Y;;> win.-; in nearly t-vi'i'v iranio of "Ma-.'-", i pr >fcssion' a! oi" the . niatcuv suckt . ? Was not 1\ uiil ii ! ;>r.'' v - " ,?!!? iiu* ; J lived bales, can't you play now r>0 jp cents limits, ten bales. i If live men were playing: cards ; with ?o9 or. the tnhle. would they not' 3e arrested if caught-. but if five men put up $50 on the up cr down on 10 ! ^ bales, i-.n't perfectly legitimate? i r'i ' 1 iL _ i ? ,1 necessary ana casta on me iuluic* price, don't care whether it is up or ra down, if market higher will make it of cn the future, if lower will lose on the th< future, but make it on the spots and de save carrying charges.. Hasn't this 24 "hedge"* business been a great excuse r.e for many a man who wished to take a br gamble for his mill? and '"ousted" a nu lot of them too. Has any one noticed re 1 __ wn" any special gamoiing an uie ikibucu product or is it confined to the raw to material the farmers produce? Hasn't he this thing, gotten up >by some real by artists, been going on for over 50 in< years, about five years after slavery ta: _ ,1 ^ wrvf timn r\ piw th w;j0 il 'JUilMIUlu dim 10 it. uw built, i.v/ .. ? to allow legitimate supply and demand fix the price whether it is 5 m< cents. 10 cents, 25 cents or $1 per sti pound? But how? Could ftot a law m< be passed whereby gambling1 should Kc not be allowed in anything that did Jui not exist or by no possible imagina- oh ticn could exist. to For instance, if 10 million "bales of of cotton are produced , in a year, tic don't allow 200 million to be gam- an bled in. If a man had a certificate oh say for 100 bales of actual cotton, al- m< low trading in the actual cotton in ex- th< istence as often as desired, but allow up this 190 million bales of pure imagi- esi na-tion to be gambled in it entirely un- of fair to the producer and fixed his otl price? Don't allow anything impos- th sible to exist, fix the price of any- in; thing actually in existence, simply be- th cause lots of people wish to garrJMe, th and it might interfere with present ca arrangements. Of course, there are a!: millions invested, but there is a lot1 invested at Monte Carlo and Monte Carlo doesn't play on the welfare and almost life of human beings. Confine ' the trading to actual existence and f then stop, even though some might lose the commissions on more than a hundred million bales of imagination, jsc! Have we had actual supplv and demand fix the price of cotton except CTA (luring the world war when it was a fcV_ thousand points higher than this im- ~7 i 0 agination? ? \ c Don't we often hear '"the farmer is ou ignorant, got no sense?" Will grant ^ so much if desired and that all the , tei sense is confined to the towns and a n cities are we showing it? Isn't the farmer the foundation for practically all of u?. our very life, and if we re: knock and knock til! we knock down (ie our loundation. will our house not fall? If tin* world considers it the . to correct thin.ir to allow "local professionals" or "operators" or traders or ( whatever thev arc. "Wall street anil oc the Waldorf crowd," the privilege of (i.(> depressing the price of a farmer's ^ product to a point of hare existence ^ by manipulating a purely fictitious # ^ an ! non-e\*i?t in.'.v product, should they ' j iiot consider it euuallv the correct I fit tiling for the fanr.e;* 10 <5 i. lie iiuum: iu i ,tw_ *day moved several important steps arer the solution of the state's taxon problems, preparing the way for mediate relief of the now apparentoverburdened owners of visible ted property and making a beginlg at laying the ground work for al and complete change of the tax stem of the state. The hydro-electric tax, the corporon license tax and the foreign corration tax, three of the series of w revenue measures, were passed to third reading and sent to the nate, while the luxuries tax bill, the al and from the point of view of ? amount of revenue to be producthe most important of the series, is introduced by the ways ana ?ans committee. The hydro-electric x and two coporation tax measures ire given their final reading without bate and were agreed to without a lgle dissenting voice. These meases, it is estimated by the ways and ;ans committee, will bring in revee totalling $475,000 annually. The luxuries tax measure will come for consideration as an uncontestmeasure today, unless objection is ised by some member or the point order is made that the copies of e printed bill have not been on the sks of the members the required hours. The sending of the three hills fn the senate yesterday ir.gs the total of these new revee measures, which are expected to duce the state tax levy to 5 1-2 lis or less, passed by the house up seven. The gasoline and the inrltance ta^ measures were received the senate last session, while the come tax and the motion picture k bills were passed by the house is session. The preparing of the way for even " -1 ~ 1 -?T-. > in fhp Dl'G IUncitiTiidi tai vv..^ ite's tax system are carried in two jasures introduced in the house by jpresentative Claud N. Sapp of Cotrbia yesterday. Both are joint resitions, calling1 for the submitting the people of the state the question amendments to the state constitute and were referred to the ways d means committee. One of the resitions, which is identical with the ?asure debated so vehemently in 0 senate Wednesday, would confer on the general assembly power to ta'blish a just and equitable system raising public revenue, while the her resolution world strike out of e constitution the provision requir2 a levy of annual property tax of ree mills and leave the fixing of is levy to the legislature. A duplite of this second resolution is now -/ v AII flio cnnitto r?nlpndaT*. IV Uli UiV, CVilMW VV.. LWBERRY HIGH DEFEATS AMERICAN LEGION The Newberry high school defeated e American Legion in a well fought me Fiiday night at the new high riool gym. by a score of 12 to 8? ? * ^ i- ^ - i- 1 Tarrant ana nenwicK ieaiureu iui e high school and Graham and Vidsky for the Legion. us1:" the farmer, will it not come ry close to putting the best of us t of business? Could the chambers cnmtnprfp of the country do a bet r real work than to try to 'build ew our foundation on a solid basis? ay we not be playing with fire? ay not the farmers wake up and al:ze their power? May they not termine to raise enough of food d clothing for themselves and say the world. "We can live if you n't." Would it not be a sure ou.zh v jlamity if the farmers do1 .J ) Hayes recently resigned his high po- 'sj sition to work for the betterment of the movies. 1 ml 1 i_ .1 3: i-U / * ! I ine industry is uem-auuiug iurc 0j I brains and the energies cf the coun- jg t try's progressive men and women. !? We in South Carolina should recog- jr< nize the importance of the movies. 1 ? We in S^uth Carolina must be fair _ j n to ourselves. 1 V( Our state legislature must not for- t get the moving picture's place in the ^ i life of our commonwealth. j rj A film tax bill has passed tne siate ^ house of representatives which places a tax of $5 per thousand feet on mo- j " tion picture films. The bill is now in ? . V ; the senate, and it should be killed. 1 ^ This bill is theoretically aimed at ' the distributors, but because of the w i n ! fact that there are no distributors in : ! Smith Carolina the burden of the tax I " a i will fall 011 the theatres in the shape of increased rentals. a The total film rental (income) o-f v, i 19 distributors serving this state ^ j amounts to $3S3,933.68 per year, and i the proposed tax would amount to ' ! $83,200, or twenty-one per cent of C| ^ /\ra n ; uic uidtiiuutuiw ixiwviuv. p The distributors have announced Q that in the even: this bill becomes law tj they will shift this tax to the theatres ' by increasing the cost of pictures ! from twentv to twenty-five per cent. ' j At the present time there are lo5 ^ ' motion picture theaters operating in qJ , South Carolina. Of these theaters,' : (33 are in towns of 6.000 or less; 24 j 'are in mills and Y. M. C. A. theaters, ' I c< 1 IT - ? 4- U ??< r\ \* />/>! rtnrt I il'iU I i Ul\S tJJCiitcia iui utw- yyi It ; V*- a: I During the past year 50 moving pic- c. ture theaters have closed their doors f( i in the stare because of financial loss- (m es. It is state.1 that 7 theaters ceased i (j( ! operating last week because of finan- ^ !cial loss. |sc ! The 68 small theaters which are ^ i being operated in the small towns J jn nornnf Kflor fV?o Vinrrlo'n nf inrTPaSPd I _ taxation in this form, and they cannot Sl successfully increase their price of admission 25 per cent. k( If this film tax bill is passed by the senate it will in all probability mean the closing of 50 theaters in South Carolina. ' The moving picture men in South ^ Carolina have made the following in- cr teresting statement: (U] "The tax as proposed against the ^ distributors cannot be equitably pro- j.Q rated among the theaters because only 6 of the 19 distributors hold conj tracts with as many as 30 to 55 thea ters. , in Three serve 25 theaters; two serve1, ill 15; two serve 10; three serve 8; and ' the remaining three exchanges serve 1 ; 6, 5 and 3 theaters each. But the 1 nr \jc j tax on a picture which plays in 5 -pj ! theaters will be the same as the tax p j which plays in 55 theaters. This means W( ; that not only the small theaters served by these exchanges must close, but i the 12 to 15 small distributors must mi ----- r.t r r*r% 1 TVi 11C Ck ! ! iflixy UUl VI UUUUI uaivnuu. luus C? j .virtual monopoly is established by . law. The tax cannot but result in poorer or I pictures, since the theater which used to i to pay $10 for a program cannot af- hi: i ford to pay $10 plus 25 per cent, but of ' must seek cheaper pictures. The av- he ! erage film rental in South Carolina is'no $8.2.") to $10 per program. The pro-jin posed tax on original (new) prints'ho alone, excepting duplicates, would , sl< amount to 20 per cent of this cost hi: price." 'fo | Senators of South Carolina do your 0f I duty and kill this bill! ne i Pass the inheritance tax bill! to | Pass all the good bills which pro- tic ; pose just taxes for the things which th snouin 01* iaxi*ii uui uu nut vuic mi a tax which would be a blow to one of [the most important educational facftovs ot the day?the moving picture Pr fiiaif It rj ? )AY OF BUSINESS IN LOWER HOUSE (EAVY VOLUME OF WORK TRANSACTED THURSDAY ill to Abolish ^ State Highway Commission Introduced?To Ban Carnivals he State, 27. | The mills of the general assembly Centimes grind exceeding fine and ? j J: .* 4. pon occasions grina exceeuuig uch was the case of the house yes;rday, an immense volume of work sing accomplished at the single seson during the morning, the on'.y hesation in the "unperturbed pace" of le consideration of bills, new and Id, coming in the debate of the food - - ? ^-j-1 T> D :bel measure 01 nepresenrauve jl>. arey of Charleston and on the joint isolution of Representative J. 0. heppard of Edgeleld to ^^duce the nf inrnvs rpnnirprl reach UII.'JCJLO V/JL JUiViu w. - - edicts in civil cases. Measures of , - ! ate-wide and bills of local impormce?among them the three new svenue biUs?were taken up and assed or killed with "deliberate ' i )eed" and little if any debate. The Richland delegation bill, preentiner public service corporations *om denying service to a patron in ise of a dispute over charges delanded and providing for the invescation of the true charge, was also nong the number of measures agreed ) on third reading without debate nd sent to the senate. This bill, hich was thoroughly discussed in the ouse on second reading Wednesday, m rovides that in the event any dispute ;culd arise between an individual 3T3U ncr and any public service cororatio or company over the amount f a bill for gas, water or electricity le consumer may appeal to the >urts. The measure would also rc aire me puouc service cuuupaujr jntinue its service uninterupted to le consumer during'the investigation f the charge. Jury Bill Killed The day's most extensive debate une en the bill to require the agree er.t of only three-fourths of grand id petit jurors in the trial of civil ises in the state, the bill being debated by a vote of 48 to 33. The easure was taken up as a special or?r, debate on the question having 2en adjourned from Wednesday's ission. As practically all speakers jard at the session Wednesday were i favor of the measure so the debate jsterday was the negative's day, the iccessful attack on the measure beg led by D. B. Peurif-oy of Walter)ro. Other representatives, speakg in opposition to the .bill were: W. . Bradford of York, A. G. Kennedy Union and W. J. Gibson of bparnturg. J. 0. Sheppard of Edgeleld tc author of the bill, was the only leaker heard in favor of the meas:c. The bill was killed on the moon of J. W. Hanahan of Winndboro strike cu<: the enacting words. Cosiderable argument was also oc tsonea over tne -Dili to reuqire an arsons, firms or corporations engaged business of canning, packing, pickg, preserving, boxing or in any way eparing any food for sale and shipent to st?mp, brand and label the ickage, "South Carolina Product." tie bill, of which Representative .B. Carev of Charleston is the author, ^ , ouid also order the tood inspector regularly inspect these foodstuffs guarantee the enforcement of the easure. Still a Few of 'Em Left. A thin, sickly little man entered ie of the stores in- one of our small o wns recently and quietly seated mseif on a convenient chair. One the clerks approached and asked if wished to purchase anything. "Oh i," said the man. "I just dropped for a few minutes." After half an ur had passed the manager of the 3re becoming curious, approached . in and asked what could be done r hi'm. "Why nothing that I know * said the man. "You see I have rvous prostration, and the doctor Id me to stay in a quiet place. No ing that you do not advertise I ought this would be about the quiest place I could find."?Ex. Some men will tackle anything, ohibition officer?, for instance, are ;inr: to make Chicago dry.