The Barnwell people-sentinel. (Barnwell, S.C.) 1925-current, December 31, 1925, Image 7

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-4 v'-* THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, W25. -■s - PAGE SRYBV| ■ V 1 ' ' ^ /* / * A* * • r r- x — • ‘ % -• * ✓ • a » • m • —— • 4 • *, . - . 4 % • • » < | • «T' . ■>» « as 4 ' ' . . • . \ ' • « * * t t 4 \ f . • • V N — sit • % * ■ \ Xr:-~ V •."; i - g A . V. ;V r rriius A A - izens X X HaMMaMM iumMBS T • . . ■ . * ip For the period of the three months, September, October and November of the present year, the Special Taxes levied by the last Legislature—the soft drink tax, the admissions tax and the business license tax on cosmetics, cigars, etc.—amounted to $726,826.94. i ^ In other words, this amoupt of money was exacted by the state from a specified few industries and classes of business. • • ; . : | . » t * ■ • . . It is not a great achievement, not even in dollars and cents, • ' * , • . ' * • • * If raising revenue is the state’s only consideration, a General Sales Tax, under r =—. • # 4 the provisions of which all business would havobeen required to pay in the same propor tions as a few have been penalized this year, would have produced many times this amount. , X A General Sales Tax was proposed at the last legislative session, but the proposal was rejected because it was generally recognized that such a tax would be disastrous to business in this state. ^ But as economically unsound as a General Sales Tax would doubtless prove, and as unfair to business in general, it is infinitely more unfair to levy a partial Sales Tax as has been done. . • " - , • ♦ V. * * , x. «* - ■ . Under this partial Sales Tax a few industries and classes of business have been penalized to the amount of nearly three-quarters of a million dollars for the past threei * * * » *' - • ' months of the present year. '•J - •' ■“ * . , ** * 0 . * But this does not tell all of the s|pry. These industries and businesses have also suffered a falling off in their volume of sales, which means a cutting tlown of profits, because of the higher prices made necessary by these Special Taxes. _ ‘ %• The industries and businesses suffering this discrimination are legitimate indus tries and business enterprises, and pay all other taxes required of all other businesses un der the State, County, Municipal and Federal laws. ~~T a?-?- • / South Carolina ■&! •- - 31 $»;■ "-A -