Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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PKIDAY, DECEMBER 22. 193» THE NEWBERRY SUN PAGE THREE World Turmoil Denies Spirit of Christmas While the guns roar and pour out destruction: while ships and treasure sink to the bottom of the sea; while human blood flows, hearts break, and lives are snuffed out, we celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace. The turmoil throughout the world seems to deny the Son of Man who spake as never man spake. Though men profess. His religion and call upon His name, the dominant trait among men and nations is selfishness. Never before, perhaps, has arrogant might vaunted itself so brazenly through out the world, but the repulsioij-which it has engendered is born of the spirit of the lowly Nazarene who told us that those who would live by the sword shall perish by the sword. The peace of God is a question of the individual spirit, growing out of a close communion with the infinite. The Prince of Peace came to bring a heavenly benediction to all men of good will. And the man whose spirit is in tune with the infinite has peace, j the peace of God which passeth all i 'understanding. “And the work of j righteousness Shall be peace; and the | effect of righteousness quietness and j assurance for ever.” Mr. Pace, whose contacts with the investing public, give him accurate information of what investors inves tigate before deciding on a location for an industry, drew on his wealth of experience, as well as from offi cial records to show to South Caro lina businessmen how our' state looks to the outsiders. We rank 49th among the states for savings, al though there are only forty-eight states. That is because the District of Columbia was included. We have a tax on interest, dividends, etc., (over $500) known as the Intangibles Tax, which can be defended on one side, but which is working to our serious detriment in getting new citi zens. It is beside the mark to argue for the Intangibles Tax, or any other tax, if the tax itself keeps us from getting more revenue from other sources and results in a net loss to the state. Ordinarily, no tax is worth while unless it produces reve nue. Sometimes a high tax may be put on through a confusion of mo tives, such as the liquor taxes, but usually the motive for the tax is to produce revenue. In all the large business centers the businessmen know of rich men who live months here each year, who own large estates here on which they spent liberally; and whose ordinary income tax would be paid to this state if they were citizens, and whose estates— when they die—would pay heavily in inheritance taxes. We are not trying to help the rich And with one accord they all be gan to make excuses. So says the scripture of those who should have carried the light of the Gospel. So with most of our citizens; those who have most are usually saved by those who have little. The Farmers and Taxpayers League is a case “in point”, as the lawyers say. The outcome of the work end influence of that organization has been one of the most helpful contributions to public life in South Carolina. It has al ways been a potent force because most of its sponsors are small farm ers and home-owners. Their earnest work has conferred benefits on hund reds of men of large means, but most of the well-to-do men have, with one accord, made excuses, they have not worked with the Farmers and Taxpayers League. It is singular and interesting that a farmer owning one mule will en list to fight high taxes and will con tend like a storm-trooper^ against public extravagance, whereas a mer chant with a capital stock of a hundred thousand dollars, will cuss and snuff and snort about taxes, in his club, or to his banker, and in his office, but he won’t lift his hand open ly. Why? Ask him. to escape taxes. We are trying to get taxes Which we are not getting now. And to do so, we shall lose what the Intangibles Tax now yields. Is it worth while? Let’s work on that: There are men owning estates in South Carolina whose wealth is probably over a billion dollars. At this time the counties in which they live collect property taxes from them. Georgetown, Colleton, Char leston, Horry, Beaufort, Jasper, Hampton, Kershaw, Aiken and Wil liamsburg have many wealth north ern winter residents. Those men buy old estates, or a group of farms, spend money freely on development and p^y people to supervise their property. I wish they would buy some of mine—and my neighbors would quickly join me in that. The tax on their incomes, however, is aid to the states in which they hold legal residence. When they die their estates pay out handsomely to those states. Now if we induce those men—or some of them—to become citizens here we should get their in come tax while they are living and the inheritance tax when they die. That striked me as something worth going after. Don’t you think so Ever hear about the Punitive Dam age law ? I saw a man recently who carries an insurance (liability) poli cy on his car for three hundred thou sand dollars! Why? Because he works for a big corporation. If the car of a man of our town hits someone we don’t think about money. But if the car should belong to a corporation— oh, boy! What is the result of that? Do we fool the insurance Companies? Do we get something for nothing? Not on your life. Because this is the only state allowing such tom foolery we pay a higher rate for our car insurance than is paid in other states. We pay $39 for the usual policy, but Georgia pays only $30. As in all cases, the small man, the con sumer, pays the bill. Well, buddy, how long shall we pay all these things so a few damage-suit special ists may reap a harvest? We pay the bill, don’t you forget it. I congratulate the Charleston Chamber and I applaud the generous gesture of cooperation. South Caro lina is a good state, but we must wake up. S5 COIN BRINGS $1,000 New York, Dec. 17.—A $5 gold coin minted by a private firm in Cali fornia in 1851 was sold at auction for $1,000 yesterday. Identity of the buyer was not disclosed. When joyous Christmas Chimes ring out The Olden Message sweet May not one thing be lacking To make your joy complete Lake’s Machine Shop . «• & Are there any facts to work by, or is all this just something inspired by the artesian water of Clarendon? A year or two ago one of the Duponts died, a resident of Florida. His estate paid more than two million dollars to Florida as an Inheritance Tax. Last year a man died in Charleston but his Inheritance tax of a million and a half dollars was paid to New York. That one inheritance tax was seven times the amount received from the Intangibles tax in a year. I trust I have at least a wee bit of the milk of human kindness flowing in me, and a tiny speck of humanity, so I don’t want to appear so cold are callous as to want men to come here solely that they may die, but since they must die, why not die here? We hear it said about sharing the wealth ~and a lot of that bunk—but I’m heartily in favor of sharing the tax es. Aren’t you? They are likeable men, most of them, and just flesh and blood like you and me, but I think we should let them pay their income and inheritance taxes to us. So away with the Intangibles tax. Ownership of property makes one cautious, prudent, discreet—and ti mid. A man with property is fear ful of losing it, of having it taken from him. A man without anything sometimes has the boldness to ven ture, having nothing to lose. But this seems to say that our property is our master, rather than our ser vant. It often is true. And that’s a sad story, mates. I recently met a man of affairs, a man of considerable means, who speaks out boldly on public matters. It was a tonic for my drooping spirits. Just think of this: the Man who owns the most beautiful place in the world, a man born to ease and com fort, a banker in his own rigiht— that man speaks out about conditions in his home city and in our State. To find a man of wealth and social posi tion who will spend a solid week travelling over the State urging men to stand together for the good of the state is the most refreshming exper ience I’ve had in many a moon. The man I’m telling about is C. Norwood Hastie of Charleston. The Charleston Chamber of Com merce, with singular clarity of thought, came to certain conclusions: 1. that our taxes are too high; 2. that we want everything that every other state has; 3. that we need more wealth in the state so that more people and more wealth may help us carry the heavy brden of taxes; 4. that the repeal of several of our laws would make it easier to get more wealth to come here; 5. that this wealth would come from (a) men who already have es tates here in South Carolina but who retain their citizenship in New York or New Jersey because the tax rates may be more favorable there; (b) from new industries which might be attracted to this state. The Charleston Chamber decided to send three of its own men and in vited the Managing Director of the State Federation of Commerce, Agri culture and Industry tc go. From the old city-by-the-sea were C. Nor wood Hastie, owner of Magnolia Gar dens and Vice President of the Citi zens and Southern Bank; Homer M. Pace, one of the most useful men of the state, now serving on the State Planning Board; David A. Skinner, long a veteran in public matters and for twenty-eight years a leader in the National Chamber of Commerce. J. K. Breedin represented the State Federation. These four went from Dan to Beersheba with tidings of a new era. More than that: they went farther than the Biblical span of great distance, for they went a long journey in the splendor of a sumptu ous car, tarrying here and there, un til! they had compassed the State. I “heard tell” of their going to Varn- ville, Hampton, and Barnwell, but I espied them as they entered the broad avenues of Aiken and there after let them not stray from my sight. Aiken, Greenwood, Anderson, Greenville, Spartanburg, Rock Hill,! Columbia, Camden, Sumter, Harts- ville and Orangeburg were visited and their men of business were con sulted. The travelers stopped for a half hour in Manning and enjoyed the celebrated artesian water of that renowned civic center, passing on to El Recuerdo to see the faded glory of the illustrious past. With Lasting and Welcomed Gifts The BICYCLE Store of Newberry Hundreds of our Bicycles are giv ing satisfaction and bringing hap piness to Newberry boys and girls. We want you to see our line be fore buying for we know you will t be pleased with the showing. Buy that boy or girl a good bicycle while you’re about it—one that will stand the hard use they will put it to, and one that will not be forever calling for repairs. Our line of bicycles the is best. See them today. You will find hundreds of practical Gift items at this store. Give a present this year that will be a lasting one. Man and Boy! A good Rod and Reel will “tickle them pink” and you won’t have to pay so very much for this present. If your men are fishermen, we can suggest something in this line that will certainly piease. Toasters Are always good for Christmas giv ing and here you will find the best make in a wide price range. Give the wife one of these handy appli ances and enjoy toast made just right. Fireplace Brass A gift that any good housewife will appreciate and one that will add to the beauty of your home. We have the different items in this line. Ask to see it. For that Man No gift will please the man quite so much as a fine shot gun. Here you will find a wide range at many prices. AND FOR THE BOYS we have a complete stock of Daisy Air Ri fles. One of these will be all the present you need tor that boy. Electric Irons Here are the latest models in Hot- point Electric Irons. You know the Hotpoint line, their reputation for long-lasting appliances. The wife or daughter would like one of these. RADIOS Nothing will bring more real plea sure to the whole family than a modern’ G-E Radio. Select one now for delivery Christmas. Mixing Bowls Percolators Electric Clocks Hot Plates Hunting Suits And many other Gift Items ¥ & R. M. Lominack Hardware