Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-11-02

own, but / ind upon an examination OF
the statues il would occupy Esore of your
space than / could properly ask for. and
| shall, therefore, content myself with the
leading features of our own statutes and
such reference to others as occasion may
require. / was in hopes by this time to
have had the number of miles of public
roads in this State, but as yet very few
replies have been made by the several
boards Of County Commissioners to the
questions that / took the liberty of SUBJ
uniting some time since. The process of
procuring the information aBpeass to me
very simple. Every county is divided
into ''road districts" Overseers are APP
pointed over every section of the road and
of course each knows how many miles he
has under his supervision. SO that it
would only be necessary to get returns
from the oVerseeFs and add them uD. |
do not care that the reports be more than
approximately correct, for my purpose in
asking this information is to form some es-
innate which can only be approximate of
the cost of maintenance under given plan.
And my interrogations about bridges and
ferries were prOpOunded with the same
view. However, L have no doubt this IN
formation will be forthcoming in due time,
and In the meantime in my next commu-
nication } will address myself to the con-
slderatiRa OF our own statutes.
In the Interest of an intelligent censid-
Grafton of this question it would be very
desirable to know how many persons are
liable to road duty in South Carolina.
Taking out the inhabitants of cities and
towns, who are not liable, but are taxed
either in their persons or property, or both
for the expenses of the municipality, the
number of road hands ought to be almost
equal TO the number of voters outside of
incorporated limits; but more on this
branch of the subject hereafter.
L am fully alive to the difficulties in my
path in the treatment of this subject. l
realize how the consideration of any eco
nOmic question in this and other Southern
States is embarrassed and complicated by
the Heterogeneous OF the population;
one class paying a large portion OF the
taxes and the other very little, yet all
sharing alike the benefits of public eXpen-
ditures or improvements.
l am fully conscious of how prone our
people are to regard with distrust propo-
sitiOns looking to the abandonment of old
and time-hOnOred methods, or make innO-
vatiOns upon settled customs and habits,
and how jealousy they watch any move
ment likely tOreSult in an increase of tax
alton. This is as it should be. 1t is right
and proper that we scrutiniZe closely the
imposing Of taxes and appropriations OF
public money, for in that way alone can
we have a pure and economic administra-
ton of our government. / 20 further, and
say that no change of law is justifable
that is not sanctioned by sound reason
and the eXigencies of the public, and no
increase in taxation is justifiable over
and above the actual demands of the pub
lie service that cannot be clearly shown
to be attended by compensatory advan-
tages to the people.
l appreciate in their most emphatic i'm
port all these difficulties and many more,
but frank discussion of a great question
like this can result in no harm. The need
! of improvement and reformation is ad-
mitted on all sides. 1t is purely an eco
nOmic question and has no elements that
! can give it a political or party complexion
! and on that account is more worthy Of the
| best thought and earnest reflection of
| every citizen who has an interest in the
! improvement and advancement of his
| State, and the elevation and comfort and
healthful progress of mankind. For N.Y.
! self | can hope to do more than call pub
lie attention to matter Of vital import
| ance to every man, woman and child in
! the State. If l succeed in doing that and
get them to thinking about 1t, and in the
smallest degree promote among the people
a more thorough intrOspectiOn, so to speak,
| and examination into our countless re-
sources and possibilities of development.
L shall be more than compensated fol-
| whatever of labor, time and reflection
| may have bestowed upon this road ques-
ton. The people at last must settle it fol-
themselves. My interest is theirs and
theirs is mine. So that whatever solution
| is made, if any, let it be made in a spirit
OF candor, and with the single aim to pub.
lie prosperity.