The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1886-12-01
A FEASIBLE SUGGESTION.

Senator Woodward of Fairfield, made o
happy hit when he suggested in converse
Gon at Columbia the other day with num-
ber of his compeers, in the presence of re-
porter of the Ne,cs and Courier, a tax Of one
dollar on dogs, to defray the expenses Of an
agricultural college. At first this novel idea
was received as good joke. But the smile
Of increduity soon gave place to quasi
expression of seriousness before the logic
advanced by the Fairfield representative IN
support of his novel idea. The Senator ar
Sued that there were about a million dogs
IN the State, half Of which were probably
,sSsller dogs" that would of course have to
6e sacrificed. But there were still about
five Iundred thousand owned by farmers
;anauGey people who would be willing to
:payNbe tax provided it was general. That
he himself had II dogs on which he was
swining;te pay a tax of one dollar per capita.
Continuing, Mr.. Woodward said, that out Of
the five: :hnndred thousand dogs it is not
probable: that you could get more than Ss0,-
900 bya tax which I'D not provide the
means of enforcing it. But just let the
State pass law as they have done in the
City Of Charleston, condemning to death
every dog .that;is not provided with collar
or badge, end employ dog-catchers in every
municipality and township. You'll find by
this means you Will raise enough money
not only to establish an agricultural college
but to keep it going and the farmers wont
object to paying for their dogs when they
know the proceeds are to be devoted to the
establishment Of an agricultural college.
Think, says he, OF the impetus that would
be given to the sheep raising BY the throw
ing out of the worthless and ownerless dogs
in the State. For years there has been
hue and cry aboutthe depredations in sheep
folds of 'Yasabond dogs Such law, he
concluded, as have outlined, if strictly en-
forced, would otouly give o revenue abun-
dant to establish an6 support an agrlcultuS-
81 college. but would nd the State Of hun
dred thousand worthless dogs which infict
at least hundred Thousand dollars damage
9 year upon the farming interests OF the
State
Il appears that an agricultural college is
an imperative necessity. Now the question
arises how the expenses Of such an institu-
ton are to be metz 1t seems to US that ev-
cry species of property and commodity are
already fully taxed unless it be dogs and a
nominal tax is placed on them, which how
ever, is most frequently avoided. Senator
WoodHard's plan appears to be the easiest
solution of the difficulty, The passage Of
such law, with the means provided for its
proper execution, would be the death knell
Of thousands of useless ours, to the great de-
light of legion of people, and the inestim-
able benefit of the sheep growing industry !;
and there can be no doubt that the yearly
revenue therefrom would be sufficient to es-
sabish and support the farmers college.
The tax too would be paid by those most
able to bear it, or at least by those most
willing. The :.rzuers must heartily ap-
prove it and readily see its advantage over
the fertilizer tax proposed. The burden OF
the fertilizer tax would fall solely on
them, but tax on dogs would fail equally
on all, and it is always best to tax the lux1-
ries Of life; and dogs are a kind Of luxury
on the scale with whiskey and tobacco ES-
pecialy is this the case with the ubiquitous
'.yaller" dog. cur and lap poodle. In the
darkey's affections his dog ranks next to
his wife and children, and goodness alive!
after the most fashionable bonnet give NE
my dear little woolly poodle"
Senator Woodward's suggestion has every
ingredient to recommend it to the favora-
BILE action of our Legislators. Indeed they
would be wise Law makers if they could
legislate to make the dogs Of the Land sup
port real college.