The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1886-04-28
PRACTICAL. SUGGESTIONS.

Correspondence NctrS 0id courier:
The Farmers Convention, soon to
assemble, will be composed, l trust
and believe, of the discreet and patri-
otic citizens Of the State who will
have in view only the welfare and
prosperity of the State, and not poll
teal preferment or advancement.
Such being the case I must hope that
great good will be accomplished.
There is certainly room for reform in
the State and this convention may as
sist materially in bringing about this
reform.
As taxpayer. I would call atten-
ton to our county affairs, which it
would be we'll for the convention to
consider. Can there not be a more
economical administration of The
county government and consequent
reduction Of taxation? Is q board Of
county commissioners, with almost
unlimited power to tax, absolutely
necessary? Why do we hold on to
this system, inaugurated by the Radi-
cal Government. We did not need
county commissioners before the war;
why cannot we abolish the Office now
and substitute less expensive sys-
temp The real truth is that the poll
ticians in our Legislature are afraid
to move in this matter, but surely a
body of farmers in convention assem-
bled will not be tilnid, as they do not
ask for Office at the hands of the peo-
pie. Again, cannot the officers of
county treasurer and county auditor
be performed by q county treasurer
alone with an assistant to receive re-
turns?
The system of road working also
calls for change, and in a convention
of practical farmers I trust some val
liable suggestions will be made. The
present system is farce, and results
in bad roads everywhere, but espec-
tally in the low-country. How can it
be otherwise? The law requires that
the road hands shall be ordered out
to work not less than six nor more
than twelve days; but who is to carry
out and enforce the order? It is un-
willing service on the part of all, and
the overseer who is not paid and has
no special interest in the work cannot
be expected to incur the displeasure
of every road hand by requiring him
to perform his duty or else to report
him and subject him to the penalty of
the law. As a consequence no work
is done; the road hands when ordered
go on to the road to avoid the fine,
blaze a few pine trees, and the over
seer or superintendent after a few
days declares the work done, and the
hands are discharged for a year.
Now, as practical planter myself,
I contend that road working is a tax.
When man is ordered to work the
road you tax his time, which is a loss
to the laborer, and under present
management no benefit to the public
II, then, there is to be taxation in or
der to keep up public roads why not
levy a tax in money only upon every
laborer who is liable to road duty?
From this money why not pay for the
work on the roads and let it be done
by contract, giving the contract to the
lowest bidder? 1t might be so ar
ranged that a laborer who wished to
avoid paying his tax in money could
pay his tax in labor by hiring to the
road contractor and receive his due
bill for so much money receivable for
taxes. The main and important point
is to place the woodworking in the
hands OF responsible parties, and this
can only de done by letting out the
work by contract to the lowest bid
der and to require a bond for the
faithful performance of the contract.