The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1890-12-10
A SCHEME SUGGESTED.

'..ls the adoption of the constitutional
amendment abolishing the office OF
! County Commissioner will require or al
low new system of county govern
ulent, and these county governments,
are in a measure the cause OF our heavy
taxes. l will suggest for your considera-
ton 4 scheme OF local government which
will give US efficiency and economy in
county affairs. and as true and honest an
assessment Of property as is possible.
Let the voters Of each township elect
from its free-hoiders board of three Su-
pervisors who Shall have charge of roads,
bridges and the assessment of property
in their respective townships. Let the
pay Of these supervisors, If any, be just
what the people Of that township are
willing to pay out OF their own pockets
as voted in township meeting, and if
public spirit does not make men do the
work for nothing, the people will pay
well done, and no more. When the
Auditor comes around to assess property,
let these supervisors be present and put
prices on land, stock, &C., &C., under
oath, and should any tax payer neglect to
make return, let the supervisors find out
and assess his property. receiving there
for 81 from each tax payer who neSlects
/ to meet the Auditor.
g Let the chairman of these townihip
boards ofsupervlSors, constituting a coun-
| ty board oftinance to audit accounts, or
der expenditures and do all the duties
now performed so Enthusiastically by the
county commissioners. When cur coun-
" governments are controlled by men
who are successful business men, who
are the best Of their class, and the money
becomes secondary 10 the honor and the
public welfare, we shall see the eXtrara-
gance and waste, the speculation and pc
culation now going on i'll many counties
! brought to an end, and taxes reduced,
while the affairs of the county will be
conducted in far more satisfactory
way.
I'm the matter of assessments and
equa!izing taxes this county board Of IL
nance could act as an equalizing board to
whom the auditor should report anything
he may discover wrong on the part of
township boards Of individuals. The
auditor should be altogether free from
political influences and be appointed as
now on the recommendation ofthe coun-
! " board Of tinanance rather than by the
, primary system. For, as long as he is
hunting votes, he can not and will not
discharge his duty fearlessly. If the law
is strengthened, by making it a crime,
punishable with fine and imprisonment,
to fail to return all property liable to taX-
alton, everything will be done that is
possible to make all property bear its
just share Of the burdens OF govern
ment.
1.-The best Of laws are Of no avail un-
less they are properly administered, and
while it is not claimed that this system is
perfect it is submitted to you as embody-
, Ing the essence of self-government, and
experience has demonstrated that just
+. in proportion us the government IS con-
Quoted on the same principles that our
private affairs are conducted. tits econom
ical and efficient. The people will not
waste their own substance, or permit
neglect of their local a:l;tirs ifallowed to
control them.
THE PHOSPHATE BEDS.
The next subject to which beg to
cali your attention is the management of
the States phosphate beds. Nothing
with which this Legislature has to deal
can equal this in iInUortance and value to