The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1892-08-17

81 poll tax. One has been put in Jail
since. Six negroes in Jail for 80 days.
That means that out of the taxes paid
by you, the county pays $50 to support
six negroes who failed to pay six dollars.
And if the poll tax were 50 the case
would be three times as bad.
Besides, head tax of 81 is enough.
After that, property should pay the
taxes.
But it is said that Tillman has no
power to levy poll tax; that the con-
stitution would have to be altered, and
submitted to the people for ratification.
Lets see about that. There was joint
resolution before the last Legislature to
provide for the calling of constitution
nal convention. Mr.. Abney proposed
an amendment, which [ have here on
page 80 of the House Journal, provid-
ing that no constitution formed by
such convention should go into effect
until it had been submitted to the peo-
pie and ratified by a majority vote.
Mr.. Tillman's Legislature voted that
amendment down. Phey want the
people to send delegates to convention
to form new Constitution. Tillman
wants to place the poll tax at IS and
wants to fix educational and property
qualifications for suffrage. that will
disfranchise thousands of white voters.
But if it is the purpose to submit the
new Constitution to the people for rati-
tication, why did they vote down the
Abney amendment?
ABOUT CORPORATIONS.
The charge is made that we repre-
sent the corporations. Those who
make it know that they are simply
trying to arouse your prejudices. II
Sheppard were the candidate Of corpo.
rations I would not vote for him. But
| do not believe that the banks and
railroads mean to oppress the peo-
pie. The people can't do without them
In his last message Governor Tillman
informed the Legislature that the
Phosphate Commission had to borrow
$500, and he says, ''rhis money was
kindly loaned US by the Carolina Ma
tional Bank of Columbia, without in
terest."
A few years ago when your bridges
were swept away and the County Com
missioners were authorized to borrow
$500, the NeWberry Bank let the
county have the money at per cent
And this same Bauk consented to take
at their face value the per cent. bond:
that we issued to build the .NewberrS
Graded School.
BANK TAXATION.
AS to Bank taxation. I think tina
the Bank ought to pay taxes Oh the
full value of its property, provided tha
you tax other property in the same
way. The constitution requires taxa
ton to be equal and uniform. It is no
Just to single out the banks and rail
roads and to make all example ofthem
Take the Ne :, berry Bank case that ha
been SO much talked about. The Banl
returned its property at $3.50, 900. Th,
Comptroller General thought it ough
to be assessed at $3.50, 900. ..-...
The return was submitted t., th'
Board of Equalization, comprised o
H. Ii. Folk, A. J. Gibson, E. s. Keitt
r. G. Carlisle, D. w. Barre, T. q
Smith, &. +. Long. A. F. Langford, J
n. Feagle and P. NJ. Derrick. Presi
dent Mclaughlin was summoned be
fore the Board. And, after bei2g fully
informed as to the value of the proper
ty, the Board decided unanimously Il
let the return stand. The matter tilel
went into the Courts. The Courts die
not decide that any property of: tn
| Bank ought to escape taxation. The,
simply decided that after the Board o
Equalization has passed upon a tax re
turn, no one has the power to chang
it. - ~ -.
This year the Bank again returned
the property at $50, 900. The B,ard o
Equalization, composed I'LL. NJ. Speers
TLos. w. Keitt, J. NJ. Wicker, NJ: A
Renwick, T. H. Chalmers, Jno: Il
Spearman, VIM. Wertz, I. H. Boul
ware, R. T. C. Hunter, L. @. Feller
and DR.. E. o. HentZ, after full inves
tigation, decided to accept the return d
made. -: '.; -..:. .. -
My understanding is that they cam
to the conclusion that the property {
the Bank was assessed as high as ethe
property. The point is this: ON th
lst January I have $3.50. You have
blooded horse that would bring $3.50 o
the market. If you return your hors
at $3.50, you must not demand that
return my money at $3.50. TaXatlo
must be equal and uniform -: .
| ABOUT CRITICIZING JUDGES. .
You have been told that the Judge
are not above criticism. I admit ths
they are not above just criticism. Bu
Gov. Tillman has no right to eharg
them with partiZanship simply .becaus
they do not accept his opinions as; la~
If Judge Wallace and Judge Hudso
were corrupt they would have decide
the Cantwell case and the Bank case
in favor cf the State. Instead Of de
Gliding according to the law, unde
their oaths Of office, they would hav
made themselves safe for reelection b.
taking the side of the majority. -
WHO IS SHEPPARD? @....
The desire has been expressed to hea
something about Sheppard, In 1871
when he was little more than boy
be was a member of the famous Wa
lace House, that stood for white su
prelnacy and the integrity Of our Stats
! He and Orr were at the head of th
rcolumn when, in spite of negroes an
Federal bayonets, our representative
forced their way into the State House
He rendered distinguished services q
Speaker Of the House, as Lieutenan
Governor, and for q number Of months
as Governor. He would have received
the nomination for Governor in fSSd
but for rumor that F.W. Dawsonant
4. r. Tillman had met in Augusta ant
undertaken to control the convention
Tillman seconded Sheppard's nomina
ton in the convention, and this Is re
port of his speech: ~.
In rising to second the nomination o
Gov. Sheppard. Mr.. B. R. Tillmal
said that che felt that be was meeting
the wishes of a large majority Of th'
! people of Edgetield. The county o
Edgefield, in a Democratic Conven
ton, had unanimously placed him ii
nomination for the office he now fills
He was too we'll known, however, Il
need any encomiums from the hand:
Of the speaker, who felt his inability
and had no desire to attempt to gid re
fined gold or paint the lily. If thi!
convention accepts Edgeheld's son il
might be assured that the duties Of ths
| high Office to which he would be elect