The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-05-13
CAROLINA AT CHICAGO.
THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DIS
CUSS THE OUTLOOK.
A Full Attendance and Fuller Discussio

| SOLOMDlA, -. W., uldy uC COu-
vent1on of the county commissioners
for the Chicago Southern States expo
sition was held yesterday afternoon at
5 o'clock in the senate chamber of the
State house.
Governor Evans, after calling the
meeting to order, said that its object,
as they all we'll knew, was to devise
means TO have South Carolina repre-
sented at Chicago. In getting up an
exhibit for Atlanta, great trouble was
had In getting the delegates from the
several counties to attend the meetings,
but he was glad to say such was not
the case with this.
1t would be best to have the pettinp
up of an exhibit in the hands of an
experienced man, such as Mr.. Roche.
The Atlanta exhibit was on hand and
would serve as nucleus for the one
at Chicago.
The meeting was to decide on some
plan to raise the $40, 900 needed for the
purpose. The assessment plan had
been proposed, but it was left to the
meeting to decide on such plan as it
thought best.
The secretary, Mr.. AuIl of Newber-
ry, called the roll of the county com
missioners and the following were
found to be present:
Abbeville, A. J. SprQis; Aiken, Il.
J. Ray; Anderson, R. s. 'Ligon; Barn.
we'll, j. F. Folk; Beaufort, W. 81.
Lockwood; Berkeley. J. B. Morrison
Charleston, G.. 81. Tucker; Chester,
R. A. Love; Colleton, B H. Padget;
Darlington, w. @. James; Edge6eld,
G. B. Lake; Fairfield, j. E. Coan ;
Georgetown. w. D Morgan; Green
Vile, A. Fl. Dean; Horny, B. R. King;
Kershaw, @. j. Shannon; Lancaster,
Leroy Springs; Marion, E. II. Gasque;
Marlboro, T. B. Gibson; Newberry,
E. 81. Aull; Oconee. q. w. Jordan
Orangeburg, B. 81. Moss; Pickens, J..
E. Boggs; Richlaud, w. McB. Sloan
Sumter, R. I. Manning; Union. J. A..
Flant; Williamsburg, f. B. Grier;
York, W. B. Moore.
Chesterfield, Florence, Hampton,
Laurens, Lexington, Spartanburg and
Saluda were not represented.
Commissioner Roche, after the roll
call, took the floor and stated that af-
ter the meeting in Spartanburg, he
had looked through the comptroller
generals Office and gotten the last as
sessment of all the counties in the
State, which he had here, and from
which he apportioned the $4,000
among the counties according to the
amount OF taxable property in each.
He would like the secretary to read it,
so that every one present could see
what sum his county had been assess
ed.
Mr.. Boggs of Pickens, to get matter,
before the meeting in proper man.
ner, made a motion that Mr.. Roche's
assessments be adopted. 1t would not
of course be binding on each county
toraise the amount assessed, but each
would simply do its best to get such
sum.
Mr.. Moore of York said that some of
the counties did not have as much
interest in the exposition as others.
and by this assessment plan would
not be equally treated. Some of the
counties with the largest assessments
would not have so large manufactur-
ing interests as others, and be thought
the counties having such interests
should do greater part toward get
ting up the exhibit for Chicago.
Mr.. Sproies said If $4O5 was what
Abbeville was to raise, he would do
his best to get it, and though there
would be difficulty in getting it, yet
he would 90 before the different town
coucils and ask for appropriation and
try in other ways.
Mr.. Moore asked if there could not
be plan devised by which the facto-
ries could be assessed so much, accor-
ding to the number of spindles or
looms. He thought that all the money
would have to come from the towns
or factories, or it would not come at
all.
Mr.. Boggs said that the commits
sioners must first 60 the individuals
and ask for contributions. In his
county he was going to appoint solic.
iting agents at each precinct and he
would get 80 cents from each of them,
anyway, and as there would be
good number of them, the amount
thus raised would be considerable.
MFR. Dean stated that in his opinion,
the plan proposed by Mr.. Roche was
the most equitable. Let the money
be raised, even if hot suppers had to
be given as a last resort. Greenville
would come up with her share and he
moved to vote on Mr.. Roche's plan.
Mr.. Tucker of Charleston arose and
said he thought Charleston's stock
had been walered. He submitted
plan, whereby each county should be
assessed according to population
and wealth. By this plan the assess
ment of 'S5harleston would be reduced
from $1,2l5 to $3.50. Changes would
be made in all the counties by this
plan, the amount being raised in some
and decreased in others. This was
moral obligation to raise the amount
under MIR. Roche's plan and he did
not want to leave letting the members
think that Charleston could raise
$1,2OO. What right did this meeting
have to assess factories, banks or
anyone else2 Some factories IN this
State did not care anything about the
exposition, They didn't want new
factories built and have competition.
As for the Atlanta exposition, Charles
ton had given $l,eOO, but he did not
think there Was any hope of getting
the 81, 200 assessed.
Mr.. Ligon of Anderson regretted to
hear MIR. Tucker speak as he did. 1t
did looI, 10 hin, O @ ,f SIO 0OO snpnt now