The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1897-02-11

| etsN' A"Sh Oouo hoIo ohu pEOlGbbSu
represent the farmers, and really know
nothing about their condition. He
said no could not be bulldozed or
scared into keoping his mouth shut on
SO important d matter. TO pass this
bill is to cripple Clemson and Win.
throp, and the effect will be detrimental
to tho whole People.
MIR. Smith, OF Hampton, said he had
beon criticised for pleading for the
pesos.
MIR. McWhite said that suob arpu.
ments were made to work on the feel.
lngs and sympathies of the members.
MIR. Smith, OF Hampton, went on to
say this was not 50, for he had more
respect for himself and tho members,
he said he used argument and when
he spoke OF the "poor old farmers" +" he
meant what he said, that they needed
relief. Ho wanted 1t understood that
he intended standing by the farmers.
| When anyone attributed impure mo-
tivcs to him he had to resent 1t, and he
supposed the speaker when he went
home would be glad to embrace these
Same "poor old farmers" He said he
opposed the privilege tax because he
believed the tax wrong, unjust and un-
fair, and should be repealed The
farmers paid tho tax and by heaping
on such taxes tho farmers will not be
able to stand much more.
MIR. Graham, of Abbeville, said
he was u farmer, and perhaps a
poor old farmer" as some had been
called. Four years ago this whole
matter was ventilated in the State and
discussed on perhaps every stump, and
perhaps more farmers" poor old
farmers "-voted in the campaign of
| Il 70,
ers voted for this tax, and they have
never asked for its repea.. Flo was
opposed to any interference with exist
ing conditions.
Mr.. Burns, OF OcOnee, said this was
u dlscrlmlnative tax, and no tax i'm
posed on any single class is right. If
all the farmers pay the tax it should
60 to the free schools if used for educa-
tion. You are told to p,rpetuate q
wrong, on 80 per cent of the people, all
Tor Clemson He told his people he
opposed the tax as matter OF princi-
pie, and at the same time was a friend
OF Clemson. The South Carolina Col
lege and the Citadel have not been
crippled, and they get direct appro-
prlations. He was in favor Of giving
Clemson College all the money that
was actually needed to run the institu-
tion on tho proposed lines. MIR. Burns
said President Craighead had gone
through his county making speeches
and had spoken of farmers as "peanut
politicians"
Mr.. Kinard, of Abbeyille, said he
had only one son, and he was studying
Latin and Greek. He was surprised
to hear any farmer speak,against Glenn
son College, for to destroy this tax will
be to cripple Clemson, which was
| started n orrio,, trco1
demand: He has never heard of q
single farmer objecting to the tax
going to Clemson. Mr.. Kinard at
tended every meeting, and nov heard
any one speak against tho tax.
MIR. Robinson, of Anderson, said the
matter was an issue in the campaign
in his county. He was opposed to any
special tax-therefore to the privilege
| tax.
Mr.. Wilson. of Sumter, said if the
tax Is abolished the revenue of the
State Is reduced, and the saving to the
farmer will be small. This isua privi-
lego tax on special class and should
not obtain. Clemson's doors arc open
to all classes, so it is not voluntary
tax by farmers for their own use One
fourth of the privilege Is paid by the
colored farmer, and they have no
chance Of going to Clemson, but thoy
have no possible ground for complaint.
He favored all State and every other
college and every class of education.
He was and has been stanch friend
of Clemson, but she should stand or
fall like every other State institution
Mr.. Garris, of Colleton, believed the
demand for the repeal of the tax came
from raisapprehension Of the facts.
While the motive Of the bill is pure
and honest it is not on the right line.
The farmers Of South Carolina have
for many years when they needed
anything come here and said so, and
put 1t in the platform Of the Democratic
party. Prior to 1888 there was "pro.
lection tax, most of which was used to
pay salaries. He said nearly million
dollars had been spent on Clemson,
) and this was purely farmers college,
and they want the College and the tax.
In the first place one-cent tax will
not pay for inspection. 1t now costs
81, $685. to pay the actual expenses Of
r the examinations, and to have the
examinations separately made would
3 cost more, as the general salaries
4 at Clemson go to pay those assist
t ing In the analysis. 1t is argued that
, reduction OF the tax will be that
much reduction in price to the con-
} sumer. If the rules cited in argument
al W. ePpiJ1 WY AOo tsoo ioi yOuI
cotton what you want The farmer
cannot fix fertilizer prices. Capital
regulates those prices, and will con-
time to do 80 with or without q priv
} ilege tax. He hoped for consistency.
The tax should be left alone.
Mr. Mauldin, of Pickens, denied that
those who favored the bill had any in
tention of iDjuring Clemson. He want
cd equal rights to ALL Give us all
} institutions on an equitable basis.
Don't tax any class for any special
purpose. There is no justice in it.
Lot every man go into his own pocket
and pay his just proportionato share
at all such institutions.
Mr.. Asbill, Of Lexington, said that
liquors, tobaccos and fertilizers we're
all the articles used here that had to
stand a privilege tax. Farmers have
to use fertilizers ana it is wrong to
, tax necessities. AS the representa-
tive. of the farmers he would protest
against taxing any necessity. He fa-