The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1897-02-09
LAURENS, S. c., Feb. 8, 1897.
OUR SOLON

= ~ ~ ibcO <tD
Salesday followed and many Of the
Legislators had business (like a certain
gentleman on the night Of Tam O'Shan-
ter's ride) at home, the Assembly took
a recess until Tuesday at noon. And
80 the House got down to business at
noon on Tuesday last and tho Senate
awaited their work. At this writing,
the Comptroller's report being just
now on the desks OF members, the sup
ply and appropriations bills are not
ready. Enough however, is known to
justify apprehension that the mex levy
for State purposes will be 81 mills in
stead OF Al making q difference of LOO
on the thousand to the tax payer
Something like eight hundred thou
Sane dollars is needed to run our little
State machine, and in round numbers
we have n hundred and seventy mil
lions upon which to make the levy
So, we are in the predicament, hat we
must get more property or increase the
annual levy. A few years ago we had
a phosphate royalty Of two hun
dred thousand dollars. This is now
greatly reduced and pledged to pay our
bonded debt. New counties largely
absorbed interest during last week.
Greenwood, just South of ue, and
Cherokee, which is sliced from Spar
tanburg, Union and York, are having
smooth sailing and will be counties by
the ides of next December. Several
new aspirants for countyhood in the
eastern section Of the State are having
a hard tug to find q local habitation
and name. 1--WE are for them as long
as they shinney on their own side and
leave our own good county with sound
bones.)
Last week was the opportunity of
their lives-of the members and Sena-
tors. There was great talk and every
statesman got a hearing who had great
expectations and relied upon the boast
OF every American that any man may
rise to the Presidency. Ut is certainly
no Idle boast since Bill Mckinley gets
there.) This was what the talk was all
o A Bill to require public officers
to keep their offices open a certain
number of hours a day. 1t was a popu-
lar measure, but twenty.seven counties
out of thirty-fve asked to be exempted.
There vas much debate about the
number of days county Commissioners
should be ~paid-eight we're finally
agreed on.
Josh Ashley was at home and spoke
well and sensibly on this bill. Mr..
Winkler and Mr.. Crum we're heard
from.
A Bill passed Furnishing laborers
h preached their contracts with
landlords after receiving advances
Mr.. Goodwin, of Laurens participated
in the discussion. The Governor sent
In a message about Judge Mackey's
claim and it was referred to q commits
sion to investigate it. This is right
There has beer a good deal of talk
o fish, terrapin n oysters, but
the oyster never swims outside of salt
water. None of the big fish grow above
old Edgeield, Judge Earle excepted.
There was great debate about the
privilege tax-which goes to support
Clemson. Josh Ashley was for ex-
tinguishing it-others for turning it
into the Treasury. If it gets there,
good bye. Goodwin, OF Laurens was for
leaving it where it is, saying that the
Laurens farmers make no fuss about it
or its disposition. There was much
foolish talk of other than farmers sons
going to Clemson and about farmers
paying this tax. The fact Is, nearly
every man above Judge Pope's battle
ments OF the Battery buys guano, and
pays q part of this tax and Clemson is
a State College in which all classes are
interested and the College is easily
supported by this tax and nobody
feels it. Let the present arrangement
stand. In the Senate q bill to enable
persons under 81 to apply for admis-
sion to the bar was killed as dead as q
herring. OF they get much older they
will not be so anxious. The bill to re-
quire all officers to report their income
from fees will become a law. 1t is
probably we'll. Let us see il the fees
approximate the value of tho services.
Our Coroner will not object to a show
ing. So also of the Judge Of Probate.
The battle on Josh Ashley's Bill to
abolish the privilege tax. was bitterly
fought. but it finally got its finishing
stroke. This Is a twenty-five cents tax
on q ton Of guano sold in the State,
yielding about $50, 900 and has gone to
support Clemson College. The PROPOSE
tion to abolish was, 1t Is true, sup
ported by friends OF Clemson, but they
were In their own light. 1t was urged
that 1t was q tax upon farmers alone;
this Is not the fact; curiously, but
truly, 90 per cent. OF the business men
of the State are landholders and live
by guano and land and o large per cent
OF those who do not plough with their
W hands, pay a part Of this tax
They are friendly to Clemson. There
are nc castles or classes In this State.
The sons OF farmers are merchants and
preachers and doctors, and in turn the
sons of these ara farmers. 1t would
endanger Clemson IL this tax is taken
away. We need a chronological school
for our boys. Goodwin spoke out for
the tax in the House and the Lau N
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