The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1899-01-05
SUGGESTIONS TO THE GENERAL
ASSEMBLY.

To the Editor Of The Ne,cs ond Herald:
We have had one of the quietest
Christmases I have ever seen, less
drinking and no fussing. 1t is said:
ut is an iii wind that blowe no good"
A part of this vuiet time can be attrl-
buted to the hard times financially. It
we cannot have plenty, let Us have
peace with what we have. The hnan'
cial condition of the county is alarm
ing; if ever times were harder it cer-
tainly was before my recollection.
When the financial crisis came, wise
business men of all pursuits cut down
their expenses and called halt 1t is
said that wise men shut the house
when they see the storm coming. Has
The State of South Carolina ever found
out that there are hard times, has she
done one thing in these years to lessen
the public expense, whereby the taxes
might be reduced? Does she know
that the people are trying to pay the
most extravagant tax that has been
levied since reconstruction, all things
considered? Have they ever thought
how long the agricultural people could
stand this? Do they not know that
many property owners cannot pay the
pre>rnt tax unless they can borrow the
morey in some way? Why has the
once rrospesous people come down so
last; Why have they to-day been
+ d;ny in old buggies and wearing old
clolhv ? Is it not on account of hard
timss! If it is right and necessary for
the subjects of South Carolina to be
economical, is it not Just and right and
necessary that the State should call q
halt?
Our representative body will soon
convene. They are fine, we'll posted
people, especially from this county; no
one knows better than they that the
taxes are too high and that they are
taken frog people often that have to
buy bread on time with money often
borrowed on that wonderful thing,
the poor mans friend-the lien. This
law has done more 10 keep a large
class of white people poor and needy
than any law ever placed on the stat
utes. It has done more to ruin the
labor Of the country and N axe tramps
cut of once good laboring negroes
thau all other laws combined. Some
will ask how can the taxes be reduce
Simply by reducing the county and
State expenses. Knock ont a lot of
surplus Offices; let one in some cases
do the work of two. Reduce this
enormous County Board, ami let three
men do the work Of fifteen in the
same time. Let the County Super
visor get in the saddle ond close the
office, and let him see that every days
lsbor that the county is entitled to as
public highway duty is properly put
iu at = time when it will best serve the
county; let him see the creeks and
branches and gullies that the people
want bridged over; let out the con-
tract himself, and stop paying to have
scSsS@s2as-s.e r,,n--oa-,L-- knnuu-a assl;
clans and especially the ins know noth-
ing about the hard times. Their sal
ary is the same now when one dollar
has twice as much purchasing power
IS it had ten years ago. Politicians
only pay debts of gratitude; tickle me
and will tickle you or your brother
Jim. If you pick little fellow and
send him to the Legislature, the hrst
hing you know he has Governors
bee in his ear. Big head kills horses,
but it is not 30 fatal in men.
A Clod Hopper.