The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-11-22
Mistaken.

The Newberry Observer Is generally correct
in its editorial conclusions, but last week
that paper entirely misunderstands public
sentiment on the subject OF taxation. That
paper seems TO believe that the people desire
a lower rate of taxation, when exactly
the reverse Is true. A majority of the
citizens In every town, township aud county
prefer the higher taxation. This assertion ID
borne out by the fact that In nearly every
instance where the people are allowed to vote
on the question Of raising the tax they vote
the increase. The demand for higher taxes is
so universal that the trainers Of our constitu-
ton saw the necessity for providing against
allowing the people to vote away more than
eight per cent. of their money.
Let our neighbor examine the facts as TO bis
own town. Was any proposition TO increase
the taxes ever voted down?
The history OF Abbeyille does not record the
defeat OF a single vote on the increase OF
taxes. But in her first attempt to bond the
town Abbeville has been singularly un.
successful in getting bad debts settled upon
the town. Our successful and unsuccessful
efforts in that line may be enumerated as
follows:
/. A vote off1ve per cent. in bonds to the
Cumberland Gap road-about $4,000. The
road failed to come When time limit had
expired, another vote OF the people showed
that they were still anxious to get In debt
and extended the time limit. The road again
failed to come to time, and those In charge OF
the Issuing Of the bonds declined to even put
them "in eschro." And so the people were
defeated in their first attempt to get good
healthy debt on the town.
2. Their second attempt was In voting for
the benefit Of the S. A. L. road three per cent
In bonds Oh the township Of Abbeville, about
s2l, 900. The voting, as you may rest assured,
was all right, but the railroad declined to 40.
cept the bonds. And SO the second attempt
to get good debt on the town failed.
8. When one Of the roads failed TO come to
time. and whom the other refused to take our
bonds, dry 10, the town was In bad fix. We
had no debt and we had no taxes to speak Of
A proposition was made to build school
house. The people voted $4,000 to build IT.
The bonds were issued and the debt stuck,
and is yet sticking to us closer than brother
4. Having secured school house, we had
to have money-s4 900 or IS, 1000. we believe-to
run 1t. The usual proceeding was had, and
the annual tax for that purpose was eagerly
voted.
S. Encouraged by great strides In the line
Of progress when our school house was built,
enterprising citizens proposed TO vote $4,000
In bonds to secure the Seaboard Air Line
shops. The vote was carried with q hurrah.
But the Seaboard still didn't want town
bonds. 1t was ready cash that the road
wanted. A number Of patriotic gentlemen
consented to sign q bank note for the amount,
If the bonds were deposited as collateral.
They were 30 good that capitalists would be
sure to buy them. The note became due.
The sureties paid the money, and divided out
the bonds among themselves, when the debt
was safely saddled on the town.
8. The next effort at going In debt was
without difficulty. Water bonds to the
amount Of $4,000 was voted and sold without
trouble.
Z. The bonded debt was now nearing the
constitutional limit. Electric lights were a
necessity. A ten-year contract at s2.4OO a
year--or $4,000 for ten years-was entered
into. No constitutional limit interfered, II
was thought.
These same facts, with slight variation,
would apply to many towns In South Caro-.
lima. The fact is, we have seldom heard
of any South Carolina community voting
against higher taxes.
With the facts before us, no amount OF afh-
davits by any sort OF men could convince us
that the people object to higher taxation
Let the Newberry Observer revise Its opinion
on the tax question.