The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1901-02-27
A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION.

peared IN IHE lines lasV week:
and since reading it over care
fully we have come to the con-
clusion that our friend Mr.. Rich
ardson in stating his position let
slip a justification for our opin-
ion that the extraordinary and
wild appropriations voted by the
House was "a trick to- fool the
masses" and :stage playing for
political effect
Mr.. Richardson says, Il ADMIT
THIS IS NOT a PRoPITIoUs TINE
FOR ANY INCREASE OF APPRO-
PRIATIoNS. After such an adj
mission it strikes Us that his at
tempt to justify his voting for
increased taxation fails, because
if "this IS not a propitious time
for any increase in approprla-
tions," why imperil the people
with a heavier tax burden, unless
those so voting did not see the
difference between an approprla-
ton for free schools to come
from an additional tax put on
their county levy, and one to
come directly out Of the State
treasury from whence comes the
money to support the colleges:
We do not pretend to say that
every man who voted for the
100000 appropriation did so
with ulterior motives, but we do
mean to give it as an opinion
that many of those who did vote
for it did not look into the mat
ter to see whether or not it
would increase taxation, or
whether it would force upon
communities an additional tax
they did not need: for the rea-
son they have already given a
practical demonstration Of their
desire to foster education by vol
unfairly voting upon their prop
erty a sufficient amount to run
their schools. In this school dis
trict as well as others, such q
step was taken and we do not
believe those~who took this step
voluntarily, want the Legislat-
ure to come along now and force
from them more taxes: because,
forsooth, there are some districts
which can and viii not vote upon
their property an additional tax
for school purposes.
Major Richardson and his fam
lily connections are large owners
of the lands in Fulton township,
and under the law now upon our
statute books he can get his
friends and relatives together
and vote upon themselves an ad-
ditional tax Of i. mills. This
would give a practical demon
stration Of his anxiety to foster
the spirit of education and show
his earneStness in the educa-
tional welfare of the poor chill
dren Of his community. We
heartily agree with our friend in
the necessity for encouraging
the educational spirit, but we
disagree as to the means to ac-
complish the desired result. Had
the appropriations as passed by
the House stood, we were in
formed by one who is student
of the States finances, the levy
would have been increased near
ly two mills, and the practical
effect of the 100000 free school
appropriation would have been
to add a mere pittance to the sal
ary of teachers without increas
ing the school term, or if the
money was spent to increase the
term, it would not have length
ened it two weeks, not sufficient
ly to warrant the increase in
taxes.
1t strikes a popular chord to
be anxious to aid the free schools,
but before we force heavier taxes
upon the. people, we should de-
clare from the stump that if cleo
ted we will advocate increased
taxation for such a purpose.
When we have !done this, We
have the sanction OF those who
pay the taxes, but until then, ac-
cording to our understanding of
the declarations and promises
made. all Of US are bound to op-
pose any and all measures that
tend to increase taxation.
If voting away $4,000 more
than the Confederate Veterans
Association asked the Legislat-