The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1903-02-06

permanently improving the public
highways, the commissioner said in
one of his reports: "rhe people
seem to be 80 wonderfully impressed
with the idea that by good roads the
value of land will be increased, trans
portation cheapened, travel and bust
nesr attracted, school houses and
churches filled, and civilization ad-
vanced, that they are praying as
earnestly for them as for great riches" I"
The trouble is to keep them from
over burdening themselves. I want
to say to the gentleman who said the
other day that he did not think it
good business judgment or right to
leave debt to be paid by his chill
dren, that if he will leave an inherit
ance of bonds, the proceeds of which
have been invested in good and per-
mauent roads, his children will owe
him debt of gratitude which they
can only pay by further improve,
ment Of the public roads for the
benefit of their children even if they
have to transmit TO succeeding
generation this inheritance Of bonds.
1t is saying amongst the Arabs
that che who drinks Of the Nile must
ever after thirst; no other water can
ever again quench or satisfy" SO,
Mr.. Speaker, if we give the people of
South Carolina taste Of good roads
they will never again be willing to
plod their way through mud and
sand, unless the two be mixed 80 as
to make Macadam road.
Mr.. Speaker, if we are to have
good schools, if we are to expect our
people to remain in the country
and the sturdy yeomanry of the rural
districts have ever been the bulwark
and defence Of our country in times
OF peril-we must do something for
our roads We are two thousand
years behind the times. We are told
in history that the strongest ties that
held the Roman Enpire together for
80 many generations were the old
Roman roads, and in later years they
we're Of great benefit to the COM
mercial interests Of Rome. We lead
all the nations of the world in many
things, but the condition of our pub
lie roads today, after more than a
century and quarter o. national
existence, is blot upon our civiliza-
ton.
This bill simply gives the people
of any county the opportunity to de-
termine for themselves whether or
not they desire TO take a forward step
and get out Of the mud. 1t lays no
burden upon them except as they
may have the wisdom to lay it upon
themselves. If any county does not
desire to do it there is no compul.
sion. 1 am fnily persuaded that tax
alton is the only plan by which we
can accomplish any results. I fur
ther believe that it is the right and
the equitable mode. l believe that
the farmers want it. l know that it
is right that they should have a prop
erty tax for road building. "The
farms Of the United States compose
less than one fourth of the total
property of the country, yet that
small fraction pays the whole cost Of
building roads The injustice of the
system is not fully appreciated by
the farmers" I hope the bill will
pass.
Mr. Williams and Mr. Mauldln op-
posed the bill because of the dangers
Of bond issues.
Mr. Pearman, Of Anderson, wanted
the House to pause before placing
more debt on the people. The coun-
ties are improving their roads as they
can afford 1t is an easy thing to
get in debt, but hard to get ont.
MIR Wingo said it was frightfu]
the way people were willing to &C
into debt. He vigorously opposed
| the bill.
MIR Lyles opposed the bill because
the counties were already bond bar,
dened, and he feared it would gel
the negro back into politics.
Mr. Cooper had no fear Of the ne
gro vote. The simple question was
whether the various counties should
themselves be allowed to vote upor
| u bond issue for good roads. ThOaf