The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1903-02-12
our STATE LAWMAKERS.
What the House and Senate Are
Doing.
No Ext nSion Granted

| INO EAt
The senate met at noon Tuesday and
nearly every senator answered to his
name when the roll was called. A num-
| Der Of papers were received froHt the
| house and read the first time.
The first matter that came up that
provoked any discussion was Mr.. Hy-
bricks joint resolution to extend the
time for the payment of taxes without
penalty until March 81. 1903.
Mr., Brica moved to Indefinitely post
pone the measure In support OF his
| motion he said the treasurerS and au-
ditors are complying with the law and
collecting the overdue taxes with the
penalty attached and there Is neither
necessity or excuse for this extension.
Just such acts as these teach the peo-
pie to expect it every year and in the
end t always makes taxes higher. for
the uncertainty of getting the money
at the appointed time causes those
who do work for the State or county
TO charge a higher rate. The poor man
has more money in December than
after January. but knowing or believ-
ing that these annual extensions Will
be granted squanders his none!
Christmas week instead of applying it
to the payment Of taxes.
Mr.. Henrndon expressed the opinion
that the county treasurers had ALREADY
collected the penalty and it would De
almost impossible to return these
small amounts scattered among SO
many people.
Mr.. Blake said the books had been
balanced UP for January and the mat
ter was now closed and he saw no ne
cessity for an extension. which always
puts, a premium upon delays.
Mr.. Hydrick supported his resolution
and said that the demand had come
to him from the treasurers and au-
ditors all over the State coupled with
the statements that it was impossible
to write up the books from month 10
month and the necessity existed foi
the relief offered by his joint resolu-
tior. Officers should not be made 10
violate the law. but the various county
treasurers had no power to collect ex-
cept what the auditors had placed upon
their books. True the people could not
plead hard times" for last year was
an unusually prosperous one. but IT IS
to remedy a defective law that the eX-
tension is now asked.
Further debate was participated in
by Messrs. Hough. Mower, vonklonitz
and G. w. Ragsdale.
Mr.. Sheppard was the last speaker
He said that the reason already gwen
were abundant to convince the senate
Of the necessity for the extension. anu
further than all these he believed there
were hundreds Of people who had not
paid taxes simply because they did not
haze the money nor could they until
ARRANGEMENTS had been made for the
present year.
He had ascertained from the county
treasurer at Edgefeld that all tnose
who were able had paid their taxes
and only those who really did not nave
tha money just now were the delin-
ouents. He did not take any STOCK
in these statements that any harm
could come either to the State or the
counties and believed that 1t was the
drty of the general assembly 10 eA-
tend any kindness possible Tor tne
ar,elioration of the condition OF the
m asses of the people. He demanded
the yeas and nays on Mr.. Brices mo-
ton to indefinitely postpone the JOINT
resolution to extend the time for the
psyment of taxes without penalty until
March 81. 1903. The vote resulted as
follows: ,,
Yeas-Blake. Brice, Douglass, Hern-
don. Hood. Hough, Stackhouse-S.
Nays-Aldrich. Butler, Carpenter
Davis. Dennis, Goodwin. Hardin, Hy-
drick Johnson. Manning, Marshall,
Mccall. McIver. Mcleod, Mower. Peur-
ifov Ragsdale. G. w. Rayson. Sharpe.
Sbeppard. Stanland, Won Kolnitz, wal
ker, Williams-24.
So the motion to postpone was ae-
fcated and the resolution passed
third reading and was sent 10 the
house for concurrence. Mr.. hrlce
moved to limit the time to March ISL
This was also defeated.
The house of representatives put III
four hours of work Tuesday morning
and disposed Of many matters. lne[e
v:nre aeyeral new bills proposed. MI.
N G. Donnald wants to reduce the
privilege tax on fertilizers; MI SnnhieI
lad bills 10 prevent SUN
frauds as were reported from ChalieS.
ton last summer; and Mr.. Jonn +.
Tbomas brought in bill relating 10
the fostering OF high schools: -, .
The house killed Mr.. Aulls Dill 10
authorize counties to bond themselves
for the purpose of building good roaas.
The objection to the bill came rom
counties which have voted direct tax
rather than to burden themselves WIN
honds. Mr.. Aull declared in his speech
that no county could be forced lnIo ,,
bonding itself. His speech on tne s VI,
was his first effort on the floor anu
was a very sensible argument for sooa
roads.
The house gave third reading TO the
six bills which passed second reading
Monday nigh. These were: Mr.. halns-
ford's bill to prov.fe against usp:!;
Mr. Morgan's hlll to prohibit the drlV-
ing of cattle into the State from other
States: Mr.. w. ]. Johnson Dill 10 ~
charter fees; Mr.. Hills bill IN l GeieI-
ence to county eov. rnment in cone
TON permitting the two commissioners
,o oct in certai,, cases in making con-