The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1903-06-26
COMMISSIONERS WANT MONEY.
council Is POwerleSS to Give 1t Because
Levy Is Already High as 1t Is
Allowed Communications.

\onClnulng the correspondence Of the
past several weeks, the Chairman of
the Board of Commissioners of Public
Works has forwarded Mayor Earhardt
the letter below, explaining the for
mer demand of the Commissioners for
an appropriation of 1,5OO which the
Board claimed was due for the year
1902, and about half of this amount of
$l,500 remaining unpaid for 1901, and
the part of this amount due for the
present year, and also stating the prcss-
ing necessities of the Board. The reply
of Mayor Earharut, it will be seen, is
simply to the effect that City Council,
under the charter of the town, is pow
erless to act; that the tax levy is al
ready as high as the charter will allow.
Mayor Earhardt was seen by a repre-
sentative Of The Herald and News yes
terday morning and asked to state the
exact position of himself and his Coun-
Gil in the matter of the requests made
| by the Commissioners and the other
matters contained in the numerous COM
munications which have recently passed
between the two bodies.
| Mayor Earhardt was asked why if
| the Commissioners need more money
for the maintenance of the public works
under their control Council does not go
ahead and appropriate the peoples
money for the maintenance of the pub
lie works belonging to the people, or if
the present condition of the towns
finances will not allow, why Council
does not go ahead and raise the levy.
Mayor Earhardt replied that he fully
realized that the City Council is but the
servant of the people, and he believed
1t had already proven that it is willing
to obey the peoples wishes and is eager
to act for their best interests. Wealso
realize the position in which the Com
mlssioners are placed, he said. "But
| the remedy is not in our hands. The
charter of the town provides that the
tax levy shall at no time exceed sixty
cents on the one hundred dollars. The
present levy is sixty cents on the one
hundred dollars for ordinary town pur-
poses, and was such before the present
administration. That is the way the
matter stands. 1t is taking all the
money which comes into the treasury
now, with judicious and economical
management, to run the towns affairs,
and we cant raise the levy, under the
| charter Of the town."
What, then, is the remedy?" was
asked.
"The only remedy, that see," said
Mayor Earhardt, 'is for the Commits
sioners to have signed petition, in ac-
cordance with the law, asking that
Council order an election to issue bonds
for the Improvement and extension of
the public works under their control.
The election will then be ordered and
the matter be placed squarely before
| the people themselves. In the mean
time. however, we are willing to meet
the Commissioners, as stated in my re-
ply, and to consult with them and to
| render them every aid in our power.
| COUNCIL. PAYS FOR LIGHTS AND WATER.
''Fhe general impression seems to be
that the city gets it's water and lights
from the Commissioners free of
CHARGE" was asked.
81 did not know there was such ar
impression" said Mr.. Earhardt, "but
if there is, it is a mistake. City Coun-
| Gil pays the Commissioners $343. rs per
month for water and lights for the use
of the city. During my administration
we have paid for five months 81, ,618,75.
Mayor Klettner during the year 1902
paid Sd, 1875, and it so appears in his pub
lished report"
| COMMUNICATION OF COMMISSIONERS
| The communication of the Commits
sioncrs, addressed to Mayor Earhardt,
! follows:
| Newberry, S. c., June 10, 1903.
TO Mayor j. w. Earhardt:
Dear Sir:-Yom reply of the 18th
inst, to the request of the Board is re-
ccived. Whether it appears on the
minutes of the Council or not, the
ground upon which the Board presents
their account against the city for money
unpaid, IS that during the year 1901, +,
the Board informed Che Council that
there was a pressing necessity for the
enlargement Of the water works plant
And to provide funds for the same they
would be obliged to increase the rates
for water and lights furnished the city,
unless the Council would advance some
lump sum for this purpose. And the
plan agreed upon was that the Council
would furnish $l50000 for the years s
work, the cost of water and lights re.
naming at the same price. In con,
firmation Of which agreement, oul
books show that $840 Of this $500 was
paid over to our Board during the yea,
1901. The Board having personally ant
by written communication called the at
| tcntiOn of the Council to the prnssino