The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1904-01-29
q OR BETTER { b ADS.
The Meeting in Columbia Was We'll
Attended Last Week.
SENATOR LATIMER,s ADDRESS,

Attended Last Week.
SENATOR LATIMER's ADDRESS,
In Which He Explained His Plan OF
Working Up a Federal Appro-
priation for the Purpose
e of Better Roads.
The Good Reads Convention met In
Columbia on Tuesday, 10th instant,
and was called to order by President
+. ii. Hyatt. After prayer by Rey.l
NJ. Il. Carlisle, the roll was called, and. !
1T was found that thirty counties were
represented. The address of welcome
was then delivered by Gov. Heyward,1
who declared that the two most im3,
portant questions before the people
now are improving the highways and
bringing Immigration into the State.
Gov. Hayward was present when this
organization was formed and he has
attended every meeting since. Hell
has seen the good accomplished by thesl
movement. He is glad that this|
meeting is held while the legislature
is in session. The supervisors know
from experience What is needed and)
the association can suggest to the
legislature what is needed. The roads
must be improved and must be im-i
proved with the use of money. HeS,
believes that wise legislation will be
enacted at this session and he pledged
his support to every measure and
any movement of the proper kind.
He had not attended as many good
roads meetings in the summer as he
had wished for the duties Of his Office
had not permitted 1T. The following
account of the proceedings is from
The State: st
Senator Latimer was then present.
ed by Mr.. Hyatt who said that thej
senator had broken two important en-
gagements in the north in order to
make this appointment.
THE HERITAGE OF BAD ROADS.
In explaining his interest in the
improved roads movement Mr.. Lati--
mer said tht no question Is more inn
portant, and none more neglected..
The system Of road making here is
handed down from Great Britain,
where the roads were poor until the
government took up the matter of
road building. All history shows that
good roads are built by the govern-
mcnt. individuals cannot do it; rural
communities cannot do it for they feel
too keenly the burden of taxation
If ever we better our conditions, it
will be by the aid Of the federal gov
ernment.
Under the proposed law it will be
necessary for the people whose inter
eStS are affected to raise One-half be-
fore the government will help. 1t
costs 25 cents per mile for every ton
hauled over the dirt roads. If the
cost of transportation is doubled, the
consumer pays that increased COST
The government Is asked to make an
appropriation which will help every
citizen. He then suggested three
ways in which the farmers can raise
half the money in order to get the
federal appropriation, by direct taxa
tion, by Communication tax and issuing
bonds.
THE TAX OF BAD ROADS.
He then endeavored to show th2t
the farmer who pays $40 adtlss..aa2zsssss u u
taxes to secure good roads will set
back $50 year in the saving Of time
and cost Of transportation. 1t Will
give emp,)yment to negroes in the
SUNNI. and will increase the value OF
a farm $5 an acre to have macad-
am road through it. This would take
money out of the federal treasury and
- nj lot in, % 20
districts.
1t will improve the rural conditions
and will keep the young men AMI
young women in the country and wi
help even schools and churches. But
it is useless to multiply examples d
good effects which would result
What is needed is a practical way b
get at paying for these roads. .Jeffet-
son himself recommended federal ap-
preparations for good roads. Mr.. Lat
inner suggested that there be dirett
tax, the revenue to be obtained to lie
doubled by an equivalent from TIE
federal treasury.
The farmers will be required 4 J
maintain the highways and to eve
the rights of way. This will einli-
nate all question Of eminent domain
and fedora Jurisdiction. The city Of
New York pays taxes on more money
than any three southern States com
bined, and the pro rata which would
be paid into this State from federal
road fund would be greater than the
amount paid In, for New York uses so
much imported material that her pro
rata tax is heavy.
ALL GOES TO NATIONAL BANKS.
MIR, Latimer declared that while
there is $500, 900, 900 lying idle in the
federal treasury, and millions are be-
ing spent in the colonies and on rivers
and harbors, nothing is done for pub
lie roads. In the next few years
there will be $500, 900, 900 more in the
treasury. What is being done with
it? 1t is being loaned to national
banks at no interest, taxing the
masses Of the people that a few may
become immensely rich. 1t would
prove a blessing to the people to put
it in the rural communities, whereas
it is wellnigh a curse now. The cost
of the canal, if the canal is ever built,
will be but a small part Of the sur
plus.
lie declared that to give this to
good roads is no more local legislation
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