The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-04-06

The quarterly meeting Of the Sum-
ter County Medical Association was
| held at the Hotel Sumter last week.
The Easter decorations in the Minor
Store show windows showed the handi-
work of an artist, and everyone who
passed stopped to admire The windows
were designed to typify Easter and the
advent of the spring season and this
idea vas worked out with a success
that is pleasing to the eye and that
appeals to the love of the beautiful
that everyone possesses to greater or
less degree.
Every school district in this coun-
| ty, with four exceptions, has voted a
special tax to supplement the regular
school tax, and County Superintendent
Cain is hopeful that these four will
fall into line and vote the additional
tax for the improvement of the
schools. One district that now has a
special tax of 8 mills has decided to
increase the extra tax to 4 mills and
the election will be held within
short time. This progressive district
is District No. !, which is composed
of the territory in Sumter township
lying outside Of the city OF Sumter.
If the four districts that now have no
special school tax desire to vote on
the question the taxpayers must take
action at once, for unless they do SO
within the next few weeks the tax
cannot be levied in time to benefit the
schools this year. =
The Manning Farmer says: Small
pox abound in both Florence and
Sumter For Florence this paper
cannot speak, but in behalf of Sumter
the statement is pronounced untrue.
There has been one case OF smallpox
in this city within the past year. A
few weeks ago Mr. A. Ross Blakely,
travelling representative OF the Chi
cago Portrait Co., came to this city
from Georgia and a few days subse-
quent to his arrival fell sick and de-
veloped case Of smallpox. He was
taken in charge by the Health Officer,
the house quarantined and those who
came in contact with him vacciaated.
Mr.. Blakely had light case, recover
ed promptly and left the city on Mon
day. No new cases have developed
and there is no likelihood of any, since
sufficient time has elapsed for any
who could have contracted the disease
from Mr.. Blakely to have developed a
case of smallpox. The assertion that
smallpox abound" in Sumter is
reckless mistatement of facts, evident
ly due to ignorance, for there could
be no malicious intent to iDjure the
reputation Of this community on the
part of The Farmer.
There is strong sentiment in favor
of Sumter availing herself of the privi
lege, granted in an act passed at the,
last session of the Legislature, of es-
tablishing a Recorders Court for the
trial Of city prisoners and thereby re-
lieve the Mayor of the responsibility
and duty Of presiding over the police
court If public sentiment shall have
any weight with the new council to be
elected OF the 18th instant, this Re
corder's Court will be established
forthwith aad Recorder elected. It
las been suggested-aEd the sug-
aestion is an excellent one-that the
duties Of Recorder be added to those
of the City Clerk and that Mr.. G. M.
Hurst be reelected Clerk and Treas
urer and made Recorder as we'll. No
other man in the city is so we'll fitted by
experience to discharge the duties Of
Recorder as Mr. Hurst, his long ser
vice as City Clerk having given him
an acquaintance with the police court
babitues that peculiarly fits him for
dealing out justice to this class Of
offenders. Mr.. Hurst can act as Re-
corder without neglecting the duties
of Clerk and Treasurer, and to COM
bine the Offices will be saving to the,
city.