The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1907-10-02
ARE GOOD ROADS WANTED ]?

ARE GOOD ROADS WANTED:
It is not usual to comment on
the prcsentments Of grand juries
but as a matter of justice to the
Representatives from this county
we think it proper to give cN,
preston to our views on theli
recent recommendation relating
to the providing Of 4 two mill
tax for road purposes. Our 90
servation is that grand Jp1les
are prone to recommend the
levying of more taxes: but when
| it comes to the test the grand
Jurors themselves are found to
be mostclamorous against higher
taxation. We we'll remember
wheu the grand jury recommend
ed the building Of new court
house, and they were highly
complimented by the presiding
Judge for their progressive
spirit, but when a Representa-
tive about to assume charge OF
his duties called a mass meeting
to get an expression from the
taxpayers, he discovered some
OF the very grand jurors who
had recommended a new court
house at the meeting, opposing
and voting against bonding the
county for the purpose. OF
course, the Representative was
honor bound after calling the
meeting to abide its result, and
did nothing towards carrying out
the hypocritical recommendation
of the grand jury.
Now here comes another grand
Jury with a recommendation for
good roads, but they put into
their recommendation an impos-
siblelprovision. They say: I'VE
also beg to call the attention of
our Senator and Representatives
to the insufficient fund that is
now available for road working
purposes, and in our judgment
| it would be wise for them to en-
deavor to pass an Act levying
a two mill property tax in ad-
diJion to tie present commuta-
ton tax and the proceeds from
the fund so raised be expended
in each township in proportion
to it's taxable property" In the
first place, the Representatives
will not comply with such a
recommendation, because it is
not right, and in the second
place, there is grave doubt that
such a distribution of public
funds secured by a tax levy
would be constitutional. If The
grand jury favored an extra two
mills tax for road purposes they
should have said so without
hampering the proposition with
obstruction. To levy a tax for
such a purpose and only use the
money raised in the townships
collected wouldugive one town,
ship more money than is needed,
and a poorer township not en-,
ouch. Manning township, with
it's large property valuation, rail
road. mills, stores, banks. and
other large taxpaying proper
ties, would raise a good sum to
fix it's roads, but Mt. Zion, ad-
joining, not having these tax
producing properties, would be
helpless, but nevertheless in as
great or greater need of good
roads than Manning; the New
Zion people are equally interest
ed in the county and its interests,
and as much entitled to the ben.
ehts derived from taxation.
We believe in good roads, and
favor taxation for such purpo-
ses. but we are unalterably op-
posed to the levying Of any tax
which does not provide for a
general benefit. If the people
of Clarendon want two, four, or
five mills for their public roads
they can get it: but it must not
have any selfish or dog-in-the,
manger-spirit- attachment. There
will be an opportunity given to
the taxpayers to express them
selves with regard to good roads
and other Improvements at a
public meeting in December, and
at this meeting those who favor
improvements as we'll as those
who do not should be present to
give their candid views so that
the Representatives will know
Just what action to take.