The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1907-11-13

We reply to the ABOVE OrlellS dS tOl
lows: THE MANNING TINES is ! public
newspaper and among its duties are
publication of complaints relating K
public affairs: this is what it did, anC
will continue TO do; in our issue OF Oc
tober 30th. we directed attention to the
call of taxpayers for mass meeting
but did rot say there was something
radically wrong with the towns hnan-
cial affairs" we would, however, have
said so did we know it to be fact
What we did say was as follows:
Our readers will note elsewhere the call OF {
number OF taxpayers Of this Town. for mass
meeting for next Monday. the purpose being K
ascertain information and to take any necessary
steps towards retrenchment and reform in
in our town government. There has been fol
a long time considerable unrest in this towr
with regard to the financial management; ant
we sincerely hooe the mass meeting Will ac'
like business men should without favor ol
prejudice, and il it is found On Investigation is
NECESSARY then let the probe be applied regard
less OF who rlav be Effected.
And this was voicing the views o1
many citizens complaining, who have a
right to know where the income o1
this town is going. and why it is the
town is so heavily involved in debt
so as to necessitate a levy Of FIVE mills.
when two mills heretofore together
with the income from other sources,
gave good large balance to the towns
credit. There is difference between
q public trust, and private affairs,
therefore, when men are handling pub
lie moneys, it will not do for them To say
to taxpayers the books are open for
inspection" and council should not, by
Withholding public information, force It's
citizens to demand a public statement.
We said there has been unrest in this
town with regard to the financial man
agement,' aud we say now that ''un-
rest" still exists. That the mass
meeting did not materlalize is another
matter, but all the same there has been
and there are still many questions asked
about, "wherc does the money go, f" who
gets it, and what for. The council may
not have thought it necessary to publish
a statement at one dollar per inch, but
whether the council thinks so or not,
is not ,eStion for them to determine,
it is for the taxpayers, if they have a
right to know the receipts and disbur-
semeot of the town they should have 1t:
the cost comes out Of their pockets: as
much so as does the salary OF the May
or. Clerk, and Police. 1t is no more OF
a reflection on the town council TO re-
ouire a public itemiZed statement, than
it is to require similar statement from
the County Supervisor, and for the
council to decline to make public lte-
mized statement on the ground OF econ
ermy will not satisfy the public. Coun-
Gil LAYS much stress upon the words
'trehection" and ''insinuations" in fac:
the word ''insinuation"appears in their
card several times. They must remem'
Der they are handling the peoples
money. not their own and they should
be perfectly willing to show that they
are doing so in a lawful manner, there
is absolutely nothing in the call for a
mass meeting, or in what was said BY
the editor of The TINES for council tc
get thin-skinned over or to resent
''Any thoughtful and considerate
citizen should remem Der that the town
has been at more thar ordinary expense
during the past two years, notably a
morg these expenses being the equip
ment of the town with fire protection }
! True, and at the same time ANY
thoughtful and considerate citiZer
should remember" for a number o
years the towns income has run lntt
! the thousands of dollars year. before
there was any provision for fire pro
lection" and they should also remem
Der that it is common report that the
town is considerably more in debt tha!
the equipment OF The town with hr'
protection cost" and. that is one OF 5ht
main causes for the unrest with re
gard to the financial management" "THl
TINES editor was not a party to tn
call for mass meeting, but when i
was called he responded in the capac
| ity of d citizen and taxpayer seekin:
information, and this too, without favo
or prejudice to council.-Editor OF TIL
| TIMES