The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1907-05-08
VOTED 1T DOWN.
After a Full and Free Discussion
of the Matter
Citizens of Sandy Run Township,
Lexington County, View New
County Project With Disfayor.

County Project With Disfavor.
In response to call that had beer
issued few weeks ago by prominent
citizens of Sandy Run Township, Lex.
ington County, large number OF
voters assembled at Spreading Branch
school house, in that township. The
purpose Of this meeting was to dis
cuss and decide upon the adyisability
Of joining the people of St. Matthews
in their efforts to form a new county
out of portion Of Orangeburg Coun-
ty and that section of Lexington.
The meeting was called to order by
DR.. Brooker, of Swansea, who stated
the object Of the meeting. Mr.. Ma
than B. Wannamaker, an influential
citizen of thot community, was unan-
imously elected chairman and secre
tary was also chosen. In order that
the matter be brought before the
body, the following resolution was
offered for adoption:
Resolved, That we, the voters of
Sandy Run Township, in mass meet
ing assembled, do regard with un-
qualified disfavor any movement
from whatever source-whatever
and subserved-that contemplates
the dismenberment Of our county
but cutting therefrom any township
or section or any part thereof, or
that in any way imperils the integrity
Of the same"
AS there were present a number
of gentlemen from st. Matthew'S who
came there as promoters of the new
county, the motion which had been
made to adopt this resolution, was
temporarily withdrawn, and motion
was made and carried that these gen
tlemen and a gentleman who was
present from the city of Orangebufg
be allowed the privileges Of the floor
that they might participate in the
discussion. Mr.. ]. ScottoWe Wanna
maker, Mr.. Wimberly and several
other gentlemen and Mr.. J. H. Fun
derburg, from Orangeburg, were in
vited to take part in this discussion.
Mr.. Wannamaker then made
speech Of about two hours against
the adoption of this resolution. He
put forth the argument of the new
county advocates and endeaVored TO
show the peole of Lexington that 1t
would be to their advantage If they
would withdraw from Lexington coun
ty and become a part Of the new
county, which would have st. Mat
thew's as it's county seat. He deVot-
ed most of his time in making charg-
es Of extravaganza and mlsmanage-
ment against the officials Of Orange
burg County. He said the Court
House officials were receiving ex-
travagant salaries for their services
and that the county expenses were
annually on the increase.
He also claimed that the county
commissioners were entirely too eX-
trayagent in their management or the
peoples money; that too much was
spent for bridges and roads, and that
this fund was not equitably distrlbu-
ted. He also said that the lands and
property of this county were assessed
at too high values and consequently
made the taxes burdensome upon the
people. He explained why ne thought
the newspapers and politicians OF Ola
County were opposing
the new county scheme, and charged
them with having selfish motives TOT
so doing.
He spoke for nearly two hours,
but seldom referred to Lexington
County or it's officials. Orangeourg
affairs seemed to have been on MS
mind. and this did not aid him mucn
in solving the problem for the solu-
ton of which these Lexington people
had assembled.
After Mr.. Wannamaker completed
his speech Mr.. Funderburg addressed
the meeting in support of the reso-
lution and endeavored in a DrleI
manner to present the contrary tacts'
He defended the action of the Or
aneebnrg officials and while he ad-
mitted that great deal OF money
was being spent by the county com
missioners he had no facts to sho"
that the people did not get the oene-
fit cf every dollar of this money.
Even if this extravaganza were ao-
mitted, it would have no bearing on
the resolution before this body, as
that was purely a Lexington matter.
These people were not concerned III
Orangeburg county affairs.
Mr.. Funderburg replied TO al tne
nertinent points Of Mr.. WannamaX-
er's argument, suggested to the peo,
nle to let this experiment alone ana
remain with Lexington, as to make
the change would be a leap IN tne
dark Lexington is not heavily tax
ed county and they would certainly
have their taxes increased If they
vent into new county, which was
shown by the average rate OF taxa
tion in the six new counties for tlVe
Years as compared with the rate tney
are now paying. He claimed tnat
amputation of a portion OF orange
hnrg County would not be the proper
remedv ra, e for expensive administrations
and if they thought the officials were
too extravagent they should elect
others.
I,rrN,-U DEACON