Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1909-03-09
LEGlsLAvIvE SESSION CLOSED.
Oconec's Tax Levy Will BE Fifteen
Mi ls.-General Laws.

| semDiy, 30 lar as tHe reCOruS go, ad-
iourned sine die Saturday, February
OF, at 1859 D. m, but as a matter OF
fact 1t was after six o'clock Sunday
morning. The legislative day con-
tinues until adjournment even ii it
runs over several days. The delay
was caused by the contention OF
some OF the employees for additional
pay, though, as one of them stated.
he was getting Setter salary than
he ever had before.
Mr.. Mann's resolution to pay the
+ Earle school district $50 :ov taxes
paid into the High School fund pass
ed the House, hut before 1t was pass
ed in the Senate many letters ani
| petitions were received, and Nj. Sui
Ivan and | then wanted the :r.olI-
| ton killed, so it was quietly laid
upon the table.
| IN passed the House to have
| certai' :ccordS at Pickens and An
dcrson copied that effect title to real
! estate in Oconee and make a new in
! dcN, and appropriating $2,5OG there
| Tor. in my judgment this was more
| than Is necessary to have the work
done, so this was changed to 1,5OO,
ana the Clerk OF the Court of Oco-
| nee is authorized to have the work
done.
Our delegation was very much per-
! picked during the last week b. the
! letters of the County Supervisor as
| to the condition of the couutv's
! finances. We had been informed by
the Supervisor last fall, and again
| the first of January, that the county
would be practically out OF debt. eX-
| ccpt the bonded debt. The new Su-
| pcrriSor now finds that the county is
@2l, 900 behind for last year, with
| testimated) $4,000 to pay it with,
leaving balance of $1,000 of dot
| lor the year. This is a sad condi-
| ton of .ffairs. There is an evident
| lack of knowledge OF the affairs i'm
the Supervisors office or nagrant
| disregard of the law. All disbursing
Offices are prohibited from making
| contracts in excess of the tax levy,
and 1t is made a felony to do so. Yet
! in the face Of this these conditions
are reported to us. The members of
| the General Assembly were respon-
| SiDle for the tax levy, hut the Coun-
! ty Board OF Commissioners are re-
! SponSibie for the way in which il is
spent. 1t will be seen that we were
lace 10 lace with proposition to
raise the tax levy or have 10 funds
J W 'b''ii VI iNlES'S anu IOJUS. 80 we
| have made the best OF il that we
could and raised the tax levy one
mill more than it was last year This
Will only leave the commissioners
I about $4,000 for roads and bridges
! Tor this ycar-about one-third, ap-
/ pafehtlN, that was spent last year
/ This makes the total State and coun-
| ~ levy for this year ID mills The
dcie%atlon in the General Assembly
| feel that our county officials have
! placed us in Il very undesirable situ-
| alton, and we give these facts to
! place the responsibility where il
! should rest. The officials are per-
S0nally very warm friends to us. but
! that is no reason why any short
! cominGs should be kept HID from
! the public. We have personally
warned the others that they must
avoid the recurrence OF this condi-
! ton. We may see what value the
grand jury is to the county.
Mr. Mann's bill making the break
! ing into any express package a mis-
! dcmeanor passed and became law.
The common school districts that
! run the shortest term will get aid
! from the State. Twenty thousand
! dollars is appropriated for this pur-
| pose, no one district 10 receive more
| than $50. This is the first bit of
aid that has been given by the State
to the common school districts that
are struggling for educational ad-
NantageS. The district applying is
| required to raise as much as the
State gives it by subscription or spe-
clal tax levy. If this works well this
year, no doubt it will be changed
and made more liberal next year.
or the 2S9 new laws only about
40 of them are general in their ma
ture. The greater number relate to
school districts and county govern
ment The Constitution of 1895
sought to restrict the evil of local
and special legislation, but is not
proving effective. About Is per cent
OF the laws that are passed would
not stand In the courts If they should
be tested. Many efforts have been
made to stop so much waste, but
when one of these local measures IS
attacked the author seems to think
the other fellow has a special grudge
at MIN, and when he has an opportu-
nifty he pays him back in an effort
to defeat some wholesome legisla-
ton. This makes it impractical for
legislator who values his useful
ness to the State to oppose this
cumbersome nuisance
The general laws are:
TO exempt school bonds from tax
alton.
TO allow the record Of deeds and
renunciation of dover executed with
out the State and probated before
notary Mith seal.
TO provide for costs in cases
brought in the original jurisdiction
of the Supreme Court, not to exceed
one hundred dollars.
To amend Section 2S3 relating IN