The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-04-16

clded to appoint a regular committee
10 nave special charge of the license
tax, and the specific duty of this
committee will be to see that the
license tax rate is fairly graduated
and to see that license tax dodging
is stopped. This thing Of firm
doing a hundred thousand dollar
business and paying license tax on
only twenty-five, or doing a four
hundred thousand dollar business and
paying on only hundred thousand
dollars is so common that it
has been regarded as a matter
of course. But it is time 1t ended
and L expect to spare no effort to ac-
complish this much twoard equiliz-
ing the burden Of taxation.
He said that he ragards the ap-
pointment of a city engineer as one
of the wisest acts of the outgoing
council, In line with this would recon-
mend that regular city attorney be
engaged at an annual retainer, not
to exceed $3.50. per annum, to give
the city council legal advice when
needed.
Before announcing the committee
appointments he stated that he had
decided after careful consideration to
limit the standing committees to three
as he did not believe it desirable for
a committee to contain a majority Of
council, for by the enforcement of
the unit rule a majority of q COM
mittee, although a minority of coun-
Gil. could control the action of the
council. He would not be a member
Of these committees, but would re-
serve the right to meet and sit with
any and all Of them If it seemed de-
s1rable at any time. He wished to be-
put on record, also, that these COM
mittee appointments were made at
the pleasure Of the chair and that it
must be distinctly understood that the
chair reserved the right to change
committee assignments at any time
that. in the opinion of the chair,
IL seemed QeSlraDlo.
The reservation for the reason that
the chair may find from experience
a mistake was made in some Of the
committee assignments and better re-
suits can be obtained by changing the
personnel of one or more Of the COM
mittees.
The following standing committees
were announced:
Public Works: J. P. Booth, chair
man, H. J. McLaurin, Jr., E. HI.
Rhame.
Police: r. L. Wright, chairman,
j. F. Glenn, j. P. Booth.
Finance: H. ]. McLaurin. Jr.,
chairman, J. p. Booth, r. L. Wright.
Fire Department: J. F. Glenn.
chairman, r. K. Wilder, D. w. Cutti-
no.
Opera House: J. w. McKeiver.
chairman, r. K. Wilder, D. w. Cutti-
no..
License Tax: E. HI. Rhame. chair
man, j. w. McKeiver, r. K. Wilder.
The regular order of business was
then taken up. The application of
carnival show for reduction in
license tax was promptly rejected by
a unanimous vote
While the matter of electing a citv
physician was being considered, AL
derman r. L. Wright came and took
the oath of office.
Applications and bids were received
from the following candidates for
City Physician: DR.. w. E. Mills. DIR.
Archie China, DR.. c. j. Lennon and
Dr. E. F. Green. There was a lengthy
deabte as to the exact meaning of the
letter of the Board of Health in which
the duties of the City Physician are
outlined. 1t was finally decided that
the bid of DR.. Lennon did not COM
ply with the specifications and that
his bid would not be considered.
ballot was then held on the three re-
naming candidates. On the second
ballot DR.. Mills was elected. His bid
was for s25 per month. DR.. Green's
bid was the same and DR.. China's
bid was $50 per month.
Alderman r. L. Wright was nomi-
mated and unanimously elected Mayor
Pro tenn.
A motion was made and adopted
confirming the appointment of r. B.
Belser, d. r. McCallum. Jr., and D.
ID. Noise as a committee on real
estate valuation and equalization at
a per diem Of IS for the time actually
employed.
The matter of suspending or amend
Ing the new awning ordinance, was