The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-01-15

Gov. Ansei recommends In his an
nual message that elections be held
forthwith In dispensary counties to
vote out the dispensaries. but Is as
mum as an oyster about dry counties
that want to vote In the dispensary.
His own home county--Greenville--
n reported to be anxious to rid It
ssif Of prohibition and re-establish
the dispensary. but he probably had
no information along this line to in
dicate that this sentiment Is suffi-
cIsntly strong In majority OF the
counties to insure the popularity Of
= recommendation that dry counties
b permitted TO vote In the re-estab-
lishment Of the county dispensary.
Taken as whole Gov. Anscl's
third annual message Is about as fea-
tureless and inconssquental a docu-
mont as we have ever read. 1t Is
neither progressive nor reactionary.
But merely perfunctory performance
0f q duty that hs could not decently
and dscorously escape. For such
message TO be sent to the legislature
and the people of the state at this
time. when there are so many issues
Ard 20 many questions demanding
attention, ~ the only remarkable and
striking feature of the performance.
Precedent 1,aft II rapidly pacifying
the business interests that maintain
and control the Republican party.
Tho Standard OIL vsrdict Is In a fair
way TO be side-tracked. e con,pro-
mise with the railroad trust is being
arranged. the sugar trust has been
permitted to pay up a part of its
stsalage and all of the other male
factors are confident Of absolution.
President Taft Is the friend OF tho
business interests and there will be
no deficiency In theS.campaign fund
when he Is candidate for re-elec-
tion.
We had entertained the hope that
city Council would take the initia-
dive In doing something to bring
about the fair and honest return and
assessment of property for taxation,
but a. nothing was done at the meet
ing last night that hope was some
what shaken. We have not lost hope
entirely. for the matter Is one Of
such importance that we do not see
how Council can ignore 1t altogeth-
er. Council Is the proper body to
take action and In the circumstances
IL n Its duty to at least make an ef-
fort to equalize the burdens of gov
ernment by having all property tax
cd at the same rate In proportion to
It's actual value. The suggestion was
made and endorsed atthe recent an
nual meeting OF the Chamber Of
Commerce that the tax returns be
published. but while this would prob
ably do some good. inasmuch as it
would expose fiagrant instances Of
tax dodging. this plan does not seem
TO us to be the best that could be
adopted. In our mind the plan adop-
ted In Charleston to have all the
property in the city valued at its
fnce market value by a committee of
well informed and trustworthy real
estate men. Is the best and most bus
tnes-like plan to catch the tax
dodgers that could be adopted. 1t
would cost the city Of Sumter few
hundred dollars. 1t Is true. but 1t
would add several thousand dollars
to tue annual income and would
equalize the burden Of taxation and
force those who own valuable prop
erty and enjoy the income from 1t to
pay their just share OF the cost OF
the city government. We are con-
vinced that II Is the duty of City
Council to take some action In this
important matter and we trust the
duty will not be shirked at the next
meeting. III anything Is to be done
II must be done now. for real estate
In now being returned for taxation
and when the assessment is fixed II
remains unchanged for four years.