The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1910-03-16

PUBLISH FULL REPORTS.

From time to time the question is
raised as to the publication of the
citys receipts and expenditures for
the information of the tax payers.
True, the records are open at all times
to the inspection of all who care to
take the trouble and pains to make
the examination. But it appears to
us that the publication, say annually,
of full report of the receipts and dis
bursements as now required of the
county supervisor, superintendent of
education and other public officials,
is no more or less than the taxpayers
are entitled to. 1t is business it is
the peoples business.
In other towns and cities as import
aant and progressive as Laurens this
publicity policy is pursued, In others
it is not and as g result the admin
istration has been subjected to pub
lie cenSure and criticism. In Column,
bia, for instance, city council, because
of serious criticism made" recently
named a special committee to pre-
pare a complete itemized statement
of the ctys income and expenditures"
covering a stated period, in order to
place before the citizens OF that city
a comprehensive report of all finan-
cial transactions.
This Columbia situation suggests
that there has been a popular idea
that extravaganza or lax business
methods existed in the administration
of the city's treasury department. +
that be true such tendency might
have been checked or corrected by
placing before the people at regular
intervals statement showing just
how the finances have been managed
ADDED TO THE COST OF LIVING.
The high cost of living goes still
hlgher-inLaurens. 1t is only an item,
but in day the price of round steak
was raised from fifteen to twenty cents
the pound by the local market men.
ana there is said to be a general up
ward tendency of prices on all pro-
visions. feed stuffs and so on.
The fact that the price of beef cattle
has advanced from three cents to four
and five cents since January is just
iiication, the market people say, for
twenty cents steak-in Laurens. 1t
is pointed out by them that in Green,
vile, Spartanburg and other large
towns steak has been selling for twen-
ty five cents for two months or longer.
five cents over the price now demanded
by local meat dealers.
However this may be, the jump in
prices in this town has been the oc-
casion of a good deal of comment
some of it to the effect that there is
combine" or trust" Since the So
called combination was effected, it is
understood that an independent" mar
ket has been opened and is selling
steak at the price which prevailed up
to the middle of last week And so Il
is one thing after another--even in
Laurens.
The butchers claim that prime steers
VIII bring cts the pound What we
want to Know is why should the price
of prime steers affect the price of beef
in Laurens?
In Greenyille the Charleston G
Western Carolina railroad officials
have awarded a contract for the con
struction of $1,000 depot. But i'm
Greenville the railroad business is
divided with the Southern, pretty
strong competitor.
He is of a religious turn OF mind"
says one of our weekly contcmpora-
ries in enumerating the virtues of
prominent" citizen.
$50
Philander Knox. the young son of
the secretary of state. got married the
other day and because his daddy cut
up about 1t the young fellow has
threatened to go to work if neces-
sary. IF necessary"
The railroad commission has found
out that the A. G.. L.. railroad and the
c. & w. c. railroad are the same thing
That has been an open secret I'm