The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1910-07-29
THE TAX QUESTION.
"Citizen" Expresses His Views There
on and Suggests Some Rene
dies.

Editor The Herald and News.
No doubt our State government is
a fairly good one, but l do not think
it has yet reached the acme of per-
fection. If it is to continue to ad-
vance toward perfection, there must
be changes from time to time as ne
cessity or exigency demand. Perhaps
some of the laws now on the statute
book ought to be repealed, and others
entered thereon.
The time will soon be at hand to
elect members to the legislature. EV-
eryone who feels that he ought to
serve the people ought to be Impress
ed with necessity of reducing tax ap-
propriations, if possible. Taxes are
oppressive now, and every patriot
ought to do what he can to relieve the
pressure. Our national government
is very extravagant and one regrets to
see our State government following in
it's wake.
OF course a great deal of money
must be raised to maintain the gov
ernment. The three big items OF ex-
pense are the appropriation for the
old soldiers and widows; that for the
hospital for the insane, and the inter-
est on the public debt. If anyone
wishes to cut the appropriation for
the veterans he would better not e1-
press the wish for that money is sac
red. If properly managed the hos
pital for the insane is an honor to the
State and the money put into it is well
invested. AS for the interest on the
the public debt that has got to come.
All other appropriations ought to be
carefully guarded.
With the money that the Whlskey
men have recently turned into the
.+e treasury, and some changes IN
existing laws I hope the next leg1sla-
ture will see it's way clear to reduce
the tax levy, and still have one OF the
best State governments. The writer
is no iconoclast but he is OF the con-
viction that scholarships in State in
stitutions ought to be abolished and
hereby save this item of. expense.
They are wrong in principle, SAVIOR OF
favoritism and therefore forfeit pub
lie favor. Poor boys and girls are the
class that is most in need of help.
Scholarships usually go to those VINO
have good opportunities. AS 1t is, II
is all right for those who can to avail
themselves of the States favoritlsm.
There are too many State schools,
but the next best thing is to watch the
the annual appropriations to them
always remembering the oppressed
taxpayer and the boys and girls VINO
are in need of better school facilities
One of the candidates for the COVER
norship tells US that only 80 per cent
Of the boys and girls of the State ever
get to college. This is clear indl-
cation that legislation should be sc
shaped that the public schools may
receive more help. Some Of the con-
scientious teachers in these gel
scarcely enough pay to keep soul and
body together while they are exhaust
ing their nerve force and injurine
health.
One plank therefore in the platform
of the candidate who wishes to bestoW
help where it is most needed shoulc
be more pay and longer terms for the
public schools. In his last annua
message Gov. Ansel advocated addl
tional scholarships. I was sorry t(
see this. Has the governor abandon
ed the poor mans cause? Many North
ern institutions are immensely ricf
through private benefactions and al
Of our denominational schools have
received private gifts. I have Otter
reflected upon these things while re
membering that our State schools ge
no private gifts. Is this because ou1
wealthy men and women have no spe
cial interest in them, or is it becausf
the legislature can always be counted
on to be liberal With the peoples
money in their favor if the public