The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1910-02-02
CAPITOL CORRESPONDENCE.
Columbia, S. c.. January 18th
1910


away in doing next to nothing,
but perhaps it is better so, De.
cause the calendars are loaded
with bills that in my humble
Judgment are not necessary and
can be well dispensed with, how
ever. the authors Of these meas.
ures Will not accept my opinion,
and they may have the same view
about the bills I nave introduced.
Notwithstanding mine are local
in their nature.
The measures introduced by
me are now over in the House
and will be looked after by the
House members. We are TO have
a delegation meeting early next
week. at which the matter of the
tax levy must be considered. A
statement was sent to me from
the county commissioners, and
If 1t Is correct. We are up asainS:
q situation that must be met.
There is a deficit Of about s., 600.
and I am informed the board did
all in their power to save the
county money, but with all OF
their care and economy :he coun-
ty is behind in the demands upon
1t. To meet the deficiency it will
be absolutely necessary TO IN
crease the levy at least one mill,
and with this increase it will not
be assuring that there will re
sufficient funds to meet the coun-
tyS expenses. But the matter
giving Us serious concern is the
fact that this real estate assess
ing year. and if the lands are as
sesse5 higher the increased levy
may prove a hardship upon the
taxpayers, and this we wish to
avoid, now if the Legislature
would consent to permit the levy
to be made after the lands have
been assessed we could tell eS-
acsly how much the property
valuation would be. and could
then Sx the levy accordingly
without doing the taxpayers an
injustice. My readers will ap-
preciase the embarrassing posi-
ton the delegation is placed in
under the circumstances. There
is Tot a man on Clarendon's dele
CATION who wants to raise the
levy, ak Of them ara taxpayers
aud like everybody else feel the
burden Of heavy taxation, but
conditions must he met as Gney
exist, not as we would have them.
Il will not do to allow de6cien-
cies 20 accumulate simply to de-
ceiye the taxpayers that the del
egation is holding down taxes by
refusing to meet the expenses OF
the county government. To keep
the levy as it is when il has been
demonstrated that the couuty's
income IS not enough to pay the
claims against it woald be doing
the people no good, and in my
opinion would De harmful; the
debts must be paid and delay on
II puts off the evil moment. Now
what shall be doue is for the del
egation to consider at the meet
ing referred TO. Some will ask
what becomes Of the money: The
answer is not for the delegation
to give, it has nothing to do wish
the disbursement, ell it can deal
with is the condition Of the treas
ury andsthe demands made upon
it by the approved claims of the
County Commissioners, and as a
Representative and taxpayer l
am satisfied these officers have
guarded the treasury as best they
could and did not approve a claim
but what was juss. The trouble
lies in the falling OFF of income
several thousands of dollars, this
the people must have considered
when they by their votes cut of
9 good amount OF money that for
merly went TO holding the levy
down, it is not a question now
whether or not they have been
repaid in good order, the whole
thing is, how can the county gov
ernment be run without the in
come formerly had. unless the
tax rate is raiSed9
Mr.. Green has a bill in the
House relating to the Paxyille
school district and as soon as it
comes over to the Senate l will
rush it through as rapidly as pos
sibie. Last week a school Dill Of
mine was se:et over to the House,
and when il came mp for consid-
Grafton, under the head Of uncon-
tested matter, Mr.. Mcmahon Of
Richland objected, and this sent
it over for future consideration
and delayed its passage but Mr..
Scarborough got in his inning
when Mr.. McMailon had local
measure that be was anxious to
pass, and Mr.. Scarborough OBJ
;ected, McMahon tried TO get him
to withdraw his objection but
Scarborough reminded hlm OF the
treatment he gave his Senator's
local measure, so there was moth
ing Tor Mcmahon to do but grin
and bear it, l guess the next time
he will De more cautious how he
butts into measures Of no concern
to him. The bill Will probably
be passed next week. Mr. Dingle
has promised to watch it and the
others will also look after it.