The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-01-14

ers?
When the census enumerators
start on their rounds the people
should lend them every possible as
sistance. what Is wanted Is a full,
accurate and convincing count of the
population OF Sumter.
Senator Mauldln says the legis-
lature can complete all necessary
work In thirty days. and We see no
excuse for prolonging the agony for
forty days--the mebmers receiving
fixed salary and not a per diem as in
former years.
Gov. Ansel's recommendation that
a tax be levied TO create a fund In
the hands OF the sinking fund com
mission to be loaned to the State
when the regular income from the
ordinary levy for State purposes is
exhausted. is as droll and impractical
as the efforts OF the man who tries
to lift himself out of a mud hole by
his boot straps. What is the sense In
taxing ourselves to raise money to lend
back to ourselves. Why not meet the
difficulty I'm a Straightforward and
direct manner-either reduce appro-
preparations or make the levy high
enough to provide for all the ap-
propriations and fixed charges OF
the State Government? Does Gov.
ernor Ansel imagine that his proposed
sinking fund loan legerdermain will
throw dust In the eyes OF the tax
payers or IN anywise deter the legisla-
ture from sppropriatlng more money
than the tax levy will bring in?
The gentle irony OF the News and
Courier's reference to Gov. Ansers
characteristic "self-restraint" in
avoiding the issues OF importance that
will come before the session of the
legislature Is delicious.
DIR. Geo Dick doubtless prefers be-
Ing a represen iative of Sumter coun-
" ID the chairmanship of the Ways
and Means Committee. but it is small
comfort ~ be passed over in the
committee assignments merely be-
cause he represents a county that
sends good men TO the legislature and
keeps them there long enough to
gain the rank and experience in
Committee work that qualities them
for important assignments.
IL the man who is spilling sharp
cornered granite on the streets had to
pay for all the automobile tires ruin
ed by the rocks no would be more
careful Seriously. somebody should,
somehow. put a stop to the sprink-
Bns OF the streets with crushed rock.
IL no other extraordinary and un-
called for expenditure OF city funds,
such as the concrete sidewalks on
Church street. is authorized. the pres
ent city conucil will leave floating
debt Of $4,000 when II goes out OF
ONCE. This statement OF fact Is made
on the very best authority and II Is
conservative. rather than an exces-
sive estimate OF the financial distress
that the city will endure. unless city
council adopts measures To hold ex-
pendltures within the income. The city
Will be bonded to the limit when the
Main street paving bonds are issued
and what plan can be devised to pro-
vide for the prospective floating debt
now being incurred by the Church
street sidewalk project and other un-
dertakings OF a similar nature, no.
body knows or cares. IL is not busi-
ness-like and II Is not right. and IL the
taxpayers at large realized the gravity
OF the financial condition into which
the city Is drifting there would he a
vigorous protest. Enterprise, liber-
ality. public improvements. lavish
expenditure Nof public funds are all
excellent at the proper time. but
when there are no funds to spend II
Is a suicidal policy to strain the city's
credit and pile up n burden OF debt
for frills and furbehows.