The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-07-26
FOR THE PUBLIC WELFARE.


meeting held to consider the Sea-
board proposition. the question Of
che county and city making an ap-
preparation TO cover the necessary
expenses incident TO complying with
the terms OF the Seaboard was
brought up. No decision was arrived
at. but several off-hand opinions
were expressed that neither the
county nor city could legally appro-
priate any money for this PURPOSE.
Far be IL from US. a mere layman, TO
set up an opinion In direct conflict
with the off-hand opinions of sever
al attorneys. but II Is a matter OF
some difficulty to reconcile these
opinions with certain precedents
that are fresh In mind. II is n mat
ter Of record that the City of Sumter
made n direct appropriation OF ST.
900 for the purchase OF a terminal
site for the Southern Railway (then
known as the Sumter & Wateree II.
r. and the city. not then having a
surplus OF cash In the treasury. gave
note, payable something like
year after date. was executed in IA
vor OF said railroad. short time
later, when the Northwestern Rail-
road was extended To Camden, the
City Council made a similar appro-
priation of $1,000 for the benefit Of
that road. III our memory Is not at
fault this donation was not paid In
spot cash. but was pafd at a later
date. SAN other appropriations that
have been made by the city which
We call 20 mind are. the annual do
nation OF $50 to the Sumter Band
and the annual donations to the
Sumter Light Infantry. on several
occasions appropriations have been
made for advertising purposes. viz:
for advertising in a special issue of
the Manufacturers Record and in
one or more special illustrated edit
ions of the News and Courier. An
inspection Of the minutes Of Council
for the past ten years would reveal
We are satisfied. other instances of
appropriation Of city funds. on the
score OF the public welfare, in the
aid OF objects not connected with the
maintenance OF the city government.
II City Council had the authority to
make these appropriations. and 1t
had legal advice. that 1t had, such
authority on the ground of the gem
eral public welfare. then II stands
to reason that II has the legal right
I'm the present emergency TO make an
appropriation In aid o; the Seaobard.
III the Sumter & wateree railroad
was worth $1,000 to Sumter some
fifteen years ago. II Is not stating IT
too strongly to say that the Seaboard
would be worth ten times that much
TO Sumter today. The idea para
mount In the mnds OF most people.
respecting the appropriation of mon
ey In aid OF the Seaboard project by
City Council. seems to be THAI the
only way In which an appropriation
could be made is by and through a
bond issue. The precedents cited
above show concluslvely that where
there Is will way can he found,
and while II may be impractcable to
issue bonds 20 raise money TO ala the
Seaboard, as other towns have re-
Gently done. II H. not absolutely i'm
possible for City Council To make q
Substantial appropriation In further
ance OF an undertaking that will ne
benefit 90 the municipality. IL there
was ever an occasion where the cir
cumstances justified exercise OF the
authority vested In City Council un-
der the general welfare clause, this
SeabOard matter Is one. To reduce
the issue To it's last analysis and strip
Il naked--of quirls and quibbles--it is
purely and simply a question of
whether or not City Council desires
TO do all II can To aid the citizens Of
Sumter I'm carrying to success an un-
dertaking that will he worth To sum-
ter many times what II Is estimated
TO cost. IL Is reasonable TO entertain
the suppOsltlon that II substantial
majority OF the citizens and taxpayers
Of the city make It known To Council
that II Is their earnest desire that the
City OF Sumter. in its corporate char
acter assume a part OF the burden
and responsibility that the accept
ance OF the Seaboard's proposition
entails. a way Will be found by Coun-