Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1911-02-01
WANT SIX MILLS EXTRA LEVY.
If Granted OCOncc'S Tax Rate Will
Leap to III Mills.

Columbia, J?r. 31.--Editor Cou-
rier: One OF the serious problems
confronting the members OF the Gen
eral Assembly is our county finances.
The County Supervisor has furnish
ed an estimate for this year amount
ing to SCI. $4,000. OF this there ap.
pears an item. past Indebtedness
$2l 900: for repairs on roads and
bridges. $25,000.00. rhe assessed
value Of property is $1,000. 800. Now
! ii will be seen from the above cSti-
! mates that it will take Il levy for
| this year Of Is mills TO meet the
wants OF the county, or an addi,ion-
al levy Of six mills over what we
have been paving. This would max @
| our state and county taxes about Il
mills.
Does this look like we need a
change in our syStcmH The levy
that we have been paying will just
! about be sufficient to pay the past
/ Indebtedness ana county salaries and
other fixed charges against the cuun-
ty and leave nothing to be spent by
the County commissioners. II seems
to me that we must have some radi-
cal changes or there will be no end
10 this debt
think the solution of this per
picking problem will be in turning
over to township commissioners the
management OF the affairs for each
township. This plan will be very
much like the present management
OF the common schools by the trus-
tees. We never hear Of the trustees
IL,
This will bring the expenditure Of
the taxes nearest to the people who
pay them and will insure the best
value for the money.
Automobile liability, E,,c.
We have passed bill making au-
tomobilcs liable for damages done
by it, except in case the machine
shall have been stolen from under
lock.
The bill making it a misdcmcanor
TO originate or publish slandcrous
matter against another has passed
This is intended to make it a crime
to tell campaign lies or cartoon can
dtdatcS. Any statement or cartoon
intended to defeat a candidate is in
cludCd.
The bin providing for uniform
methods OF awarding Scholarships in
the State institutions has passed tho
Senate. The general purDort OF this
bill is to turn over all Of the power
to the faculties OF the different col
lcgcS to award scholarships.
bill has passed requiring the
people of the territory asking to
form Il new county or to be cut off
TO another county to pay the OK
pcnscs OF surveys and elections. This
will probably keep down some Of the
elections.
The Governor revoked all notary
public commissions to take effect on
January ~. This was modified later
TO take effect on February 10. The
question arises as to which date will
be effective. 1t is doubtful as TO
whether the Governor could revive
commissions after they are revoked
! am having blanks sent to air nota-
rics with instructions. II any should
not receive them, ii they will write
mo will have it attended to
promptly.
Special bills arc being passed
awarding scholarships in Winthrop
and Clemson to the boys and girls
who made over 100 bushels OF corn
last year.
We have passed bill making it a
crim" FOR amy one to obtain liquor
lor another from any person not au-
thorHcd by law to sell. This. il is
believed, will catch many Of the go
betwccnS and furnish evidence 10
convict for unlawful sales.
Respectfully. j. X. Earle.