Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1911-02-22
WALHALLA, s. O.:
WEDNESDAY,, FEBRUARY a2, 1911
COUNTY APPROPRIATION BILL.

The appropriation bill for running
expenses Of the county government
for the year 1911 is peculiar docu-
ment. It Is supposed to provide for
all proper expenses and fixed
charges against the county, and yet
we find that there are numerous i'm
portant items omitted from it.
Nothing is appropriated for salary
of County Superintendent Of Educa-
ton.
Nothing for dieting Of prisoners.
Nothing for salary Of county at.
torncy.
Nothing for insurance on public
buildings.
Nothing for books. stationery, sup
plies or fuel for any county offici n
except Treasurer. Auditor and Clerk
OF Court
Nothing for advertising and print
ing.
All accounts for these purposes
the Supervisor and Commissioners
are authorized and required by law
TO examine, and if just and correct,
to allow and pay; and yet the effect
OF this bill is that these officers Shall
not exceed any appropriation for my
purpose, and shall pay no moneys
for any purpose whatever unlcs,
specific appropriation is made there
Tor. The words preceding the ap-
preparations thai are made arc as
follows:
'* The funds arising FROM
IhlS levy, and paid or payable to the
county, from all sources, except for
schools, shall be used for the purpose
herein expressly stated, aud no other.
If so much be necessary"
The general law fixing the duties
Of the Supervisor and Commissions
ors says to them You shall" the
appropriation bin as passed says to
them, "You shall not" And there
they stand. Thcir hands are tied
The manner OF working the roads
for the present year is also put in a
peculiar position Each township
has appropriated to it the sum Of
$1,000 in addition to the commuta-
tiOn road tax paid within its limits.
There is no consideration given to
the number OF miles OF roads to be
worked in township nor to the
taxes paid by the townships. Some
townships pay for all county pur-
poses about $500. and will receive
for roads this year $1,000. Other
townships pay as high as $1,000 into
he county funds, and will receive
$1,000.
The object Of this provision is
doubtless to make it necessary for
the townships to levy special taxes
to work their roads. Yet the general
levy has not been reduced There is
no special incentive. however. so far
as we can see, for the townships that
pay small amount OF taxes to vote
on special road tax, for some are
to receive for road purposes two dol
lars for every dollar they pay into
the general county fund. On the
other hand, the townships that al
ready pay large taxes have no relief:
the general levy is the same, and
they receive only $1,000, regardless
OF the taxes paid. There is no in
ccntivc here, because taxes are al
ready burdcnsomc. and the pcoplc
ar" not going TO ada 10 their bur
dcnS.
AS matter OF fact. the whole sit
NATION IN Oc0nce is pretty badly
mnddlcd. Fortunately there is n wav
out, so far rs items omitted from the
appropriation bill, are concerned.
but il is going to cause a lot OF
trouble and Inconvenience that need
not nave come had the whole matter
been thrcShcd ont and considered.
viewed from every standpoint on a
plain, mattcr-of-fact business basis.
AZ TO the road question, we will not
even hazard a guess as to results
1--WE viii Sc" what Wr will see"
Mistakes are often made. and we
think our delegation made a mistake
in the present instance. Ncycrthc-
less, let us all cndcayor to make the
best Of the situation as II stands.