The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1912-03-06
THE VIEWS OF AN HONEST EDITOR.

THE VIEWS OF AN HONEST EDITOR.
The Yorkville Enquirer one Of
the oldest newspapers in the
State, and always fair, honest
and intelligent contains two
editorials this week that should
be read everywhere, and we
herewith reproduce them for
the benefit Of our readers;
"Governor Blease vetoed
thirty-one items in the appropri-
alton bill, and all but few Of
these items have been passed
over the governors veto.
"Just what the meaning OF
this antagonism between the gov
vernon and the general assembly
is on this particular bill we can
not say that we have an entirely
satisfactory idea. We cannot
believe, however, that the gen
eral assembly voted these appro
priations just for the satisfaction
of spending money and we can
not believe that Gov. Blease has
used his vetoes SO freely solely
for the purpose of contrarying
the general assembly.
A majority of the members Of
the general assembly, we feel
quite sure, are honest, earnest
and conscientious, and they
should BE- given credit for reas.
enable intelligence. Whatever
else may be said of the governor,
he is not a fool. and the man
who takes him for fool will
make serious mistake. Then
why all this apparent contrai.
ness?
AS the result of very consider
able thought that has been put
upon the situation, we have
come to the conclusion that there
is more politics than anything
else in the mixup and as to
which side one is to take de-
pends very much on how he
stands on the taxation question.
During the last campaign a
certain York county candidate
for reelection to the general
assembly islzed up the taxation
question about like this; Il be-
lieve in holding taxes. down as
low as possible; but there is the
penitentiary to be supported,
and the State hospital, and the
Cedar Springs institute. and the
State colleges and the state gov
ernment, and the State debt is
to be provided for, and other
things, and as ! do not see how
any of these appropriations for
any of these purposes can be
cut, I cannot promise you any
reduction of taxes.
Thatsounded all frank enough,
put at the same time it will
have to be admitted that there
was very little hope in it.
Practical and we'll informed
men throughout the State under
stand that while there is no hope
of reduction in taxes on account
of any of these purposes enum'
Grated above, still there are
many little appropriations here
and there that are not absolutely
necessary, but owe their success
to the fact that different people
backing other little appropria-
tions of the same character get
behind each other, make CON-
mon cause and in the aggregate
all these little appropriations
make a big item that adds mills
to the levy.
AS is we'll known, Governor
Blease in all his campaigns made
bold claims as to what he would
do in the way of reducing taxes
and really we do not see how be
could start in to make good that
promise except by vetoing a
bunch of items in the approprla-
ton bill, 1t is not our purpose
to attempt to pass upon the wis
dom of his respective vetoes at
this time. We do not feel quail
fed to do so. 1t is quite probable
that some of them are right and
proper and it is quite probable
that in the case Of others fail
ure of the appropriation would
result in loss to the State instead
of a saving.
We think it probable that in
most cases where the general
assembly has passed items in
the appropriation bill! over the
governors veto, the general as.
sembly is rightas to those speci.
tic items, but still we can see
some justification for the COVER
nor's vetoes. If they serve no
other good purpose, they bring
the attention Of the people more
directly to the real cause and
origin of taxes. When the peo-
pie are called to sit as a jury to
decide the issue as between Gov
ernor Blease and the general
assembly they vii! likely be told
more about some of these things
than they have known hereto
fore.
Just what would have been
the result if the general assem-
bly, had adjourned and left the