The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-01-06

draw the line between the good and
the bad than 1t Is for the unwary in
vestor, especially the helpless class
upon which such agents prey.
Some provision should be further
made to amerce foreign corporations
doing business In this State which Go
not comply with the provisions Of law.
There are many such corporations,
and II is almost impossible to learn
when they come into the State for the
transaction Of business unless, Of its
own accord. 1t complies with the law.
I have located and required few Of
these companies to file the necessary
papers. / also found that many of
these companies did not file the re-
quired annual statement and / ad-
dressed to each the following letter:
AS a foreign corporation doing
business In this State, under the pro-
visions Of chapter a.. code Of 1902.
you are required to file in this Of
fee on or before the 31st day Of jan
uary Of each year an annual state
ment as set forth In section 1881. For
filing this statement section 1888 pro-
vides fee OF IS. Compliance with
this provision Is imperative. subject
to fine and forfeiture Of right to do
business. For your convenience i am
inclosing blank
"As a result Of this letter. more
thai 100 additional statements have
been filed over any previous year,
netting over $500.
TT might be unusual for an officer
on a moderate salary with limited
office force and the work constantly
increasing to 60 outside Of his Of
fetal duties to discover and assume
extra burdens. but ] am constrained
to recommend the passage Of law
for the uniform and central registra-
ton Of motor vehicles. The present
law provides for registration BY
counties. but when there Is a trans
fer Of ownership from the purchaser
to other parties Of the machine, it Is
driven beyond the borders of the
State the law is Of little value for the
purpose Of identification. I receive
frequent letters from owners and Of
ficers to be notified in the event cars
descSibed are offered for registration
but }uch registration not being re-
quired In this ONCE can render no
assistance. Every machine before the
same Is permitted to be operated in
this State should be registered under
the name and address Of the owner
with brief description Of the vehicle,
including the name Of the maker or
manufacturer. factory number, motor
power, style. from whom purchased
and date Of purchase. and such ma
shine should bear a metal tag or seal
with the words Registered, s. c. No.
- as due evidence Of such regis
tration. The owner should be re-
quired to conspicuously display upon
the front and rear Of every such mo-
tor vehicle number corresponding
with the number Of registration In
Arabic numerals not less than four
inches In height and each stroke NO
less than one- half inch width with
the letters g c. The figures and let
ters to be white on black ground or
black on white ground
Such law should also regulate the
equipment and speed and provide
such penalties. rules and regulations
as will protect the public and pro
hibit reckless and careless driving.
Dealers should be required to report
to the registrar at the end Of each
month all motor vehicles sold. which
report should contain such jnforma.
tion as such officer may require a,
would enable him to see that all ma
chimes have been properly registered
within the time prescribed. Such reg
istration or license fec should h
provided as would meet and defray
all expense thereby incurred.