The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-01-15
PEOPLE Want STREETS PAVED
fAss RESOLUTION ASKING FOR
RIGHT To VOTE ON CoNsTI-
TUTIoNAL AMEND
MENT.


No hecthhs oi cltllenS at the
Court House Friday night to discuss
a proposed constitutional amendmen mt
allowing a vote to be taken at the gen.
eral election two years from now on
whether or not Sumter should be
given the right TO tax abutting prop
erty In order that the streets and
sidewalks be paved drew out a crowd
OF about nifty property owners, who
seemed much interested In tho propo-
sition and willing to do what would be
required OF them in order that they
should have paved streets and side
walks In the near future and not wait
until the city could pave them at its
present rate OF progress
The meeting. while not so very large
ly attended as was desired. was a
fairly representative gathering OF
sumter's free holders. and the
general concensus OF opinion seemed
to be TO have the streets paved. The
meeting opened when Mr.. ID. ID. Noise
moved that Mr.. II. ID. Epps act as
chairman. Mr.. Epps then called the
assembly to order and stated In a few
words the object OF the mass meeting.
The streets. he said. were In a dread
full condition at the present time and
he thought that everybody would
agree upon the proposition that bet
ter ones were needed. The city at
the present time hardly had sufficient
funds to keep up Its present streets
ard none TO expend In building bet
ter streets. In order to tax abutting
property there must be an amendment
TO the constitution. This must be vot-
ed on at the next general election and
II was the object Of this meeting to
decide whether or not the legislative
>aelexxtion snouid az this time be
given instructions to prepare the
proper legislation in order that this
amendment to the constitution be
voted on. other cities had improved
the streets and abutting property by
paving them IN under this plan and
Sumter should keep up with the
march of progress. The citizens Of
the town paid for the paving when
ever and wherever II was done and
II was just as fair and he thought
as easy To pay In this way as by the
present methods of taxation.
Mayor l.. ID. Jennings was called
upon to further explain this plan and
to state It's advantages. He thought
that the present sand-clay streets were
not satisfactory as permanent streets.
The city had no money to build any
more OF them or DO more than keep
ther1 up. IL would be fifty years or
more before any further permanent
paving could be done unless II was
done b. the plan proposed, as the city
was already taxed TO its limit. The
question was whether or not the citi-
zens we're willing To agree TO the plan
1914. He thought that the majority
ought TO rule In any case and that
the property owners ought TO pay all
OF the costs. At the same time that
n vote was taken on allowing the tax
alton OF abuttin., property for i'm
provements. an amendment ought to
he voted on giving the city the au-
thority to increase its bonded In
debtedness. lie thought the matter
ought TO he taken up now so that a
walt OF four instead OF two years
would not be necessary.
necessary.
Mr.. q. A. Waterman, secretary Of
the Chamber OF Commerce. thought
that proper precautlon ought to be
taken. as a business measure. TO make
the bonds which would be issued a
satisfactory guarantee. and con-
tract ought 10 be entered into be-
tween the property owners and the
city before the funds were advanced.
This method proposed was something
OF novelty and due precaution
should be taken To make IL a success.
lie mentioned the unequal tax returns
which were current throughout this
State and advised radical tax reform
legislation. in order that taxes could
be made more equal and just.
Mr.. ID. II. Noise did not think
that any Of the points brought up
should frighten citizens so that they
would be opposed TO the plan offered
for street Improvement. All OF the
minor points could be satisfactorily
adjusted by council later on after the
amendment was granted. Each per-
son. ne thought. was willing To pay