The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-01-17
AIMS OF LEGISLATORS.
MCssrs. BClscr and Dick Tell What
Work They VIII Undertake.

The members of the general as
scmbly from Sumter county all left
for Columbia Tuesday morning, cx-
ccpt Dr Geo. W. Dick, chairman of
the ways and means committee, who
left Monday afternoon. Before lcav-
!nG the Item reported called on
Messrs BclSer ana Dick t. find out
what special work they would under
take at this session of the general as.
semhly. Messrs. Epps ana Clifton
were both out Os town yesterday ana
could not be seen this morning before
they left. so their ideas for legislation
were not obtained.
Mr.. Bclscr stated that he wuld ex-
pend his efforts frst and foremost 10
have bill passed regulating and
cqualzing taxes throughout the state.
so as TO make the tax system an
equitable one for everybody.
The next most important piece Of
legislation which he contemplated
was the establishment of a state high
way commission. a step toward the
Improvement of the public roads and
The securing Of federal aid i'm the
building Of roads.
other bills to which he would cs-
pecially lend his efforts were those
relating to primary reforms and reg
ulation, compulsory education, and
the fixing of definite policy for the
government and conduct of the State
Hospital for the insane. A matter of
local legislation which he would work
on was the matter of Recommendation
OF the part of Lee county which had
recently voted to this effect. While
these matters would be especially
looked after by him, he would, Of
course, give his attention to other
matters OF Importance, as they came
up.
DR.. Dick stated that, as chairman of
the ways and means committee, he
would lend his especial attention TO
the matter OF keeping down the
budget in the appropriation bill.
In this connection it Will be Of in
terost 20 the people Of Sumter to
know that DR.. Dick has paid two
visits TO Columbia recently in the
checking up of the accounts OF the
clerk to the sinking fund commission
the ordinary sinking fund, the re-
dcmption fund and the insurance
fund. and has gone over the list Of
expenses for the state during the past
year, including Items ranging from
sevcn.y-fve cents to ninety eight thou
sand dollors, the sum mounting up
nearly Il million dollars.
During the eight years while ]
have been on the committee" Dr.
Dick stated, "the tax levy has not been
raised, although one year Ii was low
cred for political purposes, being
again raised the next year" This
year, he understood, the budget would
bc especially heavy and he would
work to keep the levy down to what
1t has been heretofore.
Hc stated that a grcatd deal of con-
fusion has been caused by the extra
one mill levy and he would Try to i'm
ciude this in tho general approprla-
ton this year,
Il expect 4 hard term for my com
'n!ttcc," said Dr. Dick. especially as
VIC have lost three of the best work
crs on the committee. Messrs. Rem
bert of Columbia, James of Darling
ton and schroeder Of Charleston. ali
ot whom have died since the last ses-
sion"
The annual budget of expenses for
sumter county was nlled out last week
by the Clcrl; to the board Of commits
sioucrs ana the supervisor and sent
to the comptroller general, i'm order
that he can arrange for the necessary
levy this year. The levy for Sumter