Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1915-01-19

Il
and county appropriations should be
cut to the bone. enough being giver
surely to prevent retrogression, but
this is not a time for enlargement
but rather for retrenchment.
II beg to recommend the passage OF
an act establishing a maximum limit
for a state levy. An ever increasing
burden of taxation falls heavily upon
the average citizen. A flexible and ev.
er increasing levy to meet appropria'
tions, based upon ex parte showings
made by interested parties before
single committee of the legislature, is
not conducive to economy. A mill
levy or even mill levy, together
with the receipts from the insurance
commissioners office, from corporation
taxes and from other available sources
Of income, coupled with fair tax up
on water powers within the state
when made available for profitable
service, will and should meet the needs
Of the state.
81 consider the present mill tax
an obstacle in the way Of progressive
methods Of taxation, a problem which
must be met. 1t should be repealed
and direct appropriations made based
upon present expenditures, to keep uI
the present efficiency Of our common
school system and our institutions OF
learning.
South Carolina Is pre-eminently q
state Of rural population and interest
and there should be established q
working system Of rural credits to
meet the general demands Of the peo-
pie, and to promote ownership OF
land by the many rather than by the
few. Our banking system is faulty
in that it does not recognize land as
safe and flexible basis Of credit. The
establishment Of a system Of land
registration insuring safety to hold
ers of mortgages and an act authoriz-
ing and encouraging a banking sys-
tenn to extend long time loans at a
reasonable rate Of interest to farm
ers and those who wish to become
farmers and Landowners, Is worthy
of thought. The sinking fund Of the
state might be made the basis of
such an institution, which, under the
guidance Of the state treasurer and
with the sinking fund commissioners
as directors, without at all coming
in contention with the present state
or national banking system, might
furnish help with perfect safety to
the state and with large measure OF
profit than these funds now bring to
its treasury. believe land banking
system, making a speciality Of long
time loans based upon land values,
would add greatly to the wealth Of the
state and give impetus to prosperity.
81 believe the idea Of responsible
ity Of administration, such as Presi-
dent Woodrow Wilson unhesitatingly
assumes, and Gov. Hughes so strik-
ingly exemplified in New York, would
be for the interest Of the people. along
the idea advanced by ex-Secretary OF
War Stimson, for the forthcoming re-
vision of the constitution Of New York
viz: that the governor with the aid OF
the comptroller general might be en-
powered to introduce the annual ap-
preparation bill, which might be cut
down, altered or amended, but not
increased, by the legislature. Such a
measure would fix responsibility and
would result in fewer questionable ap-
propriations being made. Perhaps at
this time, with memory Of recent
events fresh in mind, increased power
to the executive might not meet ap-
proval, but sober thought will add
force to these ideas.
1T has been urged by some that the
acreage reduction act Of the special
session Of the last legislature should
be repealed. Permit me to express the
belief that its enforcement would
mean the beginning Of the emanci-
patton Of our people from cotton-slav-
cry, and rather should 1t be perpetu-
ated by legal enactment and by en-
grating it into the constitution Of the
state, as a measure best for its interest
whether in time Of pease or in war.
Statewide Prohibition.
MY position on another question
now Of more than statewide import
ance, the abolition Of traffic in alco-
holic drinks, Is too we'll known for ex-
tended comment. Because its effects
are ever toward the debasement of
mankind, the destruction Of human life
and property, and the encouragement
Of lawlessness, 1t has ever in my mind
been regarded as morally wrong, and
therefore not a thing to be made right
by legal enactment. believe that a
majority Of our people, II they permit
reason and conscience to regulate their
action would so decide. 1t has been
claimed, with how much merit Is for
you to decide, that the last primary
disposed Of this question for the next
two years. But there are thousands In
South Carolina today who yet hope
and expect to see this state take the
decided and progressive step that will
place it in line with Kansas, North
Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia and
other commonwealth, which have
placed the moral and temporal welfare
Of their citizens above the allurements
of the unholy dollar. Would not this
legislature gain fame and distinction
equal that of any in the history Of
our state and at the same time perform
great economic service by passing
within the next few days a law sub
mitting to the people the question Of
statewide abolition Of the liquor traf-
fic?
Finally: The legislature of a
Christian state should ever stand for
such measures as will promote good
morals, setting it's face rigidly against
any measure at any time that tends to
lower it's ideals, that encourages law
lessness, or carelessness Of obligations.
We would see South Carolina, proud
as it is of it's history and traditions,
leader truly among commonwealths in
n,ra danocra low In ohaerva nce of law