The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-02-02
WOULD REDUCE TAX LEVY.
APPROPRIATION BILL MAY PRO.
VIDE FOR SIX AND ONE
HALF MILLS.
Ways and Means Committee Holds
Amount to $4,000, ,OOO-None of De-
partments Crippled-Bin Goes to
House Today or Monday.


Columbia, Jan. 29.-After three
weeks Of strenuous work, the men,
bers Of the ways and means commit
tee of the house and the finance COM
mittee Of the senate have coomplet-
cd hearings on the various items in
the general appropriations bill. The
bill will be introduced In the house by
the ways and means committee today
or Monday. 1t was learned yesterday.
The finishing touches have been put
on the bill and the various items
totaled.
Under the leadership of J. T. Lilies,
chairman. the committee has set a
new record. The first hearings were
held on the first day of the session.
Unoficially It was learned yester-
day that the general appropriation
bill will call for a State tax levy of
six and one-haf mills. The levy last
year was seven mills.
On the first day Of the session the
committee passed q resolution to hold
down the appropriations. that is the
amount to be raised by a State levy.
to $4,000. 900. It IL said that the terms
OF this resolution have been carried
out by the committee. The pruning
knife has been freely used and ex-
pensive undertakings have been dis
|couraged.
1t IL said that the appropriation
bill carries about s2.s7s.oco. The
various institutions and departments
Of this state government asked for
$S.is4.ooo. The special takes raise
>4so.Ooo. Thus It viii b seen that
the amount to be raised by the levy
is only. 100000.
rhe one big idea in the minds Of
the members Of the two committees
has been economy. However, none Of
the departments has been crippled.
Chairman Lilies was quoted do say
ing:
Every department of the govern
ment and institution will be. in the
judgment of the committee. adequate
" maintained. They will be in q po-
sition to improve conditions where
the need Is greatest" ~
Practically every department of the
State. government asked for In
creas(d appropriations. Only the alb
sclute needs Of the departments were
constdetsd and provided Tor Wy the
committee. Considering the total ap-
preparations. It Is evident that the
committee has made no provision for
new buildings at any Of the ihstitu-
tions.
This II probably the first time in the
history Of the general assembly that
the ways and means committee has
been able to reduce the State tax
levy. The, demands on the State gov
eminent are growing year by year.
Chairman Lilies refused to make
known the terms of the appropria-
tion bill yesterday.
House Sends Batch Of Local Bills 10
Senate.
Columbia, Jan. 29.-The house this
morniag sent 80 local bills to the scn-
ate.
The Moore bill making common
carierS and cotton mills liable, for
personal injuries. after considerable
debate, was recommitted. This kills
the measure.
In Q. letter criticising the measure
providing for the re-opening of the
dispensaries until the surplus stock on
hand is disposed Of and stating that
the legislature did not intend to do
anything for the people. w. s. &.
Heath, Of Edgeield. said "the best
thing to do with the whiskey they
have on hand Is to ship 1t to Columbia
and let you follows drink it up" The
letter was ordered printed in tho
house Journal.
The senate is not in session today.
ADVERSELY RE,pOprr,n