The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-01-15

. .ffs
farmers at low rates OF interest. I
have drafted q plan by, which this pur-
pose can be accomplished. and this
plan will. hope. receive that atten-
tion which will perfect 1t so as, to
make II available for our farmers. /
shall submit this plan to you In, q la
ter message. t....
This matter deem Of great import
ance. for II the statements that have
been made as to these exorbitant
rates Of interest charged to formers
are true. then one cause for the tail.
ure OF Improbable farming will have
been discovered, and 1t Is our duty to
endeavor to remove the cause or this
complaint. It is manifest that no bus
iness' can succeed that has to be oper-
ated under such adverse conditions.
- Good Roads. i;ss,s 81
II is apparent to every observer that
the roads In South Carolina are better
now than they were 4 few years ago.
II is apparent however. to every OBJ
server that We have not yet arrived At
that point when q system Of building
and maintaining our public highways
has been satisfactory in results and
economical in operation. The fact II
many thousands Of dollars are annual
ly wasted In ill-judged construction,
and almost negligible maintenllncs.
Whom. we consider the importance Of
cheap transportation in our rural dis
tricts and that transportation Is an
expensive item In our lives. Il II time
for US to bend attention seriously to
the matter Of road Improvement. The
time has come. when we should act,
and not deal in generalities on this
subject. We all admit the necessity
for good roads. and the economic, cues
ton involved In them. ,.s.
A number of plans have been sug-
gested to bring about systera OF
roadways throughout the length and
breadth OF the State, with construction
that will be permanent and the cont OF
maintenance light. and commend this
subject to your earnest consideration.
We unquestionably need these :, high
ways. They must be constructed ii
we are to keep pace with the progress
Of our sister States.
direct your attention to the plan
offered by Mr.. Reid whitford, of
Charleston. as a basis OF q plan for
your considerations. 1t may be that
q state registration tax on motor ve-
hicles--our Supreme Court In q recent
decision has declared that this carr be
done constitutionally- can be 90 de-
vised as TO accomplish this grsat OBJ
ject. and Icommsnd st to your consid-
GRAFTON.
Board OF Cancellation.
LABOR conditions In the State, rar!
tieaiasly N QrStnstlls and / Andsft ftStI
counties. have been acute during the
past year. The situation there shows
that we should provide some legal rnaa,-.
chinery to investigate strikes. and
mediate between employers and en-
pioyees. g. g;iS.;i::
! recommend the efeation Of 1
board of conciiiation. which viii have
power to investigate, strikes and to
mediate in their settlement; in. con-
nection Herewith. to have power to
summon and examine witnesses. to
compel them to testify, to require the
production Of books OF record and pa
pers. II necessary. but, above all, to
have as it's duty the settlement of in
dustrial disputes; and to make a re.
port of their work to the governor, ano
through him to the general assembly.
] deem It important that this board
be removed as far a. possible from
partisanship and from political In.
nuence;' and I suggest that such a
board should consist OF three members
to be appointed annually for term
OF one year. one to be appointed by
the Supreme Court, one by the govern.
or and one by the commissioners OF
agriculture. commerce and industries:
that these members should be paid a
per diem for the time employed. In
the interest Of Justice and harmony l
urge the creation OF this board. =,
State Federation OF Labor.
The State Federation of Labor de-
sires the enactment of law creating
bureau Of labor. I approve OF pro.
sressive legislation in behalf Of labor.
and with the operation OF board Of
concihation during 1915. and the en-
I0rNQYnA NJ ~