The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1917-05-30
COMMUNICATED

WI. IulCOIs
Will you please allow me space in
your paper to explain in part to the
public what occasioned the corre-
spondence published by you in last
weeks issue.
1t was my purpose when elected
as one of the peoples representatives
to guard their interest and as 1 stated
on every stump in the county that
if elected I would see that there was
change in the county's affairs and
especially would I endeavor to cor
rect lame feature in the road law
to wit: would see that the road
tax would be expended on the roads
in the several townships from which
it was collected, and prepared bill
and introduced same and am proud
that it met with approval of the en-
tire delegation so there was not
single amendment offered to it.
Now just as soon as the auditor
and county officers found that it had
become law it was discussed freely
by them, and upon their opinion the
auditor proceeded at once to refuse
to list the returns for the road tax
from the people that applied at his
office, and when my attention was
called to it, on investigating found
that he was making up his records
for the treasurer to collect taxes BY
and refusing to enter up the road
returns on it without even consulting
authority on the matter, knowing that
about one-fourth of the county reve-
nue. would be lost.
Now when I get straight behind
him he then can go to authority, and
the result is he will have to enter
those returns up but to my life
can't see how he will be able to
get those persons on that he absolute
ly refused to take their returns.
l will not at this time give the
reasons for this most deplorable pre-
dicament, but must believe it is
nothing more or less than one of
those mysterious moves of the poll
tician.
Below is a copy of the law in
question and the opinion of the at
torney generals on same and the
people of Clarendon county can see
who has played the dickens.
Calendar No. 371
introduced by Mr.. W. w. Johnson.
Printers No. 273-Z. House.
The Clarendon Delegation,
To whom was referred q Bill (H. 371)
to provide for a communication or
road tax for Clarendon county, re.
spectfully
Report:
That they have carefully considered
the same, and recommend that the
same do pass
w. w. Johnson,
j. H. Lesesne,
M. H. Mellett,
Clarendon Delegation in the House.
II. B. No. 371. In the House of
Representatives Read the first time
January 81, 1917.
n BILL.
To Provide for a Communication or
Road Tax for Clarendon County.
Be it enacted by the General AS
sembly of the State of Sourn Caro-
lima:
Section 1. That all bodied
male persons between the ages of
eighteen and fifty-fve, both inclusive,
in the county Of Clarendon county,
shall be required annually to pay a
communication or road tax Of three dol
lars, except ministers of the Gospel
actually.in charge of congregation,
teachers employed in the public
schools, school trustees, and all stud
ents who may be attending any school
or college at the time when the com
mutation tax hercinbef6re provided
for shall become due: Provided, That
any person claiming exemption from
the provisions of this Act on the
ground of physical disability, where
such disability is not apparent, shall
be required to produce certificate Of
disability from regular practicing
physician Of Clarendon county, dated
within the month before the applica-
tion: Provided, All money collected
from the Communication tax shall be
expended in the township from which
it is collected: And provided, fur
ther, That all persons liable to the