The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-02-22

Objectionable as those who were now
on the board. The situation narrow
ed itself down to the law. II seven
were elected one could be elected
chairman and he would be a kaiser
and the others would come to Co
iumbia and perform their duties IN
perfunctory manner. He was one Oh
the authors of the new bill, but ne
: had made a mistake in allowing his
name to be attached TO the new Dill
and he was man enough 10 acknowi-
edge his mistake The bill did not
change the law. The purpose Of the
bill was simply to put cne out ana
put in another The people had ask
ed for bread and were to be given
/ stone. Simply to break up three
stones and give tllcm seven.
Senator Alexander Of Pickcns SAID
he had heard no remedy which
would help the people Of Plckens
county. There seemed TO be State
wide opposition TO Jones. but he dfd
not see how the situation could
be improved and he saw 70 reason to
change. He had promised the peo-
pie OF Picllens nothing and ne
! thought >woud deliver the goods
Senator Buck said the authors OF
the bill had not made cut q good
case. II there was 20 be no improve
n1et why make chanse2 lie then
told how the commission had equaiiZ-
ID bank assessments which as va
ried from IS to G5 per cent. Il had
struck n balance and after consider
able effort the bankers were con-
vinced that the commission was
right. He did not know another
I piece Of legislation in SIX years which
had done so much good. To abolish
it would be to set South Carolina
back for 20 years. The complaint
against the tax commission came
from the counties with, the big land
owners.
Senator Clifton said he had been
struck with q feature Of the discus
sion: it was Il mere trading OF
horses The proposition was to
swap the present law for the bill for
the same law There was no propo-
sition to change the law at all. The
senator from Abbeville was to be
admired by the senate for having the
manhood after lending his name to
the bill and after listening to the dis
cuGsion to say that he would not
vote to change conditions. He had
been before the tax commission and
he had always been treated With
courtesy Adolphus Jones was 4
unique character. He had known Mr..
Jones when he waS auditor Of Able
vile county. He was told then that
Dolph Jones would make people put
property on the tax books. The people
had indorsed him every time. He be-
licved that if he had gone before the
people they would put him at the
head Of the tax commission.
Senator Alexander interrupted to
say that if Senator Clifton could
make Dolph Jones smile on noun
taineer it would be appreciated.
Senator Clifton said that he had
| been amazed to discover that the
present bill did not change the pres
ent law at all.
Senator McColl said the commits
! sion to be elected under the bill would
be elected by the representatives Of
the people. while the present board
We're established in power. He said
that the intimations that the fight On
! the tax commission was from COM
bination cf largo land owners and
corporations was without foundation
in fact OF the $4,000. 600 increase
in tax values. SIS. 600. 900 increase
was on lands and $22,000,000 was on
corporations.
Senator Alexander asked what was