The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-01-11

Crlpany, which says that no details
have been received, but the govern
n1ent seems to be at least provisional
ly master of the situation.
The government is reported to nave
massed troops outside Of Berlin on
Tuesday and are ready to enter the
city.
Gen. Won Hindenburg is reported to
have arrived at Berlin.
struct and permanently surface sucn
highways.
"There are now over $4,000 regis
tered cars in South Carolina There
were only $1,000 in 1917 and $4,000
in 1916. It may safely be assumed
+: that in the next three years this
number will reach 10000 An aver
age license tax of $40 per car-or Sz,-
900, 0OO-will be more than sufficient
TO retire an isue of s25,o00,000 IL
per cent. bonds in 20 years. The aV-
erage license tax at present is about
s6.
sUnder our constitution no State
bonds can be issued unless ratified by
two-thirds vote OF the quallfled
voters, voting at general State
election. The first opportunity OF OBJ
/ tanning such q vote would be in No
vember, 1920. In the meantime the
system Of highways should be def
nitely. mapped out and as much of the
system as practicable taken over and
maintained in good condition. Ihe
counties should at the same time
be given an opportunity to raise funds
by bond issues and have such portion
of the highway as may lie within
I their limits built under the superVis-
ion OF the highway commission with
the knowledge that these funds In
whole or in part will be returned to
them out Of any State highway bonds
which may be issued. Inasmuch as no
bond issue may be ratified until No
vember, 1920, the commission dur
ing the present year should determine
upon the system Of highways to be
. constructed and estimate the cost
thereof. Furthermore before reach
ing its conclusion the commission
should visit each county and hold
hearings at which the people will be
given an opportunity to discuss in de-
tail the system as it applies to that
county.
The system of highways adopted
by the commission, together with the
estimated cost, should be reported to
the next session of the legislature
with the view of determining what
! issue of bonds will be required for
their construction. Several bills are
now pending in congress providing
federal aid ior road building in the
several States. The bill which seems
most likely to be enacted provides
over $1,'S4, 900 per year for South
Carolina for FIVE years. In addition 20
this there is now under the present
! federal aid act about s1,000.000 for
expenditure during the next three
years.
I'VE, therefore, the undersigned
owners cf automobiles registered in
South Carolina, hereby petition the
Legislature:
First, to change the present high
way com mmission so as to include one
from each congressional district, 20 be
! appointed by the governor and the
three senior professors Of civil engi-
neering at Clemson Agricultural and
Mechanical College, the University Of
South Carolina and the Citadel; and
| to give such commission the power TO
appoint and fix the compensation OF
its engineers and employees and the
i power to lay out, construct, regulate
and maintain system Of State high
ways connecting every county seat IN
/! South Carolina; such highways to be
so constructed and surfaced as to take
care of the traffic which may be de-
veloped upon them.
Second to instruct the State
cost of the construction Of such
system Of highways and to report to
the next session Of the legislature
what State bonds would be necessary
; therefor and the estimated annual IL
cense tax necessary for the retire
ment thereof, after providing for
proper maintenance of the said high
way
Third. 20 pass such acts as would
enable the counties Of the State to
issue bonds during 1919 and there
after for the construction OF high
ways within their county lines.
Fourth. to raise the annual license
tax, beginning with 1920. on motor
vehicles to $ per hoise power for au-
tomobiles and motorcycles and 81
per horse power for motor trucks and
the license for dealers to $50 for each
make OF car handled. and to fix th'.
license Of Grailers at $40. all Of which
shall be turned over to the State
highway commission for the construc-
ton OF bridges on the proposed high
way system and for the construction
and surf.cing Of such portions OF
State highway as may be practicable
in conjunction With any federal aid