The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1920-02-11

The select legislative committee of
the house and the senate for the prep
aratlon of improved highway legisla-
ton has completed it's work and its
Dill IS now being typed by the en-
crossing department and will be intro
duced into the" general assembly, when
it convenes next week.
The length of the bill has prevented
the engrossing department from COM
plcting more than half of it when it
finished it's work yesterday and il
hardly will be completed in time to be
given it's first reading next Monday
night when the legislature rcconvenes
but more than likely it will be intro
duced Tuesday.
The bill provid, IS for dual system
OF state and county highways, but is
silent as to the materials which shall
constitute the roads. 1t provides that
the state highway department. shall
construct system of STATE highways
linking up the county seats of the
state, covering such main arteries of
travel as the commission deems ad-
visable. With the assent of the coun-
ty authorities it will have the right
to lay out county systems Of roads,
the cost Of construction of which shall
be out of county funds, the counties
to retain the title to the roads and
bridges.
Licenses Come Higher.
The bill provides that beginning.
with next year, all automobiles weigh
| ing 1000 pounds or unedr shall pay
an annual license of Sc and an ,.ddi-
tional license Of So for every addi-
tional 500 pounds. The measure pro-
vidcs a license fec of $40 year for
one ton trucks, $40 for two ton trucks
$50 for three ton trucks, SlO0/for four
ton trucks, $500 for five ton trucks,
5000 for six ton trucks, and $1,000 for
trucks of seven tons and over. Each
motorcycle must pay an annual tax
of Sc. Dealers licenses are $25 year
y for the first make of motor tlrivcnI
vehicle sold and SIS for each addi-
tional make. Of the amount accruinG
fro mthe license tax, 80 Per cent. is
to be spent in the counties from which
originating for the maintenance Of the
state system in those counties. Any
surplus can be used in the county for
roads and bridges in sucn manner as
decided upon bf the highway depart
mcnt. The remaining 20 per cent. will
go for the expenses of the department
and for aid to the counties in the con-
struction Of roads and bridges,
The bill likewise provides an annual
levy of two mills on al 1.-The taxable
property Of the state. The section pro-
viding this levy reads:
Two Mill Property Tax.
"There shall be annually levied upon
all the taxable property of the state
tax Of two mills which shall be re-
tanned by the counties and used for the
construction Of highways and bridges
under the state system in the rcspec-
tive counties under the general super
vision of the highway department, as
provided in this act. In the event any
county or township has issued bonds
for the construction of highways, or
si al issue bonds for such purposes,
which shall be adopted into the state
system, the said levy shall be annual
lv retained by the counties or town
ships from which said tax is levied
and may be used as a sinking fund or
| for the purpose Of retiring said bonds
at the maturtes Of same, or applied
to the payment of interest on said
such bonds"
The personnel Of the commission re-
mains unchanged. The bill provides
for GXc members, the deans Of the en-
rnccrmg departments fthe Unive1s-
! ity Of South Carolina. Clemson college
and the Citadel and two members to
be appointed by the governor for pc
rioh Of two years each.
The text Of the bill reads:
Section !. That a highway dcDart-
merit for the state of South Carolina is
| hprnhv crnotoI anI blicboJ