The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-05-28

ser cent ana Dullu lLlS IOduS. MI.
Booth voted to sell them at 5 3-4 per
cent. therefore if I had promised
the people either 5 or IL per
cent. and it would be breaking good
faith to pay per cent, then I would
like to know of Mr.. Booth whether it
would not be breaking good faith to
pay "a per cent? So if I have
broken any good faith and if he feels
bound by the promises / made to the
people. or that the other people who
spoke made, then he should not have
voted to pay 3-4 for money. SO al
his good faith proposition IS nothing
more than propaganda against going
On and building the good roads He
states in his article it will cost $500
square yard. Several contracts have
been let recently in other parts Of the
state and in North Carolina, and on
country roads at that, for s2.73 II
.quare yard. which would make the
roads cost between $29.000 and 800
90 mile, depending. Of course. upon
he extent of the grading. and we
lave very little grading in this county.
Yes, Mr.. Booth says the roads will
,e built in due time All I have 10
;ay about this is his due time may run
n the roads case just ike it is in the
all case. 1 am willing to go on and
;pend my rs cents and at the same
ime spend other peoples 25 cents,
,ut I am willing for them 10 Eave
heir proportionate share rf the can
ly, and 1 will not take their 25 cents
md put it in the bank Of which I am
resident at lower rate of interest
han the other banks are paying for
like deposits.
Mr.. Booth cannot get away from the
idea that the city paid s1.S5 per yard
or streets that will now cost from
$3.50 to $500 per yard. At the time
he city paved the streets there was
very little work going OH of this char
tcer Since then and row II mas in
reased many times and ! have no
dea we will ever build streets that
heaply again, and We will b1 riding
n the old roads we have, that IS, 1u-
ure generations will perhaps until
Judgment Day, shauli Mr.. Booths
Jews obtain.
i
tanding still, and I am always willing
O pay nay proportionate part, but if !
ry to conserve my taxes I will at the
anne time try to conserve other
eople's.
The last proposition Mr.. Booth dis
:ussed was the city funds in the
Peoples Bank. He states that between
october goth and May /, 1921, the
onbined deposits Of the other banks
vas $4,000, and in the same period
he Peoples Bank $4,000, and the
Peoples Bank was used during these
months for the clerk and treasurer's s
hecking account, and that the GUS
ON of city council in the assignment
# duties of various members of coun-
il for a number of years had been
hat one member was more particu-
arly in charge of the wafe: works.
me in charge of the street depart
aent and the fire department, etc.
nd that the matter Of finances and
he legal end Of the city's affairs was
eft with the mayor. All I had to do
eith the financial end of it was that
vas instructed to find out where we
.ould borrow money when we need
d it. Then the matter was brought
10 before council, and council au-
horized the borrowing Of the money,
ind I would sign the note. along with
he clerk, and turn the note over To
lin and had no more to do with tie
oan. Since have been mayor we have
lad as clerks. Messrs. C. NJ. Hurst.
}. NJ. Banding. E. H. Rhame and
w. Brunson. If Mr.. Booth can
urnish the proof that I ever suggest
d to any of them in the slightest way
o deposit a single dollar in the Peo-
,les Bank or TO favor it in any other
vay. then l will donate to a charit-
tble institution the sum of five thou
and dollars. AS matter of fact, l
have always voted in city council for
he citys money to be deposited IN
DUAL proportions in all of the banks
n the city Of Sumter, and if Mr..
Booth can furnish any proof J have
yer taken any other position at any
ime, then I will likewise donate the
aid five thousand dollars. Perhaps
,Ir. Booth is judging me by what he
would have done had he been in
.harge of the city's finances.
INSERT B.
On one occasion Mr.. Booth asked
ne if 1 had any corn for sale. told
,im 1 had. He said he would like to
,uy some. 1 asked him for what and
ne said for the city. tod him unde:
10 circumstances would I sell the city
orn or anything else while was may
,r, even though they paid me the
market price for it. He said | was
foolish if had corn to sell and want
I'd to sell not to sell it to the city.
On another occasion when we we've
calling for bids for the city's stahle
manure Mr. Booth suggested that l
put in a bid. / told him under no
circumstances would I do so. because
[ would not be both buyer ana seller.
because council was representing the
city. and if we sold the manure or
anything else ourselves or bought 1t
rom the city we would be both buy
n and seller.
Mr.. Booth was in charge of the
street department. and was empower
I'd 10 purchase supplies for same, such
as mules. wagons, harness, feed and