The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-06-08
Booth To Jennings
Comments on Mr.. Jennings Re.
cent Communication in Ref
erence to Highway Bonds
n and Various Other
5w Matters

YOU again, but 7 would like to make
some comment on Mr.. Jennings ar
ticle Of May "a. Circumstances over
which 1 had no control caused this
delay: however, l hope to be orle1.
Mr.. Jennings enumerates my suo-
iect under four heads and snail
ATTEMPT to try and follow him in this
order. if it is possible, but when you
reflect it covers period Of about two
thousand years it may be that l VIII
be somewhat rambling. Should do
so it is with the assurance that VIII
not trespass further on your space
and time.
To the public I wish to apologize
for such irrelevant and personal rel
erences as may be required to make
up a connected story. In future any
discussion of personalities between
Mr.. Jennings and myself must be face
to face. ! do not think it fair to the
public to deal in personal references
of this kind that are neither enter
tanning nor en!ightening. I feel,
however, that am somewhat excused
on this matter as I have been drawn
into this discussion in order that MI
Jennings can reach the balance Oh
the members of the hard surface ROAD
commission in their policy OF con-
servative handling of their duties as
commission, over my shoulders, be-
ing the only one Of the eight that
has a public record that he can at
tack.
AT the outset 1 stated that the con-
tract between the county of Sumter
and the bank was a bonafide propo-
si1ion betwee irresponsible parties in
an open competitive bid. The bank
complied with their contract and the
county is complying with theirs. that
is all there is to it. and no amount OF
discussion can change these facts.
He attempts to disprove what had
to say as to this rate being as high.
OF higher, than the discount rate that
the reserve bank was charging dur
ing almost the whole period that the
bank has had the jail fund OF tWen-
ty-fve thousand dollars. II he would
take the trouble to ask his cashier he
would find that no reserve is required
OF a member bank other than per
cent of the amount OF its demand de-
posits ard per cent of its time de-
posts. The fact of borrowing has alb
solutely nothing to do with this re-
serve. whether bank borrows one
dollar or ten times its capital IS this
reserve decreased or increased.
He treats this matter of per cent
compound interest in a very hight vein.
He knows very we'll that per cent
compound quarterly as against 81
simple interest yields practically the
same return
Mr.. Jennings seems to be very anx-
ious to know If there has been any
recent estimates gotten on the cost Of
this lail. I was inclined at one time
to be mean and ont enlighten him, but
upon reflection will pass this infor-
nation for his satisfaction. Mr..
Rowland, who is chairman Of this
iail commission Informed me some
days ago that the architect by his di-
rection was figuring on the cost Of this
Jail based on today's prices Of mater
ial. etc.
Mr.. Jennings says that brick, lime
~
what it was year ago. AS usual ne
knows nothing about what is reGulr-
ed in the construction Of jail. More
than 65 per cent of the cost OF jali
is the steel compartments or cells,
built Of the toughest type of tool
steel which is very expensive. The
steel mills have reduced their prices
very little, SO it is clear he is talking
about something he knows nothing
about again. AS there are only two
members on this commission now
there can be a deadlock when It
comes to the question of building or
not building, SO l again suggest to
him that he have himself appointed
on this commission and thereby ref
cree the job Of building or not build
ing.
Since I am in the hunlor of pass
ing information TO him ! will add that
my taxes for the past several years
have amounted annually 10 several
times my holdings of bank stock IN
the Nationa! pank of Sumter. so an
other one OF his inaccuracies is nailed.
for certainly if ] was acting from
selfish motives my action would be
different from what it has been and
is.
If Mr.. Jennings Will pardon sug-
gestion-If he win leave Off irrelevant
and irreverant references to the Bible
In newspaper discussion. and live
closer to its teaching possibly all OF
as would be more benefited.
Next, Mr. Jennings refers to my
connection with the commission that
built the sewer line some years ago
Mr.. Jennings knows as well as ! Go
that there was sharp difference. Of
opinion between the members Of the
sewerage commission as to the en-
ployment of the engineer for this job
He knows farther thta Perry Moses
and myself disagreed with the rest Of
the commission in the selection OF
the engineer and by way of protest
did not sign the contract employing
him. [ cannot understand why he
should refer to a matter OF this kind
when he has been given repeatedly