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

Sumter at me same Time were pdyiHS
other people per cent on time de-
posits.
Mr. Booth states that the city's
sinking fund was on deposit with the
banks at 5 per cent, and I could be
equally justly criticised for not get
ting a higher rate of interest when
during some Of this period the city
was borrowing money at s per cent.
If I could be equally justly criticised.
then Mr.. Booth should bear his pro-
portion of the criticism because all
Of the sinking fund that is now in
the banks was placed there while Mr.
Booth was on city council, and his
bank has had up until within the last
80 days larger sum of this sink
ing fund than the Peoples Bank has
had. Therefore, YOU will see that
when Mr.. Booth criticises me tor the
sinking fund only bearing 5 per cent
he neglects to tell you he is equally
responsible for the rate of interest
obtained. never yet heard him
make any complaint in council that
the sinking fund should bear a high
er rate of interest, and the city's
funds have always been, since I have
been mayor, handled entirely by the
clerk, usually by the direction of city
council, and not by one Of its mem
bers.
Mr.. Booth further knows that the
law provides this sinking fund should
be created and when SO created
should be held to retire the bonds at
maturity, and that it would be un-
lawful for the city TO withdraw these
funds and use them for any other
purpose: He neglected to state that,
although he seems to know the law
because he says / ought to know it
is unlawful to use the Jail fund for
any other purposes. never con-
tended it should be used for any 9TH
er purpose, but I did contend and do
now contend il the funds were not to
be used Immediately for the building
OF the jail they should have been
placed where the highest rate of in
terest could be obtained, because that
is what we have done with the city's
sinking fund. AS matter Of fact,
since May 1st we have obtained from
all of the banks of the city Of Sumter
except one which has no part Of this
fund including the bank of which
MFR. Booth is president, rate Of 6
per cent. on the city's sinking
fund. Has Mr.. Booth obtained s per
per cent on the Jail fund? No, he
says he has it under advisement.
wonder hew long he will keep it un-
der Amusement and keep the fund
in the National Bank Of Sumter at 4
per cent.
MIR. Booth says he Is now con-
aemplating and he supposes Mr..
Rowland could agree. to award me
the contract to build the Jail at $780,
600. Everyone knows this answers
no question and is purely puerile. and
is about as puerile as many other
statements made in Mr.. Booths COM
I did state that building
material had gone down considerably.
AS a matter of fact, the same build
ing brick that cost $50 last year can
now be bought for s12.50. Cement
and lime is down almost one-half.
You can get brick laid for about
one-half what you could a year ago,
and all other material has gone down
very considerably. The Jail will be
built mostly out Of brick, cement and
lime; and three Of the principal ma
terials which will be used in the Jail
have gone down practically half.
Therefore. if the Jail could be built
for $4,000 when material and labor
were twice as high as it now is, GER
tainly it could be built now for
about one-half, but Mr.. Booth has
not stated whether the commission
has got any recent estimates, but he
says they have gotten two or three
estimates since money was borrow
ed. He says am the county attorn-
ey. and therefore, was derelict in my
duty for not bringing this matter up
and having it corrected. If Mr.. Booth
had taken the trouble to find out he
would have ascertained the fact that
am only employed to advise the
county board upon their request, and
have never yet suggested any
opinion to the county board. and
have only given them opinions when
called upon. 1 have never attempted
to interfere with their duties as COM
missioners. and I never expect to do
so. because I om not employed for
such purpose.
Mr.. Booth admits the old Jail IS un-
sanitary, but he says whea 1t comes
to building a Jail that will cost a
great deal more than the legislative
delegation contemplated and collect
ing this additional money out of the
taxpayers, that as between the people
that transgress the law and are there
by confined in this unsanitary build
ing and the taxpayers his idea would
be to conserve the taxpayers inter-
est as against the comfort and con-
venience of the law breakers. who
by their own deliberate acts caused
their misfortune Of having to occu-
py the old Jail.
Let's see whether Mr.. Booth is as
careful abut conserving the interest
Of the taxpayers when by so doing it
affects the interest of the institutions
in which he is interested as he is
when hv conserving the taxpayers