The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-06-11
Further Views on County Court.

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Further Views on County Court.
Editor Daily Item:
! 1t is an acknowledged fact that
self interest is the first law OF nature
and while our friends who are engag-
ed in the practice Of law are very
much in favor Of the county court,
and while / am proud to say that |
am broad enough not to censure them
for it, feel it is not to the best in
terest Of the county to establish such
a tribunal under the present depress-
ed conditions. IT means more litiga-
ton and the further cramping Of
many individuals, who are not able
| TO meet their finantcial obligations
and will not be until times change
/ for the better l understand there
are now TWO thousand tax executions
hanging over the people Of Sumter
county, and common sense teaches us,
if the people had had or could have
gotten the money 70 pay their taxes.
ouch condition would not now be in
existence; and Yet some Of our citi-
Zens axe anxious for county court
! which I understand will cost the peo-
! pie ten thousand dollars year more
70 be heaped upon their already tax
| burdened condition. The calendar.
we are told. is very much congested
and it will take years to clear up the
cases that are now listed but is it not
! just as easy TO postpone or continue
in the county court as il is IL the
circuit? From the standpoint Of lay
/ man there is no difference, and it is
not the fault OF the taxpayers at
large that these cases are carried over
! from one term to another and on
and On. and it must be laid at the
door of those who operate the ma
chinery of the courts. II I was so un-
fortunate as to have a serious case
| in court, whether it be criminal or
civic. and wanted it held off for time
and my lawyer could not get up
pretext upon which 70 base a con-
tinuation, l would feel like I had em-
ploycd the wrong man.
From standpoint Of taxation. we
are now carrying about all we can
stand; but the end is not yet. Our
national income tax is being met by
many Of our citizens and doubtless
| the time will come when the eXemp-
| ton feature will be reduced and many
who are now meeting that oblga-
tion will have it To do; and We see
further, that there is a disposition by
our national legislature 70 impose a
/ j -
the market, which of course will pass
down to the consumer who viii have
to pay or not buy.
Getting back TO county affairs, We
must pay q, tax to raise the money
to meet the interest on the two and
one half million bond issue when the
bonds are sold for the paved roads
and also TO create 4 sinking fund TO
retire the bonds when they mature.
| Notwithstanding many Of us are in ia
vor Of and want the roads, it means
We nlust go down in our pockets for
them. Then again. here comes the
county Jail proposition. of which it is
said will cost fifty or sixty thousand
dollars more. ] wonder ii there is
any way to get modern building,
which is Very much more important
than a county court. ~ithout taxing
the people Of county Taxes. taxes,
taxes and more taxes TO be heaped
on tha, class who havs to dig. a scant
living ont the ground and yet some
Of our people are not III favor Of a
holdup. There is such thing as
laying the straw that breaks the
camePs back and if we don't be a
little more conservative in the way of
taxation such a condition will soon be
staring US in the face. Excessive tax
past. human nature has ever and Will
even be the same consequently we are
not exempt from such q catastrophe.
Trace the history OF Russia back for
| five centuries and YOU will find op
preston and despotism heaped upon
the common people until the souls Of
anarchiSm and bolahevism planted in
their minds having lay dormant for
q long time. finally sprang up and
! developed a spirit OF antagonism and
hatred which in its fury assasSinated
| tHt- lt'du III Inv SONtlIlIftlll III ~
and eyer since turmoil. strife and suf
ieriu@ and death has fe"n the
F, rcigni.l" feature Of that once hum
be peopir. We see signs OF disSatis-
ia ron al work in the great country
Of ours and if We would keep up that
great spirit Of democracy which We
claim TO honor and esteem. We must
NOT burden and chafe the rank anal
lie. of our people With too heavy taxa
tinn.
In conclusion Will say that the
bridge across the Wateree. ii built
Will be another tax that the dear pro-
pie Will have to bring up. and il will
lie Well for taxpayers OF the county 10
consider Well what they are about
next Tuesday. the day set apart for
the election as To whether on not we
will have the county court.
j. {. Dunbar
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