The dispatch-news. [volume] (Lexington, S.C.) 1919-2001, 1922-08-23
GEORGE BELL ZIMMERMAN
Cordially yours,
S. Z. SMITH.

Awaiting myself OF your invitation to
| furnish, for publication, short state
ment of my views on public issues,
submit what follows.
The main concern of a LEGISLATOR is.
| or should be, the matter of taxation.
| Ilnseparably connected with it are the
| important subjects OF education and
| good roads, as are other subjects Of
| less general interest, but of impor-
| tance nevertheless.
! All OF US, no doubt, will advocate
| economy, good schools, good roads
and good government; but the ques-
lon is: How alc We 10 get these
| things? \ legislator cannot bring them
10 pass unless he informs himself Oh
| .he fiscal affairs OF ms county aut
state; unless he knows the needs of
both and understands the means a,
hand to meet those needs. Every
| representative should study his
| county's affairs and master them, as
far as that is possible, before tn.
meeting Of the General Assembly. Tne
sessions OF the Geneal Assembly COST,
1 possibly, 100000 per day, and lot
Of the time wasted there is due larse-
ly 10 unDreparedness of members.
They should prepare before the ses-
sion opens and so there ready TO ge.
! down to business.
| Not within my recollection ha:
there been a time when there Wa.
mfoEssneed flt 'sall Of sound principles of econ
ftomy than exists now. In this county.
seven mills Of the taxes for this veal
Fare for debts incurred in the past. /;
Eseems that at least 3 mills wear fol
tahe next two years will have to be
taevied for like purpose. Conside,
Ethis with the fact that there is now
Eunpaid, in this county, more thar
fs6O, OF taxesGior 1921, and tn.
Ilurther fact that there is still unpaid
fsome OF the taxes 10: 1920, and W..
t.need no further argument for econ
| 1omy.
f we cannot econUmize by letting oui
Echildren grow ~ III ignorance: no,
can we do so by allowing such road
Improvements as we have TO 90 tc
fwaste. Let US mark time. if We
Emust; but it would be a CALAMITY.
(Which would take the life of anothe,
3,seneratlon to overcome, should W..
fallow ourselves to go backward.
T AS Z step toward economy, I favo,
oolngT away with useless expenditures
ana useless offices, both county anG
Estate.
/ l can only speak generally. We
/ have useless and unnecessary state or
1lcers and clerks that have been ere.
rated by the General Assembly. Som,
OF them are drawing larger salaries
| tnan our judges, even the members OF
| the Supreme Court not to mention
| the regular line of state officials Gre
ated by the constitution Of our state.
believe that if we do away with
I those that are not needed aud cut the
! salaries Of those who are getting zoo
much, out of proportion 70 ,oihars
that we can then pay the ones who are
| needed more, attract better men TO as
! pire to office. and save the tax-
payers money by the transaction.
We are paying s4,5OO0O ior Ht,ral
| Police, and we don't need then!JThey
| get approximately $4,000 more than
I this county gives to the aid Of its
weak schools. The policemen NAV
nave been needed while the camp was
I'm Columbia, but the camp has gone
and the need fer policemen has gone
also. They cannot be justified on the
feiouilu tnat tney are q financial sue.
cess that the criminals pay theA. sal
ares. The records AZ the court hous,
show this is,not true. Neither can il
! De said that they have reduced
crime because the records Of the
Fcrlminal courts show egal crime ll~s
greatly increased With them. ,I-sdo
! not favor turning theS+eunry o. ;a,o
| lawlessness, but my observation and
investigation have convinced nre tha;
! The Sheriff, with one deputy and the
| Magistrates consuDins, can Lla..!t;t.i,
| order in this county.