The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1922-07-27

get teachers at low salaries, although
he thinks that school funds should be
economically used. He has always
looked out for economy in the legis-
lature.
He is glad that the tax commission
rescinded the order increasing land
assessments in this county. He does
not ask for votes because he is
farmer, but he feels that he is in posi-
ton to understand the needs of the
farmers, and if he is elected ne WILL
serve the county to the best of his
ability.
j. c. kearse, For House.
J. Carl Kearse was the next and
last speaker of the day. Mr.. kearse
thanked the people of Camp Branch
for the magnificent vote given him
two years ago, when he got nearly all
of them. He said that two years ago
the people knew things were going
wrong in Columbia, and that some
one was needed to fight the tendency
there to centralize the state govern
ment. He firmly believes that there
are too many laws on the statute
books now, and his record will show
that he has helped to kill more laws
than he has helped to enact. The
average man can't keep up with the
laws; YOU may be breaking some law
now and not know it, said he. He
thinks about half of the laws might
be dispensed with. When he went to
the house he found everything at the
highest pitch, and he entered into the
fight to put things on sensible ba-
sis. Taxes have been too high and
are still too high. The state was
spending money with a free hand,
and they could not spend it fast
enough, so they began to create new
boards and commissions. The old
line politicians did not want to lower
anything, but they were routed out,
100000 cut off the appropriation
bill, and the levy reduced from IL to
seven mills. Thirty-fve per cent. re-
duction was made in the county taxes.
Bamberg county is one Of the most
economically run counties in the
state, he said. Few have lower lev
les, and Bamberg's taxes are 80 per
cent. lower than the average of the
counties of the state. Regarding road
work, he said the delegation had met
federal aid dollar for dollar, consid-
ering it false economy to miss these
funds; however, no surplus funds
had been appropriated for this pur-
pose, and no bonds issued. He pledg-
ed himself to oppose any county
bond issues.
He thinks it is time to get our
taxes back to where they used to be,
and pledged himself to keep on fight
ing in this direction. We want no
centralized government in Columbia
or Washington. He discussed the
useless commissions and boards" at
some length, and paid his respects
especially to the tax commission, and
to the board Of welfare. The latter
board he considered absolutely with
out excuse for existence. "They pay
some young man from Columbia to
come down here and tell you how to
run your Jail and chain gang" said
he, and the state pays $4,000 for
this service. The tax commission he
considers the most powerful and
dangerous Of all the commissions.
sIt is composed of three men, not
elected by you, but appointed by the
governor, with Is or 20 agents, who
sit in Columbia ond tell you what
your lands in Fish Pond are worth;
any action of your assessors can be
upset by them. They have more au-
thority, in some respects, than the
general assembly or the governor"
This commission is costing the state
this year sS5,050.
He told of the land assessment
matter, and explained that the COM
mission took off the increase because
of fear of being abolished, and re-
lated his connection with this mat
ter. He pledged himself to continue
to oppose the state tax commission,
in answer to question from the au-
dience. He favors liberal treatment
of veterans, and and is a great be-
lever in common schools. He does
not favor prospering colleges at the
expense of common schools. ANY
boy can work his way through col
lege if he wants to-
At His Own Price.