The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1922-08-17
RESPECTS to the welfare board and

MISSION Claimed 10 nave put oIe HuH-
dred million dollars on the tax books,
but how did they do it? By doubling
up on the banks, merchants and other
business houses, and increasing on
| lands of the farmers.
Bamberg county can take care of
itself without the aid of the boards.
| He said that he had never charged
Mr.. Riley with supporting the tax
commission He is in favor Of the
highway commission to certain eX-
tent. 1t is necessary, he said, in ord
er to get federal aid for roads, but it
is too costly. 1t is costing the state
100000 this year, and at that the
county must pay for the engineering
service of the roads. They want
$3.50 to survey the road through
Bamberg, and any local surveyor
! would be glad to have the job for
SO or so. He is also opposed to the
| paying of 20 per cent. of the automo-
bile license fees to the commission,
which has amounted in the last few
years to $4,000 to $4,000; he pro-
poses to offer a bill to keep this
money at home. 1t is time to call
halt and make a fight on these ex
pensive practices.
He also discussed the state board
of health, which he said cost the
state $4,000 this year, of which
amount Bamberg pays several thous-
and dollars, and in return gets about
$50 worth of free serum. He wants
it understood that he has not and
will not oppose any essential appro-
priations. He discussed the pro-
posed reform bills, and says he is in
favor of all Of them; they are all
right, and will assist in adjusting
taxes, but we need something more
| than readjustment; we must cut OF
all useless expenses. He favors tight
ening up on the labor laws and will
work for the same if reelected; fav-
ors liberal treatment of the old sold
iers and pledged his support to the
| common schools.
MIR. Riley for Reelection.
Mr.. Riley was well received by his
| home people, as, indeed, were all the
candidates. Mr.. Riley extended
cordial welcome to all visitors on be-
half of Denmark, and launched i'm
! mediately into a tax discussion. Mr..
Riley said he is not in favor Of high
taxes; he wants them to be as low as
| possible, but he does not believe the
people want to see any of the colleges
or state institutions closed for the
want of funds, or the pension Of the
old soldiers taken from them. He
told why our taxes are high, and re-
cited some of the remedies therefor.
| Taking a local example, he pointed
to the high school building at Den
mark, for which, he said, bonds had
been voted when things were high;
likewise Denmark had voted 100000
in bonds for waterworks. These
things are all right; they show prog
| ress, but the fact remains that Den
mark people are paying five mills
on the school bonds and eleven mills
on the water works bonds, and will
do so for many years to come; in fact
one-third Of their taxes go to these
two objects.
The legislature had worked hard
on the tax matter, and had succeeded
in pairing off 100000 of expenses
last session; the county appropriations
had been made as low as possible,
and IS per cent. Of our taxes are
spent here in our county. He thinks
we should hold up on road construc-
ton for a while, and only use the
chain gang, and get down to rock
bottom economy. He realizes that
the institutions spend too much mon
ey, and believes that central board
of trustees will simplify the mat
ter and prevent SO much rivalry be-
tween the colleges. We must have
reform in taxes, he said, and ex-
hibited his chart showing the old and
new sources of taxation under the tax
reform bills, some of which have al
ready become law, the purpose of
these bills being to distribute taxes
equitable and relieverealpr property of
the heavy burden it now bears.
Regarding the new commissions
Mr.. Riley said that he had not voted
for a single one of them, but if all
of them were cut off only one-fourth
| of a mill in taxes would be saved,
| and if every state officers salary and
that of their assistants were cut off,
it would only save half mill, there
fore real relief must come through
tax reforms. All of the reform bills