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~ ESTABLISHED 1844 fc Hie Press and Bannei ABBEVILLE, S. C. - - K In. P. GREENE, Editor. m: . The Press and Banner Co. Published Every Tuesday and Frida Telephone No. 10. I P Entered as second-class mail mat tar at do it office in Abbeville, S. C Terms of Subscription: One year ' $1.5 S&' Six months .7 Three months .5 Payable invariably in advance. _ Friday, March 1, 1918. I POWERS OF THE COMMISSIONERS ' We promised in our last issue t< . give to our readers the law relatinj to the powers of the Commissioner ?f Public Works, which officers ar< to be elected in the coming genera election in this city. It will be rem cohered that/the general law on th< object provides for three commis aimers,s whose terms of office ar< x years, except that at the firsl election under the law, when bond: an voted, one shall be elected foi Hair sears, another for four, and another for sik years. We will call the attention of our readers to a serious difficulty in the application Kr \ the law to our Case in another g-i We are now interested in the powers conferred By the law on m tftiese. officers. In readfng-the-section from which j|y r we quote below it will be recalled flat it has been stated' by some persons that the Board of C'ommission?sa act under the authority of the ?ity council, obtain their approprifcn from the city council, and do Mt, therefore, act independently. [0; . This we declared' in our last issue p/ (* be an incorrect interpretation of . / tfce Ihwi. The reading of the section hhi will prove this, we think. Section 3JQ17 of the Civil Code of ISlfiL n?w of force, reads as fol ? lows: The Law u it if Writ. Sec. 3017. Powers of Comnissioners of Public Works? Reports' Concurrence of Coun? cH.?Said Board of Commissioners of Public Works shall be vested with authority to g . - hdd or contract for building . ?aid wafer works and said elec. , r . trie fight plant and to operate g> . * Bine, and shall have full conI / trol and management of same. They may supply and furnish P",' wafer to the citizens of said ' cities and towns and also elec' trie, gas or other light, and may y : > "" require and exact payment of ^ such rates, tolls and charges as ' fkey may establish for the use of " crater and lights. They may sell ancT dispose of said bonds and apglythe proceeds, or so much thereof as may be necessary, to?& wards the purchase of or payment for said plants: Provided, That the said Board shall make a full statement to the ?> City or Town. Council at the end of each month of their receipts and disbursements of all kinds during, the preceeding month. They shall have no power to incur any indebtedjiasa: without the concurrence of such Council. Absolute and Arbitrary Power. We contend that, subject to the limitation that this Board of Com missioners cannot "incur any indebt edness" without the concurrence oJ the city council, these commission ers are no more subject to the con trol of the city council than the di rectors of the Seaboard Air Lin< Railway or the directors of the Ab beville Cotton Mills. Of course i w3I be admitted that the limitatioi 0P + referred to is an important one Sat in its practical application i amounts to little. Abbeville is no\ where we must have water am Sights. We suppose that everybod; will admit that proposition. Now w will say that the Board of Commis mot frt flip citv council. "W want to spend five thousand dollar for a steam plant to run the lighti and must borrow the money to bu 3L" The council says, "No, we d act eoftcur, buy your power froi V ' ' the Savannah River." The Com? migsioners refuse to do so. They are as fixed in their position as the council. What are to do? Would the council not be forced to comply with the wishes of the Board of Commissioners, or put it in the power of the Commissioners to obtain a concurrence by shutting down the y plants, or by failing to operate them in a proper manner? Can we expect any good results to come from divided authority in this matter. !, Shifting Responsibility. Then again, if these commissioners are charged with knowing the | wants of the enterprises, will the 0 city council not be disposed either g to agree with them in all matters and allow them to contract all the debts they desire, placing the re sponsibility for mistakes with the officers whom the people have charged with looking after these enterprises; or, if the council will not do this, will it not amount to ' an eternal conflict of authority in which the Commissioners will ?al5 ways want what council will not want, or in which the council will 3 generally Tefuse what the commis2 sioners demand, with the result that * the service to the residents of the city will grow more and more unsatJ isfactory, with each body always charging the other with the fault. The Rub. } Leaving out this one matter, we . assert again that the Board of Com. miaainrierc nf Pllhlfa Works is as in I dependent a governing body of these J t enterprises as are the directors of t any private corporation. In the , language of the statute, this Board will "have full control and managej ment of the same." And what does j this mean? It means that this j Board, if it is composed of Mr. 1 Anderson's friends, will have power ! to keep him in office for four years, j it matters not how arbitrary he may become in his dealings with the j public, nor how unsatisfactory his i work becomes. It means on the other hand that notwithstanding 2 Mr. Anderson may be the best man obtainable for the position two men j in office for four years, with no j roannnsihilitv to the Deoole until the . 1 expiration of that time, will have the power to kick him out of office, f whether the pepole want him or not. More Salaries Always. ? It means, moreover, that these commissioners will have the author- < ity to increase salaries as they see < fit, hire additional men as they see I fit, fit up offices, have stenographers I and other help according to their whim, and generally to do as they please. It means, if it means any- 3 thing, that this Board may vote t themselves salaries according to \ their estimate of their own worth and pay it out of the income of the r plant. It means that they can ex- ? pend the income of the plant in 3 numberless ways that the people of 1 the city would not approve without any chance to call them to account- ^ ability (and the net income of these ) ~ 1 cVlfUllH I | piUIlUj IX piupcujr uiiuiHgvu, y j be several thousand dollars per year.) 1 More High Priced Pipe. ] It means that the Superintendent, j whoever he may be, might decide j that the piping on Main street should j I be taken up and larger piping put down, because perhaps a little sand had been pumped into the pipes, or \ had gotten into it in some way, and ( this work might be done and paid ] -for out of the income of the plant ; just as Mr. Anderson had the council, at a called meeting when certain members were out of the city 1 - (about which we will write later) to buy another pipe line to carry - water from the upper reservoir to P thp numDinc station, the one al ready in use having gotten full of! * sand or roots, which he claimed] -J could not be gotten out. It means - j a great many things which any sen-1 sible man can easily see by reading t it and giving it a little study. How * long we wonder would it be until > this unbridled commission, followt ing Mr. Anderson's lead, would de* cide to buy an automobile in which i j the Superintendent and the com Y missioners could make trips of me spection over the city and to the ' i- plant, water sources, etc. Surely e these men would not wffnt to walk. '3 The High Cost of Living. >, What else? This commission, or y two members of it, in office for four o years, desiring to put over some pet n scheme which the income of the M > r plants do not justify or desirin more salaries or more men unde their employ, may "exact paymen of such rates, tolls and charges a they may establish" in order t carry out their schemes, and th people will have no relief agains the expenditures except through repeal of the provision which ha just been enacted, by the legislature In other wordfi, with the one es ception with rei?ard to incyrrin indebtedness a board has been es tablished to take charge of the pre perty of the taxpayers of this citj possessing arbitrary powers, with out responsibility to any person, am the term of office is such that th people may expect no relief frori what they do except through Ion] periods of waiting, unless the legis lature relieves us from the troubl are sure to have. Will the People Submit? ; In view of these suggestions i must seem important to the tax payers of this city to agree on i ticket of three men, "good am uuc, vribu Itw maw iui uuiuc^ Will will be willing to serve the public ai managers of these plants, until wi can have the legislature restore thf status existing before this legisla tion was had. Men who create of iices or have them created, shoulc not be trusted to fill them. A planl worth one hundred and fifty thou sand dollars should not be made tht play-thing of a few politicians whc want to rule everything. The people - should assert their authority when it comes to the management of their own property. The taxpayers of this city may agree on a ticket and support it and save tb< iay, or they may turn the plants >ver to those who* made the offices ind desire to fill them. It is up tc ;he tax-payers. THE KAISER. <Atlanta ueorgian-j The Eatser is one of a thousand tilers that have taken as models the rreat successful killers and rulers? Alexander,. Caesar, Napoleon?and >een led1 to destruction by a dream >f power beyond their capacity. The three great world warriors iad one thing in common. They vent STRAIGHT TO SUCCESS. What they began they finished? it least until1 the end overtook them ?Napoleon- caged at St. BTelena, Caesar murdered by his friendB, Alsxander dead m early youth after billing: his best friend in a drunken irawl. The Kaiser, now in the fourth rear of attempt to play Alexander, he Great, must be asking himself vhat is the matter. Alexander did not begin a war, narch a little way in it, and then itand still with his people starving rear after year. HE WENT CHROUGH. Does ) it perhaps occur to the vould-be Napoleon of Pbtsdam that le is of the wrong period, wrong )reed, and wrong kind? Does he forget how easily Napoeon played with the present Kaiser's fiohenzollern acestors?an out as eiicient against Napoleon as so many jrewery wagons against a modem nilitary "tank?" The Kaiser overlooked the fact that the men whom he admired became great because they DID NOT MODEL THEMSELVES ON OTHERS. Alexander the Great did not loot up to any killer as his great model The man that he admired was Aristotle, the Greek philosopher and naturalist. More money than he in herited from his own father Alex ander spent on researches, natura history collections and other worl carried on to please Aristotle. Alexander would not have beei Alexander if he had been a men fighting maniac, with some fighter a; his model of greatness. And Caesar was not a mere fight er. He was a statesman, a mai meeting with intelligent counter plotting the keen intelligence o Cicero, dealing with and overcominj the opposition and hatred of th? conservative senate, handling, un derstanding, and U9ing the people? WITH THEIR CONSENT ANI APPROVAL. And Napoleon, the Corsican bo; made wise by watching the Frencl revolution, how different he frox the autocratic "me and God" inheri \ g tor of Bismarck's power and army, ir Napoleon was a fighter. That was it only one part. uj See the letters he wrote to the 0 people that he aent to rule Germany e for him?he did not bother to go it himself?it wasn't necesss.ry. What a the Hohenzollernu and the other ? Germans had built up he could handie with the littlo finger of his left > hand. g Study Napoleon and you will find i- no man merely planning wholesale murder. He wanted to conquer the r> world as part of other plans. He i- was a lawmaker, he was a strange d survival of the Italian period of e Benvenuto. But he was no half a German, half Hun, wholesale mur? derer. He was a thinker. e ? What will history say of this Hohenzollern?William the Second, the t last that will possess and exercise - power on the earth? a What will be written about him 1 when the change shall have occurred > that yon see in this picture?hair, 3 mustache, eyes, flesh gone?and only i the bones and teeth left, resting, ? perhaps in some royal grave, rot ting perhaps in some ditch where . the mob will have buried the wouldl be "world ruler?" t The world will say that this Kaiser . was as much out of date as the oci casional wolf found1 in a civilized > country or the stray bear that wan ders down into a Catskill village r from the mountains. ; . His day was pa3t. His blood mix tore was bad?as shown in his det formed arm, his constant illnesses, ? and the moral idiocy that led him p into the present disastrous underr1 taking'. i ?t ! j :i r< >> x luirc uicauicu ui uciiuaii) ( worfd dominion." He dreamed of emulating- the accomplishments of the great world fighters and killers. But in him THEY would see nothing but the pitiful, run-down, tail| end,- dying' representative of that which wair real in their day and usej ful because their armie? carried I civilization with them?that which is unreal, unnecessary, and horrible in this day of the Hohenzollern whose anrry carries with it nothing s but drunllcen, insane ambition, brutality and autocracy. i Mir. AND1 MRS. POPE. Bliss Vani'e Carroll and Mr. Clif- 1 ford Pope were married in Athens on Monday, where the bride was in 1 college. They came to Abbeville to spend a couple of days with Mr. 1 Pope's sister, Mrs. J. Irwin Gilmer. 1 Dr. and' Mrs. Gilmer invited a few of their most intimate friends Wednesday evening1 to meet them ] Cards were enjoyed after which ? ? ?. j nn. _ reiresnmems were aervea. ine cv- s r ening was pleasantly spent by those i present. i Testerdky Mr. and Mrs. Pope re; turned ta Atlanta, where they will make their home. Mrs. Pope is very attractive and charmed those who were fortunate enough to meet j i her. Mr. Pope is a young man of 1 fine qualities. j i t GREAT $3,000,000 EDUCATIONAL ( CAMPAIGN AMONG THE PRESBYTERIANS < I I The Presbyterians of the South 1 ' wiTl begin March 1st, a great cam^ ' - paign in the interest of the benevo* ' lent work of that church. They ; propose to fill every pulpit in the . Southern Church with speakers on - the first three Sundays of March, t town and country, and after ftally - instructing the people on the sub ject of STEWARDSHIP, they pro1 pose to make the EVERY MEMc -BER CANVASS on the third Sunday and the week follovring, secur1 ing subscriptions beginning April i 1st, for the twelve months follow3 ing, and their aim is to have sub-' scribed $3,000,000. Last year the - church grave $2,000,000 to benevol lences. They propose to increase it -| 50 per cent, for Sunday, marcn ora. f The following appointments for X speakers have been made for e churches of Abbeville County: Bethia?Mr. J. M. Nickles, 3:30 - P. M. ) Calhoun Falls?Rev. J. A. Clotfelter, 3:00 P. II. 7 Donalds?Rev. H. C. Fennel, 3:30 h P. M. a Hopewell?Rev. J. B. Hillhouse, i- 11:00 A. M. - ? u(htr tht Top of Luck and G ov TI i'T ( % ?aa b Serg't Arthui Serg't Empey's ping story of the nrintwl in insta r?? Twenty-seven c ing adventures and 1 events that befell th . time he passed from < place in the human w; civilization and frightfi Serg't Empey i , who enlisted in th bearing of the sinkir He writes in a straight 11 experiences "oyer ther I cor own American oqj I OVERT ' 4 V I ! 1 WHl Be Plrlnt ? Of THIS N ! -1 * il . Lebanon?Rev. iR IT. Douglas, j 1:30 P. K. ! -'Wl 1 Mt. Carmel?Mr. C. D. Bfrowir,. 1 Providence?Rev. J. M. Dallas, < 11:00 A. M. ' Rocky River?Ren. J. A. CIotfeF- j :er, 11:00 A; M. ] Warrenton?Mr. J: M'. Nicklfes; L1:00 A. IT ^ Sunday school at Warrentbir wBT ] >e changed from tBe^ afternoon fibr ] ;hat day tto OTiSlT A M*. ] Willingtbn, though not now fro ] A.bbeviH^ Gdunty,. will have* Iftc. . D. Brown'at 11 A. M; t These appointments as given; may J serve to correct appointments previously madfe and ih- which-, tHec generil public i$ ihterestfedi i FLAGS. A lirge United States- Fl&g and' i solid? blue flag- bearing the inscription "Men Wanted for the Army ind Navy?'; is waving in t&f breezes from one of the upper windows 3f tlto> Post Office;. | ] ?. V W CANDIDATES ANNOUNCED V j W V , WVVVWVVVVVVVVW j (AH advertisements in tkit column 1 cash in advance.) ( J. ALLEN LONG is hereby an- 1 nounced as a candidate for Mayor ^ in the coming Democratic primary ^ election, subject to the rules of the* ' party and he pledges himself to j abide its result. 1 < Notice of Democratic i Primary Election! j, , i FOR MAYOR AND SIX ALDER- , MEN IN THE CITY OF ABBEVILLE. , * i Notice is hereby given that a < Democratic Primary Election will < be held Tuesday, March 19th, 1918, J for the purpose of choosing a Mayor 1 and one Alderman from Ward One; < Two Aldermen from Ward Two; I one for full term and one for unex- < pired; two Aldermen from Ward < Three, one for full term and one for unexpired term; one Alderman i t - I ! With the Best iveThemHelir ' . " Vi TZ T> Jclx iEi DPI r Guy Empey \ f f r . vivid and gripgreat war will be llments iatMs paper. haptersofexritheait-stirringaction; isonemaiyfromthe avilian life to take- ta* all that standi between .> illness. ' ,< ' : <i i, ' .. :;i is an American e British Army an ; | ig of the "Lusitamai"' ; forward way afdiift Qwai e," of the life in wfakfc fs are entering; iv- 1 S HE TOP ed Exclusively/ \ Jb WSfAfCK. ' I r 11 , ?w?ifcM i i i for Ward Four. As Democratic Nominees to be voted for at the elec;ion to be held on the second Tueslay in April, 1918. Pledges must be filed and fees ' raid to the City Clerk not later than March 14th, 1918. Managers of Election:- At Shops,. J r. L. Clark, James Tfcggart, L. W. Oansby; at Cotton MiTld; J&hn T:. > Evans, A. H. Barnett, and" Jl Bl. langley; at City Hall; FT W. R:. , *J"ance, T. C. Seal and'C.' A'. Botta. ^ ' j SKonld second primary- be necessary it will be held ' Tttesdiy, MarclL >ClL 1Q1Q U4B? M. J. A9HEEY; Chairman Dfemoeratir B3ce?cotit?> Committee. i-15-2t "Feb. 22; . . i > f MASTER'S SALE. STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA,. I County of Abbeville. I Court of " Common Plea* I MRS. MARY A. MfeCALLA, 1 against 9 PAT CALHOUN; 1 By aathority of a Decrae of Skte B )y the* Court of Common Pleas fbr H Abbeville County, in said State, nadfer in the adove stated case, I will" offer for sale, at Public Outcry, I it- Abbeville C. H., S. on Sales- fl iajr in March-, A. D., 1918, within I fte legal hours of sale, the fot- . lowing described land, to. wit: All * H * r,H that tract or parcel of land situate, lying and being in Abbeville Conn- H ty, in tbe State aforesaid, contain- H TI*a?bo?/I ?n/1 Q?v TTnn/iroH illg UUC X UUUOaillA CtUU IJtA Seventy Eight and 3-10 (1678 3-10) H Acres, more or less, as per plat of r. FL Verdell, Surveyor, dated Juno 2nd, 1916, and including the tract known as the Speer tract and Moseley tract. |H TERMS OF SALE?One-half 9 Cash, balance on a credit of twelve months with interest at seven per centum, to be evidenced by the Bond HJ 3f the purchaser, second by a mort?age of the Real Estate secured by H| the mortgage debt herein, the pur? :haser to pay for all papers and Hi revenue stamps; the purchaser, how IH ever, having the right to pay all fl| :ash. R. E. HILL, 2-15-3t Master A. C., S. C, N ' I > n m