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If You Don’t Read The Chronicle Ton Doa’t Get the News / ' ' Ollinfam Ollfrottirlg C The Chronicle Strires Te Be A Clem News paper, Complete, Newsy Volume LVI Clinton, S. C, Thursdoy, December 1, 1955 Number 4S Survey Shows Omton's fohee Unit Well-Manned Compares With Natioiial r Average With the spotlight of publicity focused no the national crime pic ture, people In Clinton and in most other communities across the country have been taking a second look a<t the adequacy or inade quacy of their police protection. A survey on the subject, made by the International City Man agers association, gives figures on the size and cost of police forces in cities throughout the United States. As of the beginning of this year, the data shows OMnton had e complement of 14 police offi cers and employees on the law en forcement payroll. The local force represented 1.92 employees for every 1,000 resi dents. It was high in comparison wdth the ratio in other cities of its size category, under 10,000 popu lation. They averaged 1.35 cops per 1,000 people. For all the cities, regardless of size, the average was 1.46 per 1,000. ■Many cities throughout the country are under-staffed, accord ing to J. Edgar Hoover, FBI head, in a recent statement. He claimed that police recruitment has failed to keep pace with population growth. This, he said, has been largely responsible for the high nations] crime rate. Especially in urban areas, which have grown more rapidly than ru ral sections, “the average citizen runs a greater risk otf being vic timized,” he said. The amounts spent by cities for the maintenance and operation of their police 'departments vary con siderably. Among cities of Clin ton’s size, the expenditures amounted to an estimated 96.00 per local resident. The national average was $9.15 per capita. The cost flgurea cover payroll, equipment and ail other expendi tures except payments toward re tirement and pension funds. Comparisons of police strength and costs, as between cities, should take in-to account variations in hours worked per week, special traffic problmes and other local factors that call for added person nel, the report notes. Midget Football League Banquet Be Held Tonight The Midget footbaOl league teams will have their banquet to night at 7:30 in the Presbyterian college dining hall. Teams to be represented are: Whitmire, Joan na, Florida, Thornwell, Laurens, Lydia and Academy. Joe Del any will be master of ceremonies. Roquemore Assumes Pastorate Of Bailey Memorial Church The Rev. John P. Roquemore, who was assigned to the Bailey Memorial Southern Methodist church at the annual conference held in Clinton this month, de livered his first sermon here at the morning worship service No vember 20. Mr. Roquemore recently com pleted five years as pastor of the Florence Southern Methodist church. Mr. Roquemore was born in Athens, Ga. He received his edu cation at Martin Institute, Rein hardt college, and Piedmont col lege. As a youth, he was always ac tive in league and church work. Joanna won the league trophy this year, and Robert M. Vance, the donor each year of the league trophy, wall present it ton Runner-up trophy wild go [ to Academy Street. The trophy ywill be presented by Fred Holcombe. A trophy' to the most valuable on defense in the Tom Thumb Bowl will go to Terry Rowe, of Joanna. This will be presented by Pinky Babb, representing Greenwood Supply Company. The most val uable on offenoe goes to Butch Roberts, of Whitmire. This trophy will be given and presented by Radph Crutchfield, of Spartanburg. The runner-up league trophy is given by the CHnton Recreation Commission Silver footballs will be present ed to the all-stars during tiie ban quet by D. S. Templeton. Survey Shows Big Chunk County Residents' Income Claimed By Automobiles How much does it cost residents of Laurens county pee year to op erate their cars? U is a question that owners ask the mantes alien, especially when their inaarance bills come due. Few of ftcoi really know. Figures produced by the Ameri can Automobile Association titow that a car in the popular pries range, driven leas than 18,600 miles ! a year, coete 9602 in fixed chargee and 3.5 cents additional for every mile driven. Applying this average to Laur ens county, where last year’s reg istration showed 12,200 passenger cars in use, pives 911,600,000 as the annual operating expenditure. 11,500 Bream Put In Lake Austin Through cooperation of the Soil Conservation service, 18,500 bream were put in Lake Austin, the city’s new reservoir near Duncan Creek, last week. Next spring 1800 bass will be added. J. B. O’Dell, technician with the Soil, Conservation service, said they will be ready for fish ermen in the spring and summer of 1957. Col. Jeter fosses At Union Soturdoy Col. Rober Ct. Jeter, 55, died Saturday at Union, where he was a prominent business man, and engaged in extensive farming interests. Among his business enterpris- 'es were six auto parts stores, one of which was in Clinton the, Clinton Auto Parts Store on En terprise street. Per oar, it is 9905. This is baaed on local drivers traveling 10,000 miles a year, which average. There is Iktle variation in this respect between urban and rural dwellers. Every day of the year, whether the car is used or not, its owner has a bill of $1.65. This fixed change is for depreciation, by far the largest, property damage and liability insurance ’ ($15,000 and $30,000), and fire and theft cover age. No allowance is made for de ductible collision insurance, which many carry. The fixed daily cost varies somewhat for different areas. As to the 3.5 cents a mile figure, it covers gas, oil, tires and main tenance, including $25 a year for repairs. 'For the driver who registers 10,- miles a year it boils down to an overall cost of 9.5 cents a mile. The 5,000 mile driver fares worse on a mileage basis. His fixed costs are the same and his variable costs come to 9175, a total of 9777. This amounts to 15.5 cents a mile. On the other hand, cars driven 20,000 miles require 91,324 a year, or only 6.6 cents a mile. Laurens county’s filling stations and garages have benefited by the auto boom. Theirj business last year, reports Consumer Markets, climbed to 92,2M,000. Council To Let Contract For Electric Lines On Tuesday The December meeting of dty council will be held Tuesday night at which time the contract for rebuilding the city’s electric system will be awarded. Bids will be received that morning at 10:00 at the city hall. He was licensed to .preach in 1934 in the Athens-Elbe rton district conference of the North Georgia conference of the Methodist Epis copal church. South. During his last year of college, he served as chaplain of the TB sanatorium at Lula, Ga., along with postering two churches in and near Lula. He came to South Carolina in 1939 and has been active In the Southern Methodist church since its continuance. He did supply preaching and received his first appointment at the Turbevill* con ference in June, 1$66. He was or dained deacon in IMS at the Bow man conference and elder hi 1944 at the MlulMns conference. During the years 1940-43, he served at Cameron, RidgeviMe, M* Carmel and Denny Memorial churches. During that time, a church at Ridgeville was erected and com- pletly furnished. He served Trinity church, Mul lins, for the year 1944 and helped to complete the parsonage. The years 1945 and 1646, he was pastor of the Mullins circuit, during which time the Spring Branch church was built and the Ebeneber church was partly completed. He was pas tor of PhiLadeAphia circuit, Dar lington, for four years. He will al so serve the Leesvrlle and Morris Chapel churches in the Clinton area. Mr. Roquemore was married to Miss Sarabel Gamble, of Turbe- ville in 1942. They have two sons, John Pete and CharKon Gam bit*; and a daughter, Sara Alice. Mr. and Mrs. Roquemore have been active in all phases of church work. They have given much of their time to the young people’s work and were promoters of the i Young People’s assembly. Mrs. Roquemore is at present secretary of the annual conference, state treasurer of the Woman’s Mis sionary society, president of the Woman’s Missionary council, and director of Yeung People’s assem bly, Camp S-tM, Cameron. Christmas Parade At 5:00 P.M. Today To Be Seen By Thousands Bands, Floats, Lights To Provide Thrilling Event Start Christmas Mailings, Urges Postmaster Adair “It’s time to start those Christ mas mailings.” Postmaster Wil liam D. Adair warned today. “On the calendar it’s less than a month away but here in the post office it’s Christmas today—and every day until December 25,” he said. Arrangements are being made to handle a record quantity of mail for the holiday season this year. Juniors To Present Play Next Friday Today Is S-D Day 'Today, S-D Day. is our op portunity- to prove that we can drive and stay alive." Chief Highway Commissioner Claude R. McMillan, State D- Day director, said today. Although December 1 is the official Safe Driving Day. every day is the day to obey the spirit and letter of our traffic laws. Mr. McMillan said. * South Carolina began keep ing a daily tally of traffic ac cidents. deaths and injuries for the 21-day "Safe Driving pe riod, November 1 through December 11. The goal of the program is to substantially reduce traffic accidents and deaths during the entire S-D period and completely elimi nate highirey accidents. injur ies and deaths for the 24 hours of today, 8-D Day. PC Campaign At Halfway Mark In Clinton Area Contributions to Presbyterian College’s Diamond Jubilee De velopment Program have mount ed to 9105,564 in the home area campaign. This total was registered at the second report meeting held in the PC dining hall Tuesday night. It represents just under one-half of the goal of $250,000 set for Laurens and Newberry counties as the home solicita tions drive passes its mid-point Two other report meetings are scheduled before the Region One campaign closes on December 12 The figure of $105,564 repre sents a gain of $20,596 over the past week, with $10,269 raised and this total matched by a simi lar amount from the anonymous gift of 97*,000. Thus far orgnaization workers have solicited $52,782 in the home area, which has been matched dollsr-for-dollar by the anonymous gift to make the Reg ion One total reach $105,564. There remains in this large do nation offered on a matching basis up to $75,000 a total of $22.- 218 yet to be matched. Robert M. Vance, chairman of the home area campaign, presid ed over the Tuesday night meet ing. The group of solicitors was addressed by state representa tive Robert Wasson, who serves as chairman for Laurens county. Ringing the victory bell on this occasion was Kenneth Baker as captain of the team reporting the hijtfiest amount raised. His group brought in subscriptions total ing $1,065. The home area totals by cit ies now stands at: Clinton—$36, • 821; Luarens—$6,199; Whitmire —$5,465, Joanna —$1,665; Cross Hill — $1,725; and Newberry— $907. Presbytreian College is launch ed upon a long-range develop ment program for $2,000,000, which seeks $750,000 within the two controlling Synods of Geor gia and South Carolina the first year. High School Juniors To Present Play Next Friday Night “Best Foot Forward” is the name of the three-act play which the junior class of Clinton high school will present Friday, 1 De cember 9, in the high school au ditorium. Many remember this play as the Broadway hit star ring June AUyson and Lucille Ball. The characters are: Dutch— Billy Eldridge; Hunk — Alan ’grammell; Green — Raymond Kuykendall; Satchel — John Franklin; Mr. Reeber — Robert Horton; Miss Smith — Florence Winn; Minerva — Mary Keith Adair; Ethel—Jenny Addison; the blind date—Dessie Jean Rob erts; Miss Delaware Water Gap —Sara Pitts; Old Grad—Tommy Butler; Bud—Jim Casque; Pro fessor Lloyd — George Blalock; Gale — Margaret Anne Bolick; Jack Haggerty—Hub Adair; Hel en—Jackie Livingston; Chester— Tommy Blcakmon. The play will be directed by Mrs. James Von Hollen. with and advertising adviser. Tickets Mrs. Lewis Wallace as business will be sold at the door. Mrs. Ayhffe Jacobs spent the week-end in Marietta, Ga., with bar daughter, Mrs. Ken Bogle, end Mr. Bogle. To Greet Friends Today The Chronide To Publish Series Children's Photos Three hands, 12 to 15 floats, and Santa Claus will feature Clinton’s Christmas parade when it gets underway this after noon at 5:00 o’clok, The garade, sponsored by the merchants division of the Chamber of Commerce, is expected to be the best presented in Clinton in iWent years. , t stitutions of the city are cooperat- A new departure for the pa-*. rade this year will be the telling of in « m ^ «*«*• 11 the Christmas story in the flooL stated by Chamber of Commerce entered Only floats that base a officials. pan in developang this theme wiii 1 Many colored lights which have be in the line. been strung in the business area Churches, clubs, schools and in- during the past week by the water and light department of The city will be turned on to add to the pleasure at the oocasion and dur ing the Christmas season. Chief of Police R B Ballard and ms force will direct traffic in all areas acfjacent to the parade area In the line of march vriH be the Chnton high school band, the Presbyterian college RC/PC band, and the Bell Street high school band, the Blue Bird and Camp Fire girls. Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, children on bicycles and ponses. County Livestock Producers Merge With Farm Bureau The Laurens County Livestock Producers association voted to disband the asscouuton and merge with the Laurens County Farm Bureau at a meeting at the agricultural building in Surens j ^ ^ last Frdiay night. It is an undisputed fact that the responsibilities of tomorrow’s world, our nation, and community will rest upon the shoulders of the children at today. Since this is true, the publishers of this news paper would like to give you a good look at these future “World Builders.” The only way we can do this is by publishing pictures of them in a feature series. To assure the la test and best reproduction pictures . . . they must all be of uniform size and quality ... we have in vited the WoKz Studios of Des Moines, Iowa, a nationally known portrait studio, 'to take these spe cial pictures for us. An expert children's photog rapher for the studios, with all the necessary equipment for this spe cialized work, will be here Decem ber 10. Pictures will be taken at Hotel Clinton and will be open from 10 a. m. to 7 p. m. Na Charge To Parents There is no charge to the pa rents. There are absolutely no strings to this invitation. It is bonafide m every sense of the word. Parents do not have to be subscribe™, nor even readers of this newspaper to take advantage of this feature. Neither are they obligated to purchase pictures aft er they are taken. Those who want some additional prints may obtain a limited number bty arrangement with the studio representative when they select the pose they want printed In the paper. It is entirely up to them. The More Pietoras. The Better The Chronicle simply wants pic tures of all the youngsters and the more, the better. So the moth ers and fathers of the community in which this paper circulates should remember the date, De cember 10, at 10 a. m. and not fad to bring their children to the photographer. You will be mighty glad, after wards, if you did, and very, very sorry if you do not permit your children to participate in this Workman Is Officer And Director Of S. C. Form Bureau C. R. Workman, of Kinards, was named a vice-president of the South Carolina Farm Bureau at its recent meeting. He was also re-elected a director, and will attend the first meeting of the new board of directors in Co lumbia on Friday. Local Guardsmen To Train At Camp Stewart July 22-Aug. 5 Clinton’s National Guard bat tery, 107th AAA AW battalion, will go to Camp Stewart, Ga., July 5 for their summer training it has been announced. The 95th Army Band, also a Clinton unit, will go to Camp Stewart on the same date. Attends Meeting In Miami, Fla. Dr. George C. Belting rath, aca demic dean at Presbyterian col lege, is spending the week in Mi ami, Fla., where he is attending the meeting of the Southern Asso ciation of Cottages and Secondary He wm accompanied to Miami by Mrs. BeMingrath event. The kiddies will have much fun and both mother and dad— and the youngsters, too—will be very proud to see their pictures in print later. Christmas Pageant Scheduled For Dec. 13 At Local High School “His Star.” a Christmas pag eant. featuring both a musical and a speech choir, will be given for the Florida Street P.-T.A in the Clinton high school auditor ium on Tuesday, December 13, at 8:00 P. M. The public is in vited to attend with no admis sion being charged. Directed by Mrs. James Von’To Present New Cantata Hollen. this performance whl be Evening, Dec. 1 1 L. .L. Norton, manager of Creekland Farm, president of the stock Producers Association, pre sided. Mr. Norton was recently named president of the South eastern Shorthorn Breeders As sociation. It was pointed out in discus sion at the meeting that preati- cally all members of the live stock group are also members of the Form Bureau. The work of the cattle breeders, it was said, will be pushed through the live stock committee of the Farm Bu reau. The livestock men heard two talks at the meeting by Bill Huntley and Hank Commer, both connected with the Greenwood packing plant. Mr. Huntley spoke from the standpoint of what consumers demand in meat, and Mr. Com mer stressed preparation of cat tle for market by proper feeding Floats will be entered by Thorn- . well orphanage. First Baptist clinton - church. First Presbyterian church. County Lave- club, Joanna Baptist church. Broad Street Methodist church, Whitten Village, Clinton public schools, Lydu Methodist church, Kawams cduh, Presbyterian col lege, Laurens County Fum Bu reau. and probably two or three visiting floats from oat of town. The committee making irraM* merits for the parade is beaded by Fred E. Holcombe, —t by Mae Adair, Jim Wolfe, Thurston GO**, W. C. Baldwin, Joe McGee md Gary Holcombe. The manballing area for uuts in the parade will be an Celbaua street off South Broad. Presbyterian Cftair Mrs. Townsend To Give Program On Christmas Decorations Today moderated by Neil Dailey, with Barbara Wolfe and Theda Sub- lett as soloists and Ethel Mae Rowe as accompanist. Taking the parts of the singing choir and the speech choir will be the Clinton high school Glee club and Speech Class, respectviely. The Parent-Teacher Associa tion of Florida Street school is presenting this program for a purpose best stated in the intro duction to the play: ‘There is a growing corfcern among many thoughtful people over the way in which Christmas is’ celebrtaed today. They feel that Chnst should be put back into Christ mas. Here is a true Christmas worship service It points out what Christmas should mea^ to all of us.” * The Daffodil Garden dub of Laurens wdl present Mr*. C.%P. Townsend tn a program of TTirwt mas Ideas'* on heme decorations at the new Laurens hidi school auditorium today at 3:30 p. m. Mrs Townsend is wall known through this area as a lecturer and authority on flower arrange ments. She is a corawtent blue nbbon winner and holds mwxy awards for sweepstakes and tri- terian church on Sunday evening. <***• mcitk g Vfam ^ She is a na tionally accredited judge and the president of her garden dub The Sung of the Angels,’ - a new Christmas cantata by Van Den man Thompson, will be presented by the choir at the First Presby- December 11, at 7:30. B Shockley Hall, of Charlotte, has been asked to sing with the n , choir which will be augmented by . ex P* ct «^ Clm- a number of voices from other | New bony, .Anderson, Green- church choirs ! Vlik ‘ ** otb " m Sw sur- Mrs. J. Ferdinand Jacobs, church | rourwl *"k *e*a. organist and choir director, is in Mrs Townsend intends to bring charge of arrangements for the j 1X11 a** religious aspect in her ar- cantata and Mxs B O Whitten is rangements as well as the decor*- chairman of decorations tlv * Much interest is being shown » locally too and it is rxpectod that Miss Louise Tribble of Atlanta, a large attendance will be there, will arrive today for a several Tickets may be obuaied trom days visit with her -arents, Mr garden club members or at the and Mrs. W B Tribble door Mayor Makes Report on Gty Affairs In keeping with our conviction 1 that it is one of the essential duties of a Democratic govern those others paying for its ser- ment to keep its citizens and vices fully informed os to their government we ore publishing in TTie Chronicle a balance sheet akmg with income and expendi tures of the audit recently com pleted by Palm and Harris, certi-j tied public accountants. This is in effect on accounting of the stewardship of your elected of- fiials in the management of your municipal government on your behalf. A glance at the financial state ment printed in The Chronicle reveals that the management of your city government has be come a big business, invlovmg the collection and expenditures of approximately $450,000.00 a year. The Town of Clinton has expanded in size, more and bet ter services, thereby creating a complexity fo operation which needs a professional approach The accounting and bookkeep ing of the Town of Clinton has always been kept on a cash basis. The-.auditors have recommended and made an audit for the past year on an accrual basis. The auditors recommend this type of audit, indicating that it gives a Town’s condition. The accrual more realistic picture of the basis takes into consideration ac counts as they accrue rather than as they are collected and paid out 1)16 cash basis takes into consideration accounts as they are collected and paid out rahter than when they accrue. The ultimate conclusion of the two methods will be the same, but it is a different approach in handling of accounts. During the fiscal year ending August 31, 1955. your Town Council put into operation a Bond Commission as authorized by the South Carolina legisla ture at the request of the Coun cil, which provdied for the su pervision of the bonded indebt edness of the Town of Clinton. All moneys collected from the thirty-mill tax levy ‘ shall be turned over to the Bond Com mission as collected and the Bond Commission will have con trol of these funds and the pay ment of future interest' and bonds as they mature During the fiscal year ending August 31, 1955, the Town of Clinton paid off outstanding bonds in the amount of $263.- 500.00 and interest in the amount of $26,333.75. (During this fis cal year the Town issued $100.- 000.00 refunding bonds in order to assist in the payment of the above referred to bonds which were due.) During the fiscal year the Town of Clinton issued $200,000.00 of general obligation electric light system improve ment bonds. The proceeds of these bonds ore to improve our electric system. The contract for this improvement is to be let De cember 6. The total outstanding bonded indebtedness of the Town of Clinton as of September 1. 1955. amounted to $761,000.00. During the past year of un surpassed prosperity, with new buildings and new automobiles appearing on every hand, the to tal assessed value of our prop erty only increased by $6,670 00. This is a graphic commentary of the inadequacy of our tax as sessment system The total as sessed value of all automobiles, all the inventories all the ma chinery, and all the land and buildings m the Town of Clinton is only $2,041,910.00. It is an absurdity that not only hampers your city, but it cripples our hard - prsesed school system, which is likewise heavily de pendent upon property taxes for its support. That is why your city officials, and other city of ficials throughout the state .have been persistently urging that a general reassessment of property for tax purposes be undertaken without delay Durmg the past year your elected officials adopted a budg et for the operation of town af fairs Each deparmtent appear ed before the budget commlttea and gave a detailed outline of the requirements necessary tor the operation of his department The heads of each department became enthusiastic about the budget, and they each month a detailed (continued on pegs 4)