Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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comments on men and things > (Uy Spectator) lUvo wu completed the main nrtcr ul ostein of etuto highways? Are we upending a considerable part . ,l,o gasoline and car-license revonue'i"1 ,ocal cOUDlry rottt,M? 1 11. ro ha? been iw dispassionate (lis uasion of our highway questions for ... vears Most of the discussion gpine has been either In praise or Com nilslotu-r Sawyer or iu hot denunctaltou 0j him At this moment 1 am not conearned about Mr. Sawyer; he Is u competent official and will carry out , .flpumtly any program adopted by General Assembly. What lnteraatn me Is that we ascertain the proper policy for the state. If this state Intends to pay 110.00 a month to all Indigent people who can qualify for the pension, that will require not less thun $3,600,000 a year, without counting the cost of administration which will soon be nearly half million dollars additional. That calls for at least two million new or additional dollars. Shall wo Impose new taxes? Shall wo increase any tax that wo now have? Surely no new or additional tax will he put on homes and farms. There I la In fact, quite a sentiment today In favor of removing the tuxes on homes,I farms and household goods. It is ln-l conceivable that new or additional business taxes will he levied. We are 'today hoping that industry may be attracted to this state so that we may have new opportunities for our worker* ii. w consumers of our products, new taxpayers to share the burden. Rather than Increase any buisness tax we are advised to reduce the Intangibles tax so that men of wealth may become citizens of our state, thereby contributing through income taxes to the maintenance of our state government Shall we Increase the tax on liquors and liquor-dealers? Our friends of the "wet" persuasion tell us that -bootleggers" would reap a harvest and flint the state would correspondingly lose revenue. If. then, increases be out of order, shall we divert revenue which we now have" What revenue can be diverted? There Is no divertible revenue except income tax revenue and liquor j receipts, now available for the schools and gasoline revenues, now available for roads. The liquor money is dedicated to the schools by the Constitution. That may be why so many lawyers and Judges and legislators have no respect for the Constitution and kick it about, I had not thought "of that before. We have two problems at the same time: We need more money; we need tax-relief. What sort of wizardry will reconcile the two needs? How shall we get tax-relief? Shall we reduce state taxes?the so-called indirect taxes? Or shall we reduce local direct taxes which rest on our homes and farms? Is it more Important to build short feeder roads, make little connections, and the like, than to relieve the taxpa\.Ts of local burdens? How would you lighten the local burden? By the state assuming the ninth month of school and reducing (or eliminating as far as possible) all local levies for operation of schools? That would ease the heaviest tax burden we have and help the schools at the same time. As 1 said in the beginning, I am discussing a problem, not engaging in sniaii politics. I am sure that we, all of us. want less tax burden, but we I . not wish to distribute the gasohtn revenues over a wide area of relatively unimportant services. Equally desirous are we to provide adequately for the schools. IP:' most important of all is that w>- . :k ourage our people to have and Tna.n'ain homes. That calls f?r lower ta.\os A grand Jury is not an all-powerful h'"i There seems to be some con i n as to the functions of a grand jury At one time it held a sort of z commission to Inform the court of . :fractions of the law. In some P- -ure that is still within the scope fjf grand jury's province. Ordinarily, h..*~ver. the grand jury reports on hi..- of indictment, submitted to It; r :: may make a presentment to the rr'U: t of its own initiative. .It seems Hie perfectly proper for a grand to say to the court that general r lit ions, by common report, are bad ' \- n if no Indictable facts are avallvne years ago some of our Judges taiKf-q to grand Juries about matters ' nrirely beyond the Jurisdiction of grand juries and beyond the scope of th?. Judges' powers. What can a,Judge or grand Jury do in a school room? Absolutely nothing. There are administrative officers In charge of the schools and they are not amendable 'o the eonrt^ In the usual^ performance of their duties. In recent months the grand jury of Richland county has been trying to get before the courts certain alleged rackets, racketeers, etc. The Jnry has shown extraordinary courage and demotion, It W*. not mads much progress, though, so far as bringing Tlola^ tors bt*for?> tlu> courts In the course) of lt? work the Jury clashed with the Hlchland eouny legislative delegation.' Now comes tho grand Jury and In a j i presentment proposes a renrguiiiza-1 tlon df the county Koveruiuent. Now' i that Is not a matter for the grandj j Jury to consider The grand Jury goes j j afield as far as does the legislative! .delegation, which It lakes to task j The proposals of the jury are not i new In substance, having been before' U? for years. The nub of the proposal' Is to reorganize the county services and to have a responsible head for! the county. I have heard this so often thul I ask this question: Will the proposed reorganization improve tho public service? Just to group several | offices together under a different tlilu is not worth anything. Will reorganization promote efficiency or economy ? There seems to be an impression that county officials draw public money at will and spend it as they please. The truth is that the County Supply Hill budgets rather strictly tho county officials. What control over the treasurer, auditor. Judge of probate or clerk of court would a business manager have? Those officials cannot spend a dollar without authorization. No county manager could be stricter than the present arrangement. The one,of-i tidal who has some small latitude Is the supervisor. He, with tho other members of the County Hoard of Commissioners, spends with some degree of discretion, llo usually publishes a statement of expenditures, all of which must he approved by the board, whether known as commissioners or directors. The little buying might be absolutely concentrated In the county board. The county board is supposed to be the business head of the county. Now [right here the Richland grand jury I puts Its finger on a sore spot. For |gome time legislative delegations have assumed supreme control of county administration; arrogating to themselves functions which properly beI long to the county boards. This assumption of administrative control is violative of the Constitution, as the ' grand jury says. Strange, isn't it, that any little bobtailed. one-horse village may manage its own affairs, even may levy taxes, impose licenses and legislate somewhat; but a County, be it Greenville or Charleston, must have a lot of hocus-pocus and legerdemain In Columbia before It can fence in a hog. There must be a solemn act of the General Assembly, signed by the governor of the state. The Constitution of our state permits the legislature to authorize counies to levy their own taxes. That , would be a step forward. Facts are destructive of theories, sometimes. Just offhand, It seems that the most urgent reform needed in county government Is the consolidation of our forty-six counties into about ten. But when you find that the smallest counties are the best regulated, owe the least, have the lowest tax delinquency, etc., what will you say' Calhoun county can make a far better showing than Orangeburg; Bamberg county Is in better condition than Richland?so what? Those who emerge whole and sound from the besetting evils of radio, movies and curb service will bo supermen and women, but a vast tide of human wreckage will flow out to Stygian Darkness. When I see a movie I must also see the pre-vtew ot some colossal, stupendous. death-defying and cataclysmic incident. All that-and then, some. I wonder what nightmares boys and girls musl suffer who have the movie habit. We know all about the curb service; boys aud girls from homes of abundant tables mus, gorge themselves on ihoss. A?d the radio now. It Invades your mind every minute ;Even you don't keep your radlo'"on all the, time, somebody else does. And what stuff and nonsense come along^as to make you wonder how long U ?m .be before we rise to the rank of nit w.t^ Consider this war trouble. Here come "flashes" every few minutes. Enough to tear sou. and body apar^ MrTre s? on ^ encounter menta. Women are cry,ng. Children don't want their dad '? go Mothers weep over their son. p?thers look grave. The dogs ?a*c upon their departing masters * i wistful eyes and the pigs the disgust Sweethearts must part, etc. In "at sob stuff floating Into every home cafe, offlce-and whatnot-all day and all night. Enough to drive us crazy. Reminds me of radio reports on the World Series. Like this; "The pitcher receives the ball; looks It over, moistens two fingers, paws the ground a hit- looks around, seems nervous: pulls down cap. rubs hand on trousera. prepares to pitch; raises foot, -whole leg now horizontal; twists whole body In frantic heave; hurls the sphere with the speed of a bullet^ curt the outside comer of the plate. All pitchers do that, you know, yet details ad nauseam/are served us and from^ Maine to CalfctmU. We listen aa though giant* were performing in! herculean degree. Proper Preparation Sells Sweet Potatoes Columbia, Oct. 3. -Hweet potato growers who arc not familiar with tho Federal grades and tho method ,ofpacking potatoes In containers are urged to ask their county agents for [grading and pucklng demonstrations, | which will ho given by tho Division of Markets, says T A Colo, marketing specialist of the Clemson Fx tension Service. "Prepare potatoes in the condition desired by the consumer; he is spending bis money and must be pleased," advises Mr Cole, listing a few of the fac tors necessary in securing top prices for sweet potatoes. Clean potatoes before packing. This may bo done by having the graders and packers to wear cheap cloth gloves Site uniformly and throw out all defective potatoes. Puck containers carefully, sufficiently full to give the lid a slight bulge. Tills helps (o prevent bruising, which happens in transit when a package is loosely tilled. Secure a copy of tho grading regulations from the county agent and familiarize yourself with the standards, and train some of your help in grading and packing if you cannot personally supervise the work. ANNUAL PARENTS' DAY TO BE OBSERVED AT THE CITADEL Charleston. Oct. 6.?The annual Parents' Day celebration will be held at Tho Citadel," tho Military College of South Carolina, Charleston, on Saturday, October 29. This event, which has become increasingly desirable as the enrolment of the college has grown, offers parents of cadets an opportunity to visit the institution at a time when all activities are in full operation or when they can be inspected without interruption or loss of efficiency. As has be erf found most expedient the occasion is informal in order to give parents the maximum opportunity to be with their sons, but enough of the purely formal Is scheduled to permit all to see a little of the acad einic, military, athletic, social and re ligious phases of the cadet's life. The tentative program includes registration beginning at nine in the morning, with all barracks and installations open for inspection until 11:15 o'clock, when a review of the 1,075 cadets will take place in regimental formation. This will be followed by a brief organ recital in the cadet chapel, with Princeton Dauer at the console of tho ? brilliant organ. Luncheon, featured by an address of welcome by General Charles P. Sum merall, president, will be followed by a period of relaxation preceding the football game between Wofford College and The Citadel, which sarts at 3:30 p. m. Last year's attendance set a record, which doubtless will be broken this year, as is indicated by early advices from many parents, located in widely separated places. WATEREE MILL NOTE8 Mr. and Mrs. Eli Shealey and Wade Morris spent Sunday in Aiken with E. D. Shealey. Little OUn Johnston Brown is a patient at the Camden hospital and also Walter Jones, who is Improving. Mr. and Mrs. Hodges Brown and Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Moore went to RevJ. T. Littlejohn's church Sunday afternoon and enjoyed the services with him. The children of Mrs. W. A. Priester surprised her Sunday with a birthday dinner at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Alex Priester. She was sixty-five years old. Rev. and Mrs. J. M. Bruce had as their guests Sunday Mr. and Mrs. S. B. West, Mr. and Mrs. Tillman English and Mr. and Mrs. Virgil Pruitt, of Greer. Mr. and Mrs. Fred Crocker and little daughter, Marion, of Groat Falls, spent the week end with Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Conyers. Mr. and Mrs. Harrison Conyers and children of Kershaw, spent Saturday withjelatiYes here. _ The following delegates from the Wateree Baptist church attended the Kershaw County Association Tuesday: Mr. and Mrs. IJ E. Moore, Rev. and Mrs. J. M. Bruce, J. W. Boyce, R. H. Branham, Mrs. H. D. Brown, Mrs. Annie Moore, Mrs. Leroy Taylor, Mrs. James Spradley, Mrs. C. T. Swann. The Interstate Commerce commission has suspended until December 31 an order regulating the hours truck drivers could work, which order provided that no driver could worlc more than sixty hours per week, or more than ten hours in any 24 hour day. - Immediately after the signing of the four power accord at Munich, Germany, the head of the French general staff ordered the demobilization, of more a million soldiers, who had been mobilised In U& face of the European war situation. Pipe Organ Believed to Be of Pan'* Pipe Family The pipe organ, which is the largest and most powerful of wind instruments. generally is conceded to j hqvo had aj. its antecedent the Pun's pipe#; consisting of a series of hollow ivcds of difTerent lengths, fastened together, and played by blowing m each tube separately. The mouth organ is practically a Pan's pipe. The Roman's had an ] organ called the "hydraulis," In which water was used to equalize i the wind pressure. The calliope used in circuses, which it worked by steam, is a kind of pipe organ, notes a writer in the Indianapolis News. During the Seventeenth century air was furnished for the pipes of church organs by a scries of bellows, each pair equipped with wooden shoes inside of which the blower placed his feet, raising and lowering them alternately. Keys first were used in the early organs toward the end of the Eleventh* century, 10 at first and later 32, Players of the first keyed organs were known as "organ beaters" because the large keys were so stiff and clumsy that they had to be pressed down with the fist. The addition of foot pedals in the Fifteenth century, used for holding long sustained sounds similar to what is called "organ point," added to its musical resources. In the Seventeenth century stops were added to imitate orchestrul instruments, and the "swell" invented to increase or diminish the sound. The melodeon is unother form of organ. The organ first is mentioned in the Bible in Genesis 4:21. It was introduced into religious services in the Seventh century and became popular in Europe in the Ninth and Tenth centuries. The Puritans were very much opposed to its use in the church. The Protestant Episcopal church was the first in this country to install one, in its place of worship, in Port Royal, Va., in 1700. The first instulled in Boston, Mass., was at King's chapel. In 1714, after the Brattle Square church had refused it as improper for public worship. Rites of Ancient Aztecs Called for Many Flowers Every country has in its history annals, traditions, ceremonies, and rites which played a great part in the religious and political activities of its people. Flowers have always figured prominently in religious ceremonies, notes a writer in the Detroit News, probably because they are part of nature and nature among primitive- peoples has always been deified. Mexico with its color and warmth, used quantities of blossoms In Its ancient Aztec rituals. According to Cecile Hulse Matsehat's book, "Mexican Plants for American Gardens," a flower god was set apart, namely Xochpilli, meaning "five flowers." He was closely associated with the flowering of the maize. He * had a female companion called Xochiquetzal, meaning "flower-quetzal-feather" who was the deity of flowers, pleasure, song and dancing. "The buying of the rains" marked the end of the dry season. Stretchers were covered with flowers and carried to the mountaintops, and children were sacrificed to the gOds. A special flower festival was held in the spring, dedicated to the rain' goddess and patroness of agriculture. Before this ceremony no smelling of flowers was allowed. At the festival in honor of the goddess of salt only, the women were allowed to dance. They garbed themselves in wreaths of flowers which were linked together with floral garlands. Washington Explains Senate Thomas Jefferson was in Europe in the interests of his country during the framing of the Constitution, and, upon his return, called Washington to account for several things in that document, particularly, for having agreed to a second chamber or house for congress. "Why," asked Washington?they were dining together?"did you pour your coffee into your saucer?" "To cool it, of course," answered Jefferson. "Even so," said Washington, "we pour legislation into the senatorial chamber to cool it off." FIenIngTs Statutes Hening's statutes were the first complete collection of the laws of any American state', including those of its Colonial times, those repealed, and those dropped in revision. These were the Statutes at Large of Virginia, 10iy-f^y2, in 13 volumes, published at Richmond 1809-23 by William Wailer Hening. clerk of the Court of Chancery. Jefferson is said to have suggested the publication, which is highly valued as an historical source. Animals Suffer From Seasickness Animals, as a rule, suffer very much from seasickness, the polar bear being one of the exceptions. The tiger is said to be one of the worst sea travelers. Elephants have to be treated with whisky and quinine as a medicine. Horses and cattle suffer greatly; yet there are plenty of domestic pets that travel regularly. They seem to be very much like human beings, /or once having their sea legs the movement of the hip does pot affect them. j 1 CHILDREN OF THE SEA Of all the strange birds that Inhabit the earth, the emperor penguin, which breeds on the rocky shores of the Antarctic regions, Is one'of the strangest. The penguin Is the largest of the wingless and flightless swimming birds, fho adult standing about throe and a half foot high and weighing around ninety pounds. Ho has a small black head and a strong pointed beak. His back Is black, too, and his abdomen is white. Ills short clumsy legs are foathorod down to his webbed feet and in place of wings, ho possesses a pair of flippers which enable him to swim under water for a long time. Mr. Penguin would be a strong competitor in the Olympic games as a long distance swimmer and diver because he can very easily swim at the rate of a hundred miles In a day and think nothing \>f it. During the short summer months, J these birds gather by the thousands on the rocky Antarctic shores to nar their young. After the breeding season la over, however, they take to the sea because they are fish eaters and the sea Is their home. While walking along the shore, penguins never follow individual paths, Instead they have tribnl paths, marching six to eight abreast like a company of soldiers. Should the path lead over a wet, slippery place, they dig little trenches across the spot with their beakB so that the ground will dry Into hard ridges and afford them a foothold. Occasional mishaps occur while clambering over rocks due to their Inability to stoop when they Jump ' Suddenly, In going over, their feet wiHskld from under them and they fall on their backs like children, their heads hitting the hard rock. However, they pick themselves up again and continue on the march. I Penguins never bother about build lng nests Jike other birds. The hen merely lays a single egg on the bare rock, and when ready to sit, supports the egg on the upper sides of her feet while she squats on It. Strangely enough, the newly hatched chicks are afraid of water and have to be forced in by the parents. It requires seven weeks for the egg to hatch, therefore the cock and then hen each take a turn about sitting. Every adult wants to sit. When a nest Is vacated, a flock of ten or twelve birds may make a grand rush for the place and the best man wins! When the scrimmage is'over, the victor oarefully examines his change before . taking possession. bows politely to the hen and she returns the bow. Often though, the egg or the single chick is In grave danger of being crushed in the melee when so many neighbors offer their paternal care. Because they stand so erect, pen-' gulns may be mistaken for human | beings when seen from a distance. ^ They behave like humans, too. When; Malvern Hill Club The Malvern Hill Home Demonstration club's meeting was hold at Mai vera Hill church, Friday, September 23. The president, Mrs. Will Denton, presided. The mooting was opened by singing "America," that grand old favorite dear to the heart of overy American. Miss Fewell bad the devotional, us this was our reorganization mooting, officers wore elected for 1938-1931). The minutes of the last mooting wore read and the roll called by tho secretary, Mrs. Troy Denton, with only one absent member and three new. As each member's name was called she was supposed to answer with what gave her most pleasure during the summer Some said canning, some company, several said their trip to Charleston was best of all. One said fishing a ml swimming. It was Interesting and amusing. The meeting was then turned over to Miss Fewell, county home demonstration agent. She told of her trip up the Atlantic coast and on into Canada, and of the Interesting things enrout??her trip was her greatest pleasure. Wo then discussed fair and county council, both to be held In October. At the council meeting most of us nre receiving our third year certificates, of which wo are. very proud. Miss Fewell Is anxious for our club to help by having a booth at tho county fair again this year. Fourteen members ordered pictures for the year, the little pictures make a most interesting study. They are masterpieces of famous artists. After two local leaders were elected we adjourned to meet In October with Mrs. Munn. The United States embussy at Burcelonia, Spain, has advised all Americans in Spain, to return home. making love, the male struts proudly around the femal/b in order to show off his good points and manly bearing. In penguin language he probably Bays: "What a fine fellow I am. I'll make you a good husband!" Then he suddenly stretches out his neck and touches her beak as though In a kiss. Penguins are also very inquisitive. While swimming far out at sea, ^hoy will draw close to a passing ship and Inspect it like a naturalist Inspecting the bones of some prehistoric animal. Misery loves company and, like human beings, a depressed penguin seeks companionship. During the inputting season when he loses his feathers, he invariably leaves home to find those of his flock who will sympathize with him. Happily, divorce suits ai*e unknown to a penguin family. With them, love is eternal. Even after wooing, the husband Is constantly kissing his wife with his beak and embracing her with his flippers at the most Inopportune time.?Burt Hause in Our Dumb Animals. INEXPENSIVE FUNERALS. AS WELL AS Tl IE MOST ELABORATE. 11AVE ALWAYS BEEN AVAILABLE AT THE KORNEGAY FUNERAL HOME c v ^ Our complete selection includes a moderately priced metal casket with a guarantee Complete Funeral* for a* little a* $96.IK) and even le** Fair Street CAMDEN, S. G. , Phono 103 t Make Our Store Your Headquarters o When you visit the Kershaw County Fair make our Store your Headquarters. We will be glad to have you visit us We Have a Complete Line of COAL, WOOD AND OIL HEATERS Also PARTS 'for your Mowers and Rakes / o ? We are in position to FURNISH you wrhen in neec) of any item in HARDWARE or PAINT o BE sur? and pay us a VISIT ^ "V % BARRINGER HARDWARE CO. _ _ "THE FRIENDLY HARDWARE", _ ~ p . y " / ;;:w 9 ^ '-4?a ^v i * ^c. # i . - -4..^ ? sp" WniWyB