The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, December 23, 1920, Image 1
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? ttljc i?otmti) JJecorti.
VOL. 36. KINGSTREE, SOUTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1920. NO. 48 4^
' APPROPRIATION OF1
$7,000,000 IN 1921
'
estimate as to what budget 1
commission will.
recommend.
Columbia Dec. 20.?Special: The I
State Budget Commission will recommend
an appropriation of approx-,
imately 7,000,000 for the operation i
^ of the State Government, its depart- j
* " raents and institutions for 1921. Thisj
will be a decrease of about two and
one-half million dollars from the es- '
timates submitted to it, which totaled
$9368,205.59. This will mean a
levy of approximately fourteen mills
ton a valuation of between $448,000- 1
000 and $450,000,000 in tangible '
property, as estimated by the State
Tax Commission. This levy, however,
could be reduced because of the mon
jjgftjjH eys from other sources which muse j
H E he turned into the State treasury uh-1
IggV or the budget law.
MI have not yet completed my stu-;
||V^ dy of our 1921 budget in all of its de-'
IHP tails," stated Goovernor Cooper, the
vM chairman of the Commission, today
V when questioned relative to the tax
W agation in the State at present, '
? "but I will recommend a reduction of
f appropriations from the year, 1920.j'
with the exception of the appropria-!
tion for the public schools. I am sat- j
isfled, further, that with other recom- j
mendations which will be submitted
to the legislature, the levy of 1921
, can? and will, be materially reduced.
1 expect to discuss the whole question
in detail in my annual message."
While he has made no statement to '
the effect, it is understood that the
Governor will ask the General Assem- <
v bly to propose a bond issue to the
people in a referendum election, the
issue to cover ten years of permanent
fmnrovpments. The theory is that to
1 arrive at an adequate estimate of the'
wants of the State along permanent!
lines, a commisison of engineers,
should be appointed to make a thor-1
\ongh study of the wants of each institution
and activity and report in
detail to the legislative bodies before
the election is ordered.
Will Turn Its Face.
Along this line it can be authoritatively
stated that the budget commis-!
sion will turn its face for an apprc->
priation for permanent improvement.', j
for 1721, this, of course, including '
new buildings at State institutions of |
higher learnings and State operated j
charitable and corrtctional activities.
There is a cry throughout the State j
at the present time for relief from th?!
burdens of taxation, and there havr j
been many and various remedies sug-1
gested, but most of them have been
from the wrong angle. . The genera'
cry seems to be that the burden is
from the State government Even a
> casual analysis of the State's finances
shows that, should all but purely
gavernment funtions acting for the
people as a whole, be, elimanated,j
South Coralina could be operated on
Kabout a one-mill levy, or $513,877.16,
using the figures for expenditures in
1919, the only ones available at this
time. Of this amount, $288,296.41 is
4tfor the executive department, $155,295.34
for the legislative branch.
The efact of the matter is that the
great burden of taxation is from the
counties, mostly in levies for school
purposes voted by the people themselves
and from the municipal'ties. j
For instance, the City of ChHcston
pays a 91 mill levy, the City of Columbia
71 1-2 mills, the City of
Greenville 87 mills and the City of i
Sumter 82 3-4 mills. Of these levies
only 12 mills ore for the State. The
taxable property in Charleston s S27- j
#48,000, in Sumter $6,081,091, in
Greenville $8,295 75b and in Columbia
(1919 abstract) $16,310,278, or an as- <
se. sed valuatioi ot taxable property:
will total $3,81-1,701 and to this must
be added the license taxes and fines
aeoruing during the year.
Other Income Sources
I* the city of Columbia for 1920 the.
licenses will give the municipality a
revenue of $105,000 and pplice court
i fines collected and bonds forfeited an'
additional $30,000 or a total of $135,- i
1000. It is therefore reasonable to
estimate that the four cities mentioned
will aggregate a total revenue of
$500,000 from these sources. This
\ wij? make the total revenue to them
fjior the year $4,313,701 or just $1,783,^140.39
less than was appropriated for
?the State this year and $1,152,920.65
less than reccommended by the bud
commission for 1920.
^^Riere are various departments and
activities which are classified under
*x the State government, hut which
SECOND PRIMARY IS HELD
\V. H. Whitehead Nominated for
Lake Citv Mayor
? I
In the second municipal primary,
held at Lake City Friday there was
more interest manifested on bct'i sides
than in the first, which was held
Tuesday of the previous week. There
was a total vote of 436, of which approximately
40 per cent was by the
women. Out of this number twentytwo
votes were challenged by both
sides an 1 of the remainder W. H.
Whitehead, Esq., the incumbent received
231, while his opponent. Hon.
J. H. Blackwell, a former mayor for
several terms, received 203. Mr.
Whitehead was declared the nominee.
At the same time A. M. Parker, the
present alderman from ward two, was
elected; over his opponent, E. J.
Wilkes, while J. C. Young received
the majority in ward four over J. D.
SiTialetarv. and L. E. Dijrsrs beat A.
N. Haselden for alderman at large.
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News Fom Clerasor.
The cadets are looking fonvord to
the Christmas holidays with much
pleasure. ' The first term examinations
began December 16, and continued
through December 22, when the
first day of the holiday begins.
Very interesting Lyceum attraction
was given here Saturday.
Large crowds are attending the
lectures given by Mr. Fred B. Smith.
Clemson has fine prospects for a
goo^ hn-.ketball team this season.
?oll? ??? fnr flin mnntiac
CUV lUUVViVlUtl^ AVt ?UV vvvtikMvw
or other political subdivisions. The
major one of these is the State Department
of Education, which distributes
its money among the schools of
the counties. The State Hospital for
the insane takes care of patients from
various counties. The State Insurance
and the State Game harden Departments
distributes part of then
revenues among the counties, as also
doeS the State Highway Department
The State Pension Departmenet is
another function which is operated
for the counties, all its appropriations
except a meagre office and wage expense,
going to the counties. Very
few persons criticizing the amount of
money appropriated for the State
realize that two-thirds of the salaries
of the county auditors and treasurers
is paid by the State through the
Comptroller General's office. This
year $117,017.04 was appropriated for
this purpose, equally divided between
the auditors and treasurers. Also
there was appropriated $29,900 this
year for supervisors of election and
managers of election. Another activ
ity which is not purely a State function
is that of the circuit courts.
Circuit judges, solicitors and our
stenographers, regular and special
were paid $106,066.66.
Of course, if all these activities
were divorced from the central
government, the counties would have
to make arangements to take care of
these, particularly the schools and the
insane. And under this method the
taxes would be higher, as the overhead
expense would be enormous.
This is merely brought out to showthat
the fault of high taxation is not
wholly devolved upon the State
Government, but the counties themselves
are more at fault than the
central activities.
According to figures in the Comptroller
General's office of the fortysix
principal cities in the forty-six
counties in the State, the average
municipal levy is 21 1-2 mills. Only
seven of these municipalities have a
lower levy than that of the State and
they are small towns?Moncks Corner,
St George. Hampton. Lexington ,
McCormick, Walhalla and Saluda.
The average county levy for ordinary
county and school purposes, including
special school levies (but excluding
all taxes in principal city of f-ach
county) is 25 3-5 mills, 13 3-5 mills
higher than the State levy. Every
county in the State has a higher levy
than that of the central government.
It has been suggested that one \va\
of reducing county expenses and not
crippling the county government is lo
eliminate the fee system and put ail
? - -1 i r* :
county officers on a saiary oasis. 1t j
is possible that some such effort will)
be made at the next session of the |
General Assembly. Other possible!
panaceas to be introduced will be an
inheritance tax, a tax on income. State
licensing of businesses and occupa^j
tions and a tax on natural resources
in an effort to reduce the lead from
tangible property.
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I Is There a Santa Claus ? |
We take pleasure in answering at once and thus prominently the
communication below, expressing at the same time our gratification
that its faithful author is numbered among the friends of the Sun:
"Dear Editor?I am 8 years old.
"Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus.
"Papa says 'If you see it in the Sun it's so.'
"Please tell me the truth is there a Santa Claus?
"115 West Ninety-fifth street" Virginia O'Hanlon.
I Virginia, your little friends are wrong, they have been affected
by the scepticism of a sceptical age. They do not believe except thev
see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by
their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or
children's, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere
insect, an ant, in his intellect as compared with the boundless world
about him, as measu a by the intelligence capable of grasping the
whole of truth and knowledge.
Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus# He exists as certainly as
I love and generosity and devotion exist and you know that they abound
and give to your life its highest beauty ana joy. Alas! how dreary
would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as
dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childljke
faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existance.
We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal
light which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.
I Not beieven in Santa Claus? You might as well not believe in
fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the
chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Clause, but even if they did
not see Santa Claus, coming down, what would that prove? Nobody
sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus.
The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor
men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of
course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can
conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and useeable in
I the world.
You tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside,
but there is a vail covering the unseen world which not the
strongest man, not even the united strength of all the stronge.it men
that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love,
romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the
supernal beauty and glory beyond. It is all real? Ah, Virginia, in
all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.
No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A
thousand years from now, Virginia, nay. ten times ten thousand years
from now, he will continue to make glad ti\c heart of childhood.?Selected.
? - ? ? ? - - ? . -I
LETTERS TO SANTA CLAUS
Lake City, S. C. Please bring me a big doll, ure-wor
Route 2. Box 60. box of ribbons, fruits, nuts a
Dear Santa? candies. Anu I hope papa will be a
I Am writing you tonight to tell; to enjoy himself,
you what I want for Christmas. 1 Your little friend,
want you to bring me a little tr:vr> Mable Baker
and horn and lots of fire work.;, fruit* Trio, S. C.
and candies of all kinds. I want io o
have a good time Christmas, so good- eTar ?aata~~.
bye. santa * 1 ^ thinkinS of wnting you to t
Your loving, you what 1 want you brin& r
J H Price i 1 am seven years old and go to schc
11 want some fruit, candy nuts fi:
crackers and a horn. Don't f<yget
Lake City, S. C. | bring John a horn too,
Route 2. Box 60. j With lots of love,
Dear Santa Clause? D. L. Rhode
I am a little girl going to school Trio, S. C.
and I am seven years old and in the .
third grade ^nd I make my grade Deai" ?anta. ^ause
every year. I want .you to bring me am a litle girl nine years old a
a doll baby and doll" carrage and a ?? scho01 eyer* day and love .
tea set, some fruit of all kinds, so ***>" her ? Mlss Eliaab.
good bv Santie. Williams. Please bring a doll a
Your loving, na*e' rmS' fruit and nuts anH bn
Eloise Price. my little sister a do11 carria?e- }
o " I have taken good care of our dolls y
: brought us last Christmas, and do
New Zion, S. C. j forjfet mama an(j daddy,
December 13. 1920 Your ,jttlc ^
Dear old Santa Clause- , Bessie Rhoad
^ I am a little girl twelve years old j 0
in th^ sixth grade at school. Christ- j Trio, S. C.
mas will soon be here and I will ten Uear uood uid sania?
you what I want you to brin# nr?" Just a tew days until Christrr
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* JOY CHASES GLOOM
j IN GREELYVILLE
| Return of Young Set Adds Joy
to the Hearts of
Many
| Greelyville, Dec. 21.?The Editor
| says that he cannot give over 100 colj
umns each week to Greelyville news
! and, as there is news, news, nothing
I but news here this week, I will not try
i to crowd intS so small a space this
I issue the individual news items,
i A great battle has taken place in
| Greelyville this week. Gloom, com|
| manding his great hordes cf pesci1
i mists and hardtimes, has suffered a
I j most complete and disastrious defeat
I I from the victorious arms of tne nobJo
| commander, Joy. backed by his light
] j hearted and stalwart youths. The
f | victory is, indeed, overwhelming and
II last week where we saw Gloom and
I his sinister followers encamped upon
I our plains and throughfarcs, even
I lurking in the very midst of >our
| homes and family circles, we now see
| only the frineds of Joy parading triumphantly
over the recent battle
field so quickly transformed into a
play-ground and jubilee of Joy and
youth, likewise, even in every home
some youth of Joy reigns supreme.
The Pied Piper of Hamlin has at
last returned, bringing our youths
with him. Every train for the past
weak has brought one or anore boys
and girls from college and when I
tell you that we now have with us the
happy and charming personalities of
Willie Register, Theresa Register.
Florence Burgess, Louise Heins, Lizzie
Gamble, Gertrude O'Bryan, Henry
Louise Johnson, Charlie Oliver, Bennie
Oliver, Austin Boyl, Marvin Mishoe,
John Clarkson, James Gamble
and Frank Register, after so long an
I absence, you can readily see why Joy
I has taken the place of Gloom.
The story, of a week ago, of bank.
ruptcy, ten cent cotton and a turned
down check is entirely forgr'ten and
superseded this week by the story of
some mischievous college boy, when
he has over slept ir the morning,
greasing the door knob of his room
of the day just long enough to grant
to delay the inspection of the office
that lazy rascal the ten minutes necessary
to dress in. And the dr.rk musings
of that mother over the much
fewer Christmas things her husband's
ten cent cotton will buy this year than
his forty cent cotton bought last
Christmas are - overshadowed and
\ i laughed away by the cherry tales her
girl or her neighbor's girl has in store
I for he.
i Oh Youth, Greelyville welcomes
: thee. May thy spirit never leave us.
Within a few days a brand new Baby
Year will be born to us, whom Father
Time says we must name "1921".
So, Youth, we beseech thee to i-amain
with us until the new bom year, ar
rives and let thy Joy crown it, and we
pray thee let thy spirit reign over us
during its entire life; for well we
know that Joy and Yoyth should be
our guide and protect us from oui
arch enemy and tyrant Gloom.
o
, DEATH OF MRS. D. L. MOYD
???
Physicians Powerless to Stay Effects
of Mercurial Poisoning
Death relieved the sufferings of
Mrs. D. L. Moyd, of Andrews who
was carried to the Florence Infirmary
on Friday after it had been discovered
that she had taken several tablets of
^ bichloride of mercury. It was stated
that Mrs. Moyd had purchased the
drug together with several aspirin
tablets and that she had made the
. unfortunate mistake of taking the
drug.
Everything possible was done to
conteract the effects of the mercurial
poisoning but too long a time had
?11 elapsed, and the physicians were
ne. powerless to afford any relief from
iol. its effects. The body was taken to
re- Kingsburg the former home of the
to family at eleven o'clock Wednesday
? ?J /(imawoI uroe kaM of I
UlUMllIIg ailU HIU lUllCXOl noo MV?u MV
the Baptist church thpre at half past
? two o'clock.
Mrs. Moyd was before her marriage
Miss Capitola King, the daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. J. W. King, and she was
n<* one of the most popular young women
of Florence county.
>th and
I thought I would write you just
what I want you to bring me. I am j
ou four years old and help my Daddy i
n>t build on the parsonage. I have white i
hair like yours. I want you to please
bring me a new wagon, candy, fruit,!
and nuts. Don't forget baby, Grace, i
and I will be good,
Your little boy,
Dick Rhoad
las (Continued on Inside Page)
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ONE DEAD, MUCH
PROPERTY DAMAGE
Caused by Cyclone in North western
Sestion of
State
Barnwell, Dec. 22.?Special: A cyclone
that struck the small town of
Snelling,f five miles west of Barnwell,
this afternoon about 4 o'clock, completely
destroyed the residence of W.
C. Birt, Killed his wife and seriously
injured his three children. A funeral
party from Barnwell, on its way to
Seven Miles Church, near Snelling,
was caught in the path of the storm
and the tops of several automobiles in
the procession were torn in to shreds.
An overcoat, fur and hatwere blown
off of one woman as she sat in her
car. Large pine trees were snapped
off several feet from the top as
though they were pipe stems. Members
of the funeral party state that
the roar of the approaching cyclone
could .be heard for some time before
they felt the full force of the wind,
that the noise was like that of a
heavy freight train in rapid motion.
It will probably be a day or two before
the full amount of the damage is
known.
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Damage at Laurens
Laurens, Dec. 22.?Special: A storm
which broke with almost cyclonic fury
here this afternoon between 3 and 4
o'clock wrought thousands of dollars
damage to buildings, telephone, telegraph
and power company lines but m
far is nqt known to have resulted in
any loss of life.
All lines of communication with the
outside are out of commission with
the exception of the long distance
telephone and the city is in darkness
tonight ' ;
Reporters state that a negro church
in the suburbs was blown away. The
First Methodist Church also suffered
damage from the terrific blow. A
twoo klmim ilnnni of Woffa npflf
here, it is stated.
In the city proper the estore of Abe
j Diamond and the building occupied by
the Central Cafe were unroofed. The
main building of the Laurens Glass
Manufacturing Company v. as also
badly damaged.
Ohe of the towers of the Laurens
Cotton Mills was unroofed in that vicinity
and othet damage done in the
village of the concern.
It is estimated that possibly a huntelephone,
telegraph and cable poles
in the city proper were either blown
down or snapped off like match sticks.
Large trees were uprooted in various
sections of the city as well.
The storm seemed to approach from
a Southwesterly direction. On account
j of wires practically all being down
nothing has been heard however from
, Ware Shoals, Hodges or Abbeville, all
I generally speaking in the direction
from which the storm seems to have
, approached.
An almost twilight darkness settled
over the city when the storm
broke there was a deafeni.ig crash
and roar for severala minutes. Those
who paid closest attention to the
storm state that it was difficult to
! what the direction of thme wind was.
everything appeared to be caught m
a sudden whirl. It is believed the
storm swerved toward almost due
north going out of the city.
o
School closed here on Friday last
and all of the teachers have gone to
their respective homes for the holi- .
, days.
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Honor Roll?Mulberry School
Following is the Honor Roll for
December from Mulberry School:
First Grade?Clifton Hughes 90.
Frank Williamson 90.
Second Grade?Clyde Moore 92,
1 Nellie Mae Gist 93, Eloise Gist 90,
i Grenelle James 94, Othan Gibbons 90.
! Bessie Tyson 90, Alma Williamson 90.
Gilbert Ferrell 94.
' Third Grade?Marvin Williamson
I 91, Rosabelle James 91.
Fourth Grade?Lizzie Tisdale 90,
Isaac James 90, John Spivey 90, Herbert
Hughes 90, Carrie Tyson 90.
Fifth Grade?Mae Richburg 92,
Chestly McKnight 91, Charley Gibbons
91.
Sixth Grade?Ida Belle Bradham
91, Berry Williamson 92.
Seventh Grade?Lawrence Tisdale
90, Isaac Hughes 90.
Eighth Grade?Herbert Brad ham
92.
j Nineth Grade?Sajnuel Lesesne 92,
Fannie McKnight 91.
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