The watchman and southron. (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, January 18, 1905, Image 4
WE ONES DA Y, JANUARY 18,1905.
The Sumter Watchman was founded is
1&50 and the True Southron, in 18GS. Thc
Watchman and Sovihrcn now has the com?
bined circulation and influence of both ol
the old pap?is, and is manifestly the best
advertising medium in Sumter.
.As soon as some lattsr-day states?
men begin talking of investigating the
dispensary we begin thinking of the
price of lime.
. ? *
-A. compulsory education law would
fce a. good tnt 3s for the children ?.f
Senth Carolina, but it would play the
mischief with tne oid bum.-; who 'ive
and loaf on "the proceeds of their lit?
tle children's labor.
* .* #
The question of taxation is by far
t&e most importan!; that will come be?
fore <?he .present iiegislature, but we
great?y fear tka*. is usual, little u?l
be d?en ie reform and remedy the
grave inequalities that exist under the
- present system. The fault lies not in
J, the amount of the tax levy^but in
the excessively low valuation placed
cpon property when returned fer Fix?
ation. For instance, we heard re
centiy ai a sale of land for something
more than nine times the amount
which it was returned for taxation.
If this lot was worth nine times the
returned value the board of equaliza?
tion should have increased the valu?
ation. That it was worth more than
the valuation placed upon it by the
owner when he made his tax returns
was made evident when he asked and
received; in cash, more than nine times
the amount he paid taxes on. This is
not an unusual or isolated instance. The
fact is, there is not a single piece of
property in Sumter county returned at
its anerket value. Farming land that
cannot be bought for $20 an acre ls j
returned at $2; a lot in this city that*:
would -sell for $i,Q0? is returned Xor
^ $200, or less; a dwetting^ouse worth
$3,909 appears on the tax books with ;
ar ^alsation of $750 or $1,200. This
system of under valuation deprives
the state of its just and lawful in^ j
jcome and makes our tax rates appear ]
?aftmermally high to one net acquainted
-with the South Carolina methods of
-swearingoff taxes.. The entire system
- needs lo be changed and there should |
. be in ?every oounjky a board of ap- j
: praisers who wo??d Justly and rigidly j
"require the return of all property j
-at a fair valuation. It is not fair to j
>tax a man . who has one hqrse worth j
f $100 TO a -validation of $60. and anoth- j
??ar assail who lias: five worth $100 each j
' on a valuation of $40 each, or to
iax*onev-who, possesses 4&ty . $50 worth
of household goods on a valuation of
940 while his neighbor, who has $5.000
worth of personal property, pays on a
valuation of only $1.000. Cash money,
stocks, -bonds.. etc^-the invsible form
<?f property-largely escape taxation
?aKasether; while the man who pays a
?tax on lils Income is a curiosity. There
are, we cndeesi&nd, only ther? or four
such rarities In Sumter county, while
there are, probably, twenty times that
number who enjoy incomes that exceed
tile minimum that the law requires to
be returned for taxation. The conclu?
sion of the whole matter is that there
is no lack of property in South Caro?
ona to yield tile s?tate a sufficient in?
come, but a lack of honest returns.
INo one county, nor no one property
Kjrwner, can. however, inaugurate the
.reform ,but it must -of necessity be
estate-wide in its operation. If one man
returns bis property at full value he
will pay more tuan his just share to- i
ward the support of thc county and
slate governments; if one county
should, by some miiacie, enforce a
rale requiring all property to be re?
turned at its market value it would
<io tsar mere than its share in bearing
eine burden of the: state government;
.consequently we have become a tax
dodging people and the pernicious sys?
tem of false and deceptive tax returns
lias fastened itseiif upon us and it
?itna almost impossible to throw it off.
"VT^ are all disgusted with it, and we
SbsBere. ?hat the great majority of
?property owners would gladly welcome
carry ofeaage that would make pos?
sible fair aad honest tax returns and
Chat would require and compel every
property owner to pay taxes on every
doSar*s worth of property.
. ? .
2s Roosevelt a Democrat because he
advocates one measure that is essen?
tially Democratic ia principle, or is
Bryan a Republican because he en
endorses the president who is wholly
Republican in ail things save his ad?
vocacy of a singt? Democratic meas
ore? One conclusion would be as far?
fetched as the other.
. ? *
There will be no tariff revision dur?
ing President Roosevelt's administra?
tion, if he is guided by the wishes of
?he Republican bosses in the senate
and house. They have no desire to of?
iciad the trusts and the tariff is the
mainstay and support of ninety-nine
per eent. ?f all the trusts, for it ena?
bles them to rob the public in a leis
i2rely and lawful manner. Neverthe?
less it is a difficult position in which
?be president has placed theses-bosses,
-for they must henceforth shoulder the
?n?ire responsibility for the tariff,
x,'i?le President Roosevelt, the smooth
est practical politiean in the land, re?
mains on good t?rms with the trusts,
. for has he not referred the tariff re?
vision nightmare to their very good
friends, the senate and house leaders,
who will do them no harm, while he
can say to the public that; he demand
j ed tariff revision in their interest, but
was over-ruled by his party leaders
in congress, without whose active sup
, port he could do nothings Mr: Roose
vel saves both the tariff and his face
by one astute stroke of policy.
THE NEW RAILROAD.
It can now be positively announced
that the construction of the Sumter
and Northern railroad from Ibis city,
via Bishopville, to a point on the
Seaboard Air Line ?is assured. One of
the gentlemen who has been most ac?
tive in the promotion of the enter
pdise made this statement today and
as he has hertofore been most con?
servative in his views respecting thc
immediate success of the undertaking,
the entire confidence he now expresses
that the road will be built at an early
day, is most encouraging to those of
us who have advocated, a Seaboard
connection for many years'. *r>
The city council has treated the new
road liberally and has by the display
of a progressive public spirit done
much to make the success of the en?
terprise, which has been promoted
largely by our own citizens, a certainty.
The council is to be commended for
the* action taken last night and we are
confident that 90 per cent, of the
people of Sumter will say, well done.
The only obstacle that could now
arise to prevent the early construction
of the road would be a short sighted
policy on the part of land owners in
the country the road will traverse in
respect to the right-of-way and the re?
fusal or failure of the town of Bish?
opville to make liberal provision for
rights of way and terminals. We have
but little fear on this score, however,
for we have" been assured by promi?
nent citizens of Bishopville that they
will not only welcome the Sumter and
Northern railroad, but will make all
reasonable concessions to assist and
promote the enterprise. Likewise the
property owners along th? projected
line are. most favorably disposed to?
ward the nrw railroad, and, we are
informed, they will treat it with
the utmost liberality in view of :'- the
great benefit it will be to the entire
section lt traverses.
The success of this 'enterprise is
peculiarly gratifying to this paper for
we have written and argued in advo?
cacy of the-road for .years, and have
endeavored to demonstrate the great
benefit it would be to the city and this
section of the state. We cannot boast
ingly make the claim that its success
is the result, of. our efforts, but we are
glad that we have contributed in some
small measure to render it possible by
preparing the public to accept it at its
true v?iue.
? . *
Senator Manning's bili to create a
state board of assessors is along the
right line. It is a common sense and
business like suggestion that may prove
to be the long-sought solution of th?
tax problem. It is worth a trial.
. * *
Mr. Laban Morgan's bill to assess
property at its active value is evident?
ly a good bill. It cannot help being a
good bill, if the tiU$ is not misleading.
. * *
If John Mitchell spoke by the book
when he declared the Mine Workers*
union to be ph t^e vej-gef.of disruption
the - J adherents and disinterested
friends of unionism have reason
to regard the future with dismay. Ac?
cording to common report that branch
of organized labor over which John
Mitchell presides has been the most
wisely and conservatively managed of
miners' unions, and has been of ines?
timable benefit to its members, both in
wringing measure of justice from the
mine operators and in preventing use?
less unsuccessful and disastrous
strikes. If it is now to be disrupted as
a result of the disloyalty of its mem?
bers, one may well ask, what promise
of permanent success does the future
hold out to organized labor?
* * ?
The Charleston News and Courier
is not enthusiastic over new railroads
for that city that never get beyond the
prospective stage. But, in a recent ed?
itorial, inspired by the report that the
Southern railway contemplates the
completion of the old 3 C's'road from
Marion, N. C., to Johnson City, Tenn.,
gives expression, in a somewhat plain?
tive strain, to a hope that, some day,
the great highway from Charleston to
the great Middle West will be opened.
We join in the hope sincerely, but
venture to suggest that it would be
more to the purpose, just at this time
for the business men of Charleston to
study the map of the state a little and
try to see if there is not something to
the advantage of Charleston in the
construction of the Sumter and North?
ern railroad from this city via Bish
poville' to a point vn the Seaboard Air
Line, preferably I?icBee. If Charleston
realy desires a seaboard connection it
can be secured by building an inde?
pendent road from that city to Sum?
ter to connect with the Sumter and
Northern. The most direct route from
Charleston to Sumter is through an
undeveloped, but very fertile coun?
try that contains great bodies of un
touched pine forests. With such a
railroad in operation Charleston would
have a direct route-over the Sumter
and Northern and the railroad now
extending from McBee to Jefferson, in
the upper part of Chestefield county
into the heart of a territory frorr
which she is now* practically shut out.
Sumter needs a new railroad to Bish
opville and a connection with the Sea?
board Air Line, and, thanks to the
enterprise of some of our citizens, the
new outlet is now assured. Charleston
should do likewises, but, if her busi?
ness men are not in a hurry and are
content to wait a few years until Sum?
ter needs another outlet to Charles?
ton and the timber in upper Berkeley
county, the Sumter and Northern will
be extended in an air line to tidewater
which, fortunately for Charleston, will
land it somewhere in vicinity of that
harbor. But putting pleasantry aside,
and speaking seriously, it seems to us
that the easiest, quickest and most
profitable way to unbottle Charleston
is for the business men and capitalists
of that city to pull out the cork them?
selves by building: a railroad seventy
or eighty miles to this city. We believe
that a railroad will ultimately be built
on the route indicated, for lumber?
men of experience say that there is
sufficient timber tn the country
through which an air line to Charles?
ton would pass to keep many saw
milts busy for many years. The lum?
ber business alone would therefore
provide the road with a heavy freight
business for several years and by the
time the timber should be exhausted
the country would have been de?
veloped sufficiently to furnish a prof?
itable volume of local business. But
if there were no local business at all,
an outlet of this character ought to be
worth more to Charleston than it
would cost The idea appeals to us .
and we would like to see it realized,
so if Charleston, like Sumter, has not
the money to build it herself, we sug?
gest that some of her citizens take a
leaf out of Sumter's book and hustle
around until they find some one with
the money and enterprise to build it
for them. Before they start out to
hustle, however- and it would be a
most edifying spectacle to see them'
so engaged-they must believe heart
and soul that the proposition is the
best thing that was ever promoted,
for it takes more faith1 to interest a
capitalists in a railroad that unbottles
another man's town and runs through
other people's land than to believe
that Sherman didn't burn Columbia.
It seems to us, however,: that with a
stake like this Charleston should and
j could furnish not only the faith, but
I the morey and the hustle, also.
THE PUBXIC BUILDING.
^Congressman lever Expects favorable
Action bj Congress Hits Session.
. Congressman A. F. Lever writes
Postmaster Shore that the outlook for
:. the early passage of the bill carrying
an appropriation for the erection of
j the government building in this city is
very encouraging, that he has the mat?
ter well in hand and that he has rea?
son to believe that the bill will be
take:: up and favorably recommended
by the house committee on public
buildings at this session of congress.
Mr. Lever has worked zealously to
secure favorable action on the Sum
; ter public building bill and the con
j fidence he now expresses that his ef
j torts will be crowned with success in
I the near future is the best sort of
i news. The public building is assured,
[ no One ever doubted that we would
' get it in time, but thanks to Mr.
Lever's indefatigable efforts it will not
be a case of hope long deferred.
If the committee on public buildings
shall make a favorable report at this
session, it is probable that the bill will
be taken up and passed before con?
gress adjourns.
The public building was sugg-ested
by The Daily Item and was immediate?
ly taken by Mr. Lever who has since
exhibited the greatest possible interest
in the matter, for, as he stated in a
letter to the writer, immediately after
the suggestion was first made, he felt
that Sumter was entitled to a public
building and he would spare no ef?
forts to secure an appropriation.
The next thing to be secured is an
appropriation for a monument to Gen,
Sumter. Mr. Lever is working for this,
also, and he will secure an appropria?
tion before he lets up.
JUDGE WILLIAMSON'S REPORT.
Net Balance of $40.47 to His Credit
Since September 13.
The last report of Magistrate L. R.
Williamson, of Providence, which was
filed today, makes a good showing for
his administration of the office. From
the report, which covers the four
months beginning September 13 and
ending January 13th. the following
cash exhibit is taken. Cash turned in
to county treasurer, $72.80, cash turn?
ed into clerk of court, $6.00; total,
$TS.S0. Sentences imposed 90 days at
30 cents a day. $45.00. Total cash and
labor. $123.80. Total expense for
magistrate and constable. $S3.33, leav?
ing a net balance to the credit of Mag?
istrate Williamson of $40.47.
Engineer Jim Miller has returned
to the service of the Atlantic Coast
Line and now has charge of the shift?
ing engine on the local freight yard.
A GENEROUS GIFT.
Resolutions Adopted by St. James Lu
11 eran Church.
At a congregational meeting of St.
James* Lutheran church held imme?
diately after the morning service, the
following resolutions were adopted:
Resolved, First, That we, the mem?
bers of St. James Evangelical Luther?
an church of Sumter, S. C., in meeting
assembled, do hereby desire to express
to our beloved and devoted sister, Mrs.
Maggie E. Loughery, our heartfelt
thanks and highest appreciation of the
most valued Christmas memorial gift
(in memory of her late husband, Mr.
Jno. F. Loughery) of $300. With
which we were to, and have cancelled
the debt on our church property. It is
with profound gratitude that we here
endeavor to give expression to our in?
most emotions-yet we fail, for no
language of ours is adequate to por?
tray the facts we desire to express.
Second, That we are also truly
grateful and not in the least unmind?
ful of her continued support and co?
operation, although she has transfer?
red her membership.
Third, That for all' this we not only
voice our thankfulness and gratitude,
but assure her that the very strongest
ties of brotherly love prompts these
expressions from us to her, personally,
and in memory of our late brother.
Fourth, That our secretary be in?
structed to forward a copy of these
resolutions to her, "The Ligonier
Echo;" "The Lutheran Church Vis?
itor," and our county papera
Sumter, S. C. January 15r 1904.
The circumstances connected with
this generous gift to the church by
Mrs. Loughery are of sufficient inter?
est to bear repetition at this time.
Mr, J. F. Loughery shortly before
his death had informed the church of?
ficials that it was his intention to pay
the outstanding debt of the church,,
but had not been able to? d?> so prior
to his tragic death as the result of
an accident at the Luken's Lamber
Co.'s mill. He never regained con?
sciousness after being injured and was
not able to make provision? for the
execution of his pledge- after his death,
Mrs. Loughery, however, being cogni?
zant of his promise to- the church,, felt
it a sacred duty that she should carry
out his wishes and of her own voli?
tion made the donation that relieved
the church of debt.
In the Recorder7?* CourtL
Recorder Hurst credited the city's
cash account with $30:00* on Monday.
The first case heard was the- city of
Sumter vs. Dave Sanders,, charge* with
the violation of the liquor ordinance.
The discovery and arrest was effected
by Officers S^vmo?r, MeKagei^and
Weeks. The intendant was found! guil?
ty and paid a fine of $25.00:
In the case of the city of Sumter vs.
Samuel Newman and J. B. White for
fighting on Main street. Mr.. White en
etred a plea of guilty and was1 fined
$5.00. Mr. Newman plead: not guilty
and after hearing the testimony he
was acquitted by the recorder..
XJEPOBT OF TBS CONDITION. OF
THE FIRST MTIOm MUK,
OF SUMTER, S. C.,
At Sumter, in the State of South- Caroona,
at the close of business* Jan. ll, 1905.
RESOURCES*.
Loans and discounts, $320,352 63
Overdrafts, secured and unse?
cured, 27,204 54
U. 8. Bonds to secure circula?
tion.- j 25,000 00
Premium on U. S. Bonds,. 406 25
Bonds,'securities, etc.,. 32,000 00
Banking house, furniture and
fixtures, 3,000 00
Due from National Banks
(not reserve agents), 4,588 73
Due from State Banks and
Bankers, 11,433 13
Due from approved reserve
agents, 3,498 14
Checks and other cash items, 1,569 55^
Notes of other National Banks, 1,000 00
Fractional paper currency,
nickels and cents, 2,943 30
Lawful Money Beserv?
in Bank, viz z
Specie, 45,867 50
Legal-tender notes, 6,500 00 52,367 50
Redemption Fnad with U. S.
Treasurer, per ct. of cir?
culation,) 1,250 00
Total, $536,613. 77
LIABILITIES.
Capital stock paid in, $100,000 00
Surplus fund, 20,000 00
Undivided profite, 'lees ex?
penses and taxes paid, 16,853 46
National Bank notes outstand?
ing, 25,000 00
Due to other National Banks, 1,440 38
Dee to approved reserve agents, 2,456 94
Dividends unpaid, 270 66
Individual deposits subject to
check, 370,587 33
Total $536,613 77
State of South Carolina, ) gg
County of Sumter. )
I, R. L. EDMUNDS, Cashier of the
above named bank, do solemnly swear that
the above statement is true to the best of
my knowledge and belief.
R. L. EDMUNDS, Cashier.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this
16th day of Jan. 1905.
GEO. L. SICKER,
Notary Public.
Correct-Attest :
A. J. CHINA, )
G. A. LEMMON, ? Directors.
H. D. BARNETT )
OSTEOPATHY
Corrects the cause of disease and cures
when nothing else will. Its cures are per?
manent because Natural. All diseases
treated Oiscasts of Women a Specialty.
/R. R. V. KENNEDY.
Office over Bultman Bros.' Shoe Store,
Sumter. S. C. - Consultation Free
Plantation Supplie
What a pity we cannot eat cotton, for it eeems to be
the cheapest staple product in the world to-day, but
we cannot dispose of it in that manner, and while it
continues to decline, we must live and buy other
staples at a high price to make more.
As usual at this season of year, our warehouses are
stocked with
Staple Grocerie
from the leading packers and manufacturers of the
country.
We have actually in stock and in transit
500 barrels of Flour?
40,000 pounds of Bacon.
10,000 pounds of Tobacco,
100 barrels of Sugar.
50 bags of Coffee.
30 barrels of New Orleans Molasses.
25 barrels of Georgia Syrup.
300 sacks of Rice.
500 sacks of Grits.
300 sacks of Steal.
10,000 pounds of Lard.
NOT YET FO
We have yet to find the custon
who has not pronounced
Millbourne Flour
The Finest Bread and Biscuit fla
he has ever tried.
ABE YOU PLEASED WITH I
-1. .
? t .'V
We Take Pleasure In Fitting Th
Hard To Fit.
Some people think unless they get a tadio:
made suit they can't get a fit, but if they wi]
only give us a call we can soon convince theo
thev are wrong. Our Stein-Block and Isa?
Hamburgers Clothing fit to profection and al?
have that tailored effect that other housa
haven't. Then we claim we can save you ifm
$3.00 to $5.00 a suit by buying from us. Tl
we can prove to you by giving us a call. I
We have just received another shipments
the famous Walk Over shoes in all styles m
leathers. Our windows are full of holiday gil
such as gloves, ties, handkercheifs and nfl
flers. Remember you are always welcol
whether you call to buy or not.
co.
No. 5, S. MAIN ST.
THONE