Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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i VII CttMTKR WATCHMAN, Estobll Consolidated Aug. 2,188 I^ISatchnnn anb jSoutbron. IHlsasnhirt Wednesday ?ml Saturday ?BY? MTCEN PUBLISHING COMPANY SC M TBK. S. C. Terms: I).10 per annum?In advance. Advertisements: Mhxe Bqoare first Insertion.11.00 T&rery subeequent Insertion... * .50 Coatrects tor three months, or Will be made at reduced rate?. AH oommethlcations which sub fjeivate Interests will be charged Jssv as advertisements. \ Obttaarle? and tributes of reapocte be charged for. OOTXTY HOARD MKCTINfi. tiaeitme Business Tran-*?cie<l?Com Mftgsemtive Statement of l<:xpen*e?t >r ? %%m ami I sot. ?- The Hoard of County Commission era met In regular monthly cession Tuesday. Januacy 4th. with Super? visor Pitts end Commissioner P. K. ? Tbe^iaa, John I. Itrogdon. W. J. Young and B. T. Mlms present. p The tninutes of the previous meet? ing were read an t approved and the regular order of business was taken Mr. Thea E. Richardson appeared age* reocommt nded that the legisla? tive delegation U requested to have JL taw enacted requiring murder *9ffjssj to be held In the county in the crime Is committed and Jfffcy county where the victim application ?f Mr. B. M. Pow for county pension as s Confed veteran was granted -era* decided t put in s bid for latjrt oafs owned by the county hoard, t safe being need Use 'County Treasurer. i fa wss adopted directing to employ an expert so audit the accounts of eor's office for the year not to send a del mule to the amount of led for $60. Pitts substituted s statement of the expeu county for the year, 1908 1 ttff The total expense* for Wore 149.140.17 end for 1909. .07.10. The expense* of 1909 1901 by tl.HSfc.93. but as 9?. 114.01 went Into permanent Invert rate In the way of plumbing t*r jail, purchase of wagons, mules ?arts for the chain gsng and construction of concrete the sctual expenses for ord purposee were less thsn dur th? previous year by 9917.09. An Is of the roads and bridge* int showed thst the following gats were paid out per quarter OS) this account. 1st quarter. $:?. Ml; lud quarter. $1.419.19; 3rd tar "J79.19. The large amount expended during the first qusrter dus to the bad condition of ly bridges st the beginning of the year, which necessitated Immediate repairs Practically all the bridges were put In thorough repair during i Use year sad < the expenditures on ac coant of brtdgea during 1910 should be leas than In 1909. unless there should be disastrous floods. The bills on file were sudlted and d paid and all routine busi? ness disposed of. The b- -rd will meet again on Thursday to confer with the legisla? tive Allegation In reference to the tax levy for the year and other mat? ter? that require leglalatlve enact Ne?To Onnufl Kim met ator?. Washington. Jan. 5.?The appoint? ment of negro cenaus enumerators In the South waa dlacuaaed with Presi? dent Taft today by Kepr'jaentatlves Bartlett and Hardwlck of Georgia. The announcement of Census Direc? tor Durand that negro enumerators would be employed to take the cen? sus Of the nearoes In the South took the }4outherner? to the White House. President Taft assured his callers thst so far as he controlled the situ? ation, nnd he thought he knew what he Was talking about, no negro c?:n ?us enumerators would attempt to tke a cenaus of white people iM the ?uth. He explained that It was the ?lief of the census authorities that ?groen could be more effectUe In ruling dsts. regarding negroes In (he South than white people, par? ticular! v In c?>nsus districts largely ?pulited by negroes. The president's assurances were ittsfsctory to tli Southern callers, ilthnngh they expressed the opinion Ml the policy of the census authori? se would be a failure so far as the th at large was concerned. iUot( shed April, I860. 'Be Just ai l._SUM TO REASSESS PROPERTY "IIU'E MOXKY VALUE" THE LR GAL STAM>AIU>. Comptroller General Jonen Sem!? out Instructions to County Auditors. Township and Special Hoards of Assessor* and County and State Hoard* of Kquall/ation to <?uide Them In Reassessment of l?r<?per ty for Taxation. Columbia. Jan. 3.?This Is the year for reassessment of property in S-uith Carolina. An itemized state no-it of all property subject to tax? ation must be returned "at its true money value," this is Constructed to menn "the sum for which property under ordinary circumstances would sell for cash." Comptroller General Jones Is send? ing out instructions to county audi? tors and county boards of assessors and to ihe State board of equaliza? tion. These instructions embrace the laws of taxation in South Cnro* Una with special information for the county boards and tax assessors. Th?.re Is being advocated now a tax comia!-slon by the Comptroller General, and the proposition is meet? ing wltr. geneeral favor throughout the Statt. A number of county news? papers aave taken the matter up and are Joining with the Comptroller General In the advocacy of the tax commission. In the matter of income taxes Comptroller General Jones says: "Ample provision hi made for the complete enforcement of the Income tax. its non-enforcement Is inex? cusable." A few days ago Mr. Jones culled upon the auditor of Greenville to strictly enforce the law. it having been reported at this office that 93 men were liable for th's tax in that county. The following are instructions in part sent out from the office of Comptroller General Jones to county auditors, township and special board* of assessors and county and State Property} TJB?er^CaoVtJf Laws of South Car? olina, Sections 870 and 267, author? ity la given the Comptroller General to prepare and transmit all forms and Instructions he may deem neces? sary to carry into effect the provis? ions of the tax laws, and to decide all questions which may arise as to the true construction of the same. The Instruction thus given shall be obeyed by, and the decisions thus made shall be binding upon, all county, town and municipal officers. ?Code of Laws, Section 370. I had prepared In 1905 an ab? stract of the tax laws, which was then approved by the Attorney Gen? eral's office, and coplea of which were then aent each county auditor for guidance In the assessment of property and other duties connected with the tax department. If you have net a copy of this abstract In your office, please advise me of the fact, and I will send you a copy. In tho reassessment of property, commencing January 1, 1910, coun? ty auditors must require of all tax? payers an Itemised return of all prop perty subject to taxation "at Its true valuation In money," which Is con? strued to mean "the sum for wh'ch sa'd property, under ordinary cir? cumstances, would sell for cash." All returns must be sworn to, and no return will be considered either by the county auditors or boards of assessors unless sworn to. The responsibility for a full and detailed return of all property sub? ject to taxation and its assessment at Its true value in money rests pri? marily with the county auditors. Township Hoard of Assessors. It Is the duty of township boards of assessors to personally examine each piece of property in their re? spective townships and to assess It at Its true value in money, a sum at which, n their Judgment, said prop* erty, under ordinary circumstances, would sell for cash. The true value In money or market value at which you are required to asaSss real sStatS and personal property for the pur? pose of taxation d >(* not mean its < stream value, sashsnge vaiuo or prOSpeOtlVf value, but the actual sell? ing value. True value In money, selling value and market value are ?ynonyasoui terms, and have been appropriately defined to be the sum Which I willing purchaser la pre pared to pay, and which s willing Seller will accept. Discrimination must rn-t mad.- in favor of or against any kind of tenable property! Bquatity is the fundamental princi? ple of taxation, and It Is only by an adherence to thla principle that Justice can be done to all taxpayers. You are to assess all property reward less of any previous value fixed by id Fear not?Let all the ends Thou A In TER. S. C, SATTJRI ! FARNUM PLEADS GUILTY. - BIO CHAPTER ADMITS HKIHIXG DISPENSARY DIRECTOR. / I ?, ? As the Result of n Comprise Agree? ment Farnum Admits His Guilt and Pays a line of $5,000?Ac? cording to Agreement With Attor? ney G?ttern] Lyon This F.nds Pros? ecution of Farnum, ColumMa, Jan. 8,?James S. Far? num pleaded guilty i efore Jud^e Prince in the circuit CC irt today to rebating former dispensary director Joseph P. Wylle In the sum of fif teen hundred dollars on March 6, 1 906. and was , fined five thousand ooiiius. which he paid with a cash? ier's check dated yesterday. This ends all further prosecution of Far? num. being the terms of a compro? mise agreed to by Attorney General Lyon. former boards. Whenever the val? uation or assessment of any proper? ty Is fixed at a sum greater by one hundred dollars or more than the amount returned by the owner, or his agent, the county auditor muit give notice to the owner or agent In j writing of such increase. If they ob-j ject to such valuation and asssess- J ment they have the right to appeal I to the county board of equalization. Code, Section 380. The township board in assessing the values shall not reduce the aggregate valuation in the'r township below the aggre? gate value returned by the county auditor. We must recognize, in the per? formance of these duties, that It is a condition, not a mere theory that confronts us. Xo matter what standard of valu? ation for assessment is taken by the boards whether the true value or a percentage thereof, it is absolutely necessary that the true value be as? certained as near as possible by the board, either for the purpose of as I sessing on that valuation, or If a per* I centage Is taken the relative per I centilge there?fl ' This is necessary" I to attain equality and justice bc I tween tax-papers; and to enable the I State board of equalization to equal I lze values as between counties, cities I and towns. I If the boards refuse to carry out j the law, they should at least assess I all tax-payers on the same percent I ange of the true value of their prop I erty. Income Tax. I There is no class of taxpayers bet I ter able to help bear the burden of I taxation than those whose incomes I are over and above $2,500. County I auditors are specially directed as to I their duties In ? the enforcement of I this law.?Code of Laws, Sections I 325, 326, 327, 828, 329 330 and 331. I The provision In the original Act I (Criminal Code Section 489.) pro I hlbitlng the disclosure of Income tax I returns is repealed by the Act of I 1905. XXIV Statute. 850. Ample I provision Is made for the complete 1 enforcement of the Income tax, its I non-enforcement Is inexcusable. I Special rules as to the assessment I of cotton mills and other textile ln I dustries and canals providing power I for rent or hire, and cotton seed oil I mills and fertilizer companies and I banking corporations. Auditors will require above com I panics to return and swear to the j value of property and other lnfor 1 rryUlon as designated upon special I blanks. Township or special boards j of assessors will assess such corpora I tlons and equalize at their true value j In money or on the same basis as I other taxpayers. County boards of I equalization will pass upon such as I sessments upon the same basis as I other property, and should endeavor j to assess all, as required by law, at j its true value in money. State Hoard of Equalization. Ra^h member shall take an oath J or nfllrmatlon that be will, to the I best of his knowledge and belief, so far ns the duty devolves on him. I equalise the valuation of real proper I ty smong the several counties, cities and villages In this State, ac? cording to the rules prescribed for valuing and equalising the value "f resl pr ?perty, In the manner piv ?ciibed by law.?-Code of Laws as follows: 1st. They shall add to the aggre? gate value <>f the real property of every county, which they shall be? lieve to lie valued below Its true value in money, such per centum in ?ach case as will raise the same to its true value in money. Id, They shall deduct from the aggregate valuation of the real prop? erty of every county which they shall believe to bo valued above its true value in money, such percentum In each as will reduce the same to onD i la't at be thy Country's, Thy God's an )ay. january 8, 11 TRUST CDITOIeTwEBBtI MOlUi.W, RYAN VXD MORTON IX 150-MILLION COMBINE. Guaranty, Morton and Fifth Avenue Trust Companies United tinder the Title of the Guaranty Trust Com? pany?The Merger is Perhaps the bergest of its Kind in the United States, New York, January 3.-?J. Pier pont Morgan. Thomas F. Ryan and Levl P. Morton linked hands in New York today in a trust company mer? ger, which unites resources of $150, 000,000. It is a triple combination, bringing the Guaranty Trust Compa? ny, all of this city, under one head, with the title of the Guaranty Trust Company. The merger is perhaps the largest of its kind In the United States. Directors of all three companies met today and informally approved the terms of the merger, which will be put in more definite form on Wed n( .day, when another directors' meeting will be held and the plan ratified by the stockholders. Levl P. Morton, president of the Morton Trust Company and the Fifth Avenue Trust Company?both known as the Morton-Ryan concerns, has consented to act as chairman of the boaVd of the merged companies for which no president has yet been se? lected. This new move in finance follows the recent absorption of the Guaran? ty Trust Company by the so-called Morgan interests, but upon just what terms the merger was made was not disclosed today. The Guaranty Trust Company was organized in 1891, and has total deposits of more than $88, 000,000. The Morgan Trust Company which was formerly the banking house of Bliss, Morton & Co., was organized in 1899. Thomas F. Ry? an Is vice president. Its deposits ag? gregate more than $45,000,000. Like the Guaranty Trust Company its capital and surplus are $2,000,000 ^ench. Th^e 'filth Avenue T&uet^om^ pany, founded ten years ago, is one of the better known up-town finan? cial institutions. With a capital and a suurplus of $1,000,000 each, it has paid a very large dividend In recent years. The capital stock of the new company probably will be fixed at $5,000,000, with perhaps a like amount for surplus. It is believed that the merger will involve large stock and cash dividends to the share-holders of the three companies. The present headquarters of the Fifth Avenue Trust Company will be retained as a branch of the combined companies, while larger offices will house the combined companies In the financial district. If some of the rich men fall to toe the mark there are quite a number able and willing to put up from $1, 000 to $2,500. Therefore there is nothing to prevent the building of the hotel except the failure of the people to get together. its true value in money. 3d. If they believe that right and Justice require the valuation of the real property of any town, city or village in any county or of the real property of such county not in towns, cities or villages to be raised or reduced, without raising or re? ducing the other real property of such county, or without raising or reducing it to the same ratio, they may In every case add to or take from the valuation of property In any one or more of such towns, cities or villages such percentum as they believe will raise or reduce the same to its true value in money. 4th. If the State board of equali? zation should find that real estate in any county is assessed at only a fractional proportion Of its true value, and should refuse to raise the assessment to such true value; then in common justice to all taxpayers, the valuations should be so adjusted as to assess property in the State, both real and personal, on the same basis or percentage of its true value. Property should not be assessed, as in the case of real property In some counties at 20 per cent, or less, of its true value; and in others at 60 per cent. The burden of taxation must be equalised among all taxpay? ers, The board shall keep a full ac? count Of their proceedings and or? ders. We, the tax officers of the state, are not law-makers. We have no right to net up a ride of our making against that prescribed by the Legis? lature. But the responsibility of ap? plying and enforcing the law made by the Legislature rests upon us. A. W. Jones, Comptroller General. d Truth's.' THE TK? 310. New 8er MANNING ENJOYS A GALA DAY CORNER STONE OF COURT HOUSE AND GRADED SCHOOL LAID. Great Crowd Present at Exercises, In spite of Inclement Weather*?Ha* sons Perform Ceremony, Past Grand Master Miehic Presiding? Judge Wilson, JndgO Moinminger. Lieutetiat Governor Mcl/'od. Hon. M. L. Smith and Others Speak. Manning) Jan. 5.?Today opened most unsuspiciously for the notable occasion set for this date. A cold north wind and a fine, drizzling rain that fr<>zc as it fell did not offer ideal con? ditions for such an event as the for? mal laying of the corner-stones of two public building! with Masonic ceremony. Though the rain held up about 10 o'clock, the weather was still very inclement when the ceremony began at the school house at 11 o'clock. Masons Perform Ceremony. Despite this fact, however, there was a large concourse of people, in? cluding many ladies, gathered for the occasion. The Masons to the num? ber of about one hundred assembled In the auditorium of the school building and thence, headed by Metz's Band from Charleston, march , ed to the northeast corner of the building, where the ceremony of lay? ing the cornerstone took place. All the school children were assembled In grades around the scene. Past Grand Master J. L. Mlchle, of Darl? ington, presided. Leaving the school building the procession moved to the Court House, where a like cere? mony was performed. In the two cornerstones were placed a number of Interesting articles. After the second ceremony, the Masons and hundreds of others as? sembled in the Court room. Grand Master Mlchle called the audience to order and delivered an oration on Masonry, whjch proved so interest* ing and instructive that the entfre ^aVudfenccT was" heldv spellbound'.' f?e explained why the Masons were call? ed upon to perform the ceremonv%of laying cornerstones and gave quite I an interesting historical sketch of I Masonry and instances of the services I of# that organization in connection I with the ancient buildings in the Orl I ent. After the address of Mr. I Mlchle Judge John S. Wilson and I Judge R. W. Memminger took their I seats on the Judges' bench, Court I was called to order and the Court I rier formally opened the Courts of I General Sessions and Common Pleas. I Thereupon the grand jury was called I and instructed by the Court to retire I to its room and select a foreman. Mr. I A. S. Briggs was selected as the fore I man and Judge Wilson then proceed I ed to deliver his charge to the grand I Jury. Before he entered upon his I charge, however, he gave an hlstori I cal sketch of the Cot rt House here I and some of the Judges who had I presided at this place. He then took I up the oath of a gran3 jury and an I alyzed it and stressed the different I parts of the oath. He laid special stress upon the fact that they should I keep secret whatever transpired in I the grand jury room, and also cm I phaslzed the fact that they should, I at least once a year, examine the dlf I rerent offices of the Court and let the I public know whether or not the offl I cers were discharging their duties to I the public in a faithful, efficient man I ner. Hon. M. L. Smith Speaks. Col. Jos. F. Rhame then rose to introduce the Hon. M. L. Smith, of I Camden, as the representative of the I Bar of South Carolina Before In I troducing Mr Smith, Col. Rhame I spoke of the early history of Man? ning, of her local Bar, and the Court I houses, and gave the names of those I members of the Manning Bar who I volunteered In the Confederate war and paid quite a tribute to their memory. He then introduced Mr. Smith, who held the undivided atten I tlon of the audience for about twen j ty minutes. He spoke of the build? ing of handsome edifices by the an I dent countries as an evidence of their regard for peace and law and love I of knowledge, of the importance of a strict observance of the laws of th I country, and of the responsibility of Istarting a child right at the home as the first place. He also referred to I the hand-in-hand work of tlu school! land the Courts and the Church in promoting the highest standard of I citizenship. Lieutenant Governor McLeod Extends Congratulations. Senator Appelt then In a few re? marks spoke of the good work done by the Court House commission and Introduced Lieutenant Governor Mo Lend as the representative of th a State on this occasion. Lieutenant E SO tON, Established June, 1 ie -VoL XXX. Sa, 3?. _ ernor McLeod, after a few re rn V. irks of a humorous nature spoke f the progress of the State as evi? denced by the erection of handsome buildings for public service, end de? livered the congratulations of the State upon the step taken by Claren? don County. J. H. Lesesne, Esq.. of the local Bar. then delivered a few remarks relating directly to the present and peel school houses here, which show? ed that Clarendon County was as much interested in school work as in the machinery of the Courts. The jury was then dismissed, and Court adjourned, and the Court House commission, local Bar and #visiting ittornoys and friends repaired to the Central Hotel, where a tempting and sumptuous feast awaited their ready appetites. The history of the Court House at this place is briefly told by a hand? some bronze memorial tablet placed on the wall of the main entrance hall, and bearing the following in? scription: CL?REN RON COURT HOUSE. First erected, A. D. 1S56. Burned, A. D. 1865. New buildirg erected, A. D. ltTt. Building removed, A. D. 1908. This building erected, A. D. 1908-9? Building Committee?D. W. Al? derman; W. Scott Harvin, C. M. Da? vis, Charlton DuRant, W. C. Davis. Legislative Delegation?Louis Ap pelt, Senator; I. M. Woods, Represen? tative; O. C. Scarboroujh, Represen? tative; J. R. Dingle, Representative. Shand & Lafaye, architects; Clar? ence T. Jones, associate. The new building Is an exception? ally handsome structure, located in the centre of a beautifully shaded square. The basement is built of In? diana sandstone, the walls of red repressed brick with white mortar, terra cotta trimmings and metal roof* The main entrance is through a mas? sive, tile-floored porch, with large standstone columns, while there are other entrances with granite steps at . the. three pfhier aid en. The basement is arranged for the hee*ii?? and san!~ Hr* features and* for' storing pur? poses, while all the county offices are conveniently located or the flr:?t floor. On the upper floor Is the large beautifully finished and comfortabK] furnished Court room, jury rooms, and special rooms for the Judge, the solicitor, witnesses and for ladies at? tending Court. The entire building, furnished com? plete, cost about $60,000, and a num? ber of competent judges, who have examined it, pronounce It the best building for the money to be found anywhere In the country. This fact is entirely to be credited to the ex? ceptionally competent building com? mittee, who had the erection of the building In charge. The Graded School. The Graded School building, is of somewhat plain design, having a kind of modified Mission effect. No expense was Incurred for mere or? namentation. It is built of dark, hard brick, with sandstone trim? ming!., with a red tile roof. The in? terior arrangement is truly a model for a school building. There are twelve class rooms all furnished with the most approved seats and desks, blackboards, clak rooms, etc., and all admirably lighted with ample win? dows, well ventilated and steam heat? ed. While it is practically fire-proof, ? all the doors open outward to afford ready and certain egress In ca3? there should be an alarm. Centrally located In the building is an excel? lent auditorium fitted frith opera chairs, with a seating capacity of eight hundred. There is a large stage fitted with a beautiful drop curtain, foot lights and dressing rooms, and withal a very superior arrangement of, electric lights. SAFE CRACKERS AT WORK. Postoffice at Hartsville Robbed by Safe Cracker?. The Posoflice at Hartsville was en? tered by burglars Tuesday night, the safe blown open with dynamite and robbed of its contents. The burglary^, was committed sometime between midnight and dawn and was not dis? covered until next morning. The ex? plosion that wrecked the sale did not arouse anyone and the burglars got away safety with the loot with several hours start. The job was evidently the work of profession\i safe crackers, as it was done in a workmanlike manner. The safe crackers left some of the tools used in the Job lying on the floor. The news id* the burglary came in n telephone meessgs to chief of Police Bradford, who was request* ?1 to be on the lookout for suspicious looking characters. The message did not say what amount of money the safe crackers secured.