Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

enact a corporation and privilege 11 eaeis? law, baaed upon the general plan adopted by the State pf Virginia. It la further recommendytil that a consumption tax on gasoline, tobacco, and soft drinks should he provided for. One cent per gallon on gasoline would yield *\oproxlnmte?y four hundred thousand dollars; one-half of one per cent to be collected from wholesaler, broker or Jobber In soft drinks, to? bacco, etc.. would yield a considerable aura. This whole subject in so thoroughly discussed In the report of tin Sptcial Oommlttee on Revenue srd Tuxutlon that f do not feel It essential to go Into detail?. I concur in the view of the commute* that the Constitution of the Stuf.' be amended so an to au? thorise the legislature to classify property for taxation with a view to distributing the tax burden upon all property according to the principle of tax paying ability, and earnestly urge the passage of such an amend? ment at this session. It the operation of the proposals herein will decrease the actual amount of taxe < paid by the owner of prop? erty, cause persons who ha ve hereto? fore escaped the responsibility of taxation to pay their share, and at the same time provide a sufficient revenue for financing the State Gov? ernment In a decent sort of way. what then csn bo the objection. In order to show the operation of the recom? mendations contained herein, so far as the income tax Is concerned, the fol? lowing i \amplrs have been selected to tltusf/ratc the result when applied to the actual taxpayer. 1. "A' owns a home which ho* tx en ssassssed at 14.Quo.00 and a stock of merchandise assessed at $8.000.uo. A tax levy of twelve mills would require ??A" to pay >n his property taxes the aum of $144 00 Now, suppose that mA'm*' net ir. come for the year was ?8.900.00, and that his dependents were a wife and two children. Under the proposal plan he wouli pay, I'D The property tax of Piae mill* or .$ 108.00 (3) An Income tex of 1-8 of 1 per cent, on all over his exemption, or. 13.00 Makkng s total of .3121.00 It will be eeen that "A" will pay a property. and income tax totaling $33.00 loss than he would pay under the prssent system. This difference would, necessarily, be paid by some ons who has heretofore escaped tax? ation. 3. B" has s family of four (a wife aai three children), and he operates a farm and country store. The farm and merchandise business sre asses ad at $30.000.00 With a State tax levy of twelve mills he would be re? quired to pay tax-s in the amount of $340.0'?. Under the plan recommenc? ed, and assuming that his income was $8,000.00 a year, he would pay as fol (1) Nine mills on $20.000.00, ar. < (8) Income tax of 1 per eent. on all over exemption 14,0* A total tax of. 8234.00 In thai case "B" would pay $8.00 leas on both p-operty and Income tha.n he Is paying under our present sy? tern. This difference, of course, would be paid by some one who is not pay? ing taxes. 8. A broker maintains an office whioh la furnished with 31.000.00 worth of office equipment, and he makes an annual profit of $2o.000.00. Under the present system of taxation he would pay twelve mills on $1,000 for tho support of the state govern? ment or 312.00 taxes. Under the pro? posed plsn he would pay property tax In the aum of 89.00 and Incomu tax In the sum of about $?'> )0.00. In this case the sum of nearly 3&00 would ba transferred from tho tax on property owners to the broker who has heretofore escaped the responsi? bilities of taxation. 4. A physician, living in the city, owns no property except his home, an automobile and professional equip? ment, which have been assessed at $13.000.00. and his annual income is something like 390 000.00. Under our prseent system his income escap? 8 taxation and he would , ay property taxes of about $144.00. Under the proposed plan the physician would pay property tax of about $1,800.00. This substantial Increase represents an amount which would be transfered from the property owner's tax to the physician's Income, which has here? tofore escaped taxation. 5. An attorney owns no property except his office equipment and law library, which has been assessed at $800 0'). und Ms annual Income is shout $10.000 00 Under our present erstem of taxation this ?Morne\ woi id pay property taxes in the stun ol about 98.00, whereas under the proposed system he would p \ props ty and income taxes of about 1280.84, watch amount would represeni n just trans? fer from tho ? f im pe, \ own era to tho income 01 the attornfjf who has heretofore not pf 11 hat share of the cost of sovernment. These examples will serve In a measure to illustrate the practical op- ' eratlon of *h*? legjtejsl on laeo nnv nd-, rd. ami. m my udnlon, will aid in ' seen r In a amendment to the Constitu? tion to Ion - at,out a complete reform in l)M entire las system. When yon' submit to the electofl of the state a proposition f.. intend the caaetltaxlon your 8sYpeal erouid be mare effective I if you have an actual demoaatration of von, p'lipo*. i agree fully with ths k)sJ8saithfe romm tt< o on revenue end taxation that Iber? .an bS no soui t asps thorough? going refoew of the tax system of Ihe etat? until Hiss dasan Itaajens I rest r let loas upon the pssjrei of t ?e general nuw nhlj b relation to th? general prop i y Uu Wt remove,! . Put it BS f WSJ to BSg thai tt would be ? mi ?' i ken policy to defer the cnaitini nl of sack legislation US Is permitted bj the eonstitutlon Until th?i constitution bis t.een amended, If the pr?e;u?sals wbah I have made enn be eSSSeted late lall now. sue)) )-n act see nl win is* tb. nest assurance nl our ultimate purpose a id the host evidence of on? iMli^ lo dNI r pm t ? taxes pi so b it W.e ? * .I?e\e |||e iM . sent i x. sai re k \ t us langtbls |.roper' The budget for the fiscal year till i i no\i?ir atetjre sjennej fat public education. A "areful estimate of the amount, of money neec ed to carry out the provisions of exist Ihr taw shown that the state, if it meets its obliga? tion to the various school districts, [ must appropriate a sum in excess of i two million dollars. T^iis money must bi raised from some source, or it will be necessary for the stats to take aj backward step and neglect her edu? cational interests which is the basis of a happy and prosperous people. The acceptance of the latter alterna? tive is to my mind inconceivable and! would mean immediate stagnation. We cannot overlook the fact that South Carolina already occupies an , unenviable position in the matter of education. Retrenchment i$; not only | advisable hut necessary in many of ; our departments ami tctivitiea but failure to provide SdSQUatC education? al facilities for people is not econ? omy but a most recklesa extravagance. In order properly to support the best inttrests of the public schools, you must include a sum sufficient to maintain adequately the institutions for higher education. The college is i the PSUrOS of supply for the talent nec eessary to direct the primary schools. Our colleges are at present over StOWdod and unless tho depression of ? business shall continue for a longer period than is anticipated, this crowd? ed condition is likely to continue. There is still a shortage of competent teachers; the present lax levy is, as 1 have already stated, excessive; the property taxpayer is justly complain? ing of his burden; and unless we can find other sources of revenue ,the in? stitutions and Interests of the state must Inevitably sutler. It is for these reasoie that I urge, with so much eai in stness. the enactment of addi? tional revenue legislation at this ses? sion. What are some of the benefits which the people of South Carolina receive from taxation. The state pro? vides education for all of our chil? dren; college and university instruc? tion for our young men and women; special education for the deaf and blind; it provides instiltuional care for neglected and, illegitimate chil? dren; treatment for the unfortunate insane; correctional care for the oriminal; training for the feeble? minded; practical education for our delinquent adolescent youths; pro? tection against the ravages of tu? berculosis and other contagious and Infectious diseases; it gives police protection to our industries, as Well as the citizen, and provides (too in? adequately, it is true,) for our con? federate .soldiers, and, through the instrumentality of the courts, a means for the protection of property rights, as well as the security of the person. These benefits are essential to the welfare of society and are far rreater than those which we receive from tho federal government The poor man on whom fortune, for some resson, has not smiled and who earns his bread by the sweat of his brow, has but one source to which he can look for the education of his children und the protection of their health, and that source is the state. The state's ability to meet its obligation in this respect is dependent on its revenue. I have no apology to make, here or elsewhere, to any man or woman, high or loa*, rich or poor, for my unwaver? ing advocacy of an adequate provis? ion for tho education of our people and the protec.lon of their health. I believe these obligations rest upon the stare and that it is the solemn duty of all citizens to contribute to the support of this service in pro? portion to their respective abilities. I shall a little later address you more directly on the matter of education. Afirteulturc. The conditior. of those engaged in agriculture In this state is such as to j demand our most serious thohght ! South Carolina is essentially, I am ; glad to sa>, an agricultural state and I must, necessnri y, remain so. Our ma- | terial prosperity is now. and s must ever be, dependent upon agriculture. Through Clems^n College and the de? partment of agriculture, as well as other agencies, the production of our soil has been materially increased. We have now a more intelligent ag I [culture, so far as production in con? cerned, but for the past fifty years too little attention has been given to the Important matter of providing s system of intelligent marketing of our agricultural products. Tim present state warehouse system has undoubt? edly been of service to the state along this line. The act of congress known as the warehouse act should be a great help to our people if its pro? visions were taken advantage of in a proper way. I recommend that th< present ware? housing law be so amended as to pro? vide for the Standardisation of ware? houses, and that no warehouse be taken into, or allowed to remain in. the state unless it meets the required standard?allowing, of course, suffi? cient time for the necessary change ?o he effected. This could not be done imnudialely without inJury. 1 initiier recommend that provision be made for inspection and grading of all cotton and other commodities stor? ed in warehouses by public graders, and that no certificate be issued by the owner of i warehouse, but issued on I) o\ an official of the state deslg nuted foi the purpose, We should provide i" th< employment for this word "t I tu best talent available. This, in my opinion, is the first nec ?wrv step looking to the orderly and profitSble mat k? tine of the great staple crop of the state Kvery step necessary should he taken to guar? antee to the public with Whom we must <bai that certlflcaiss issued b) a warehouse under state supervision ire eorreet, not only as to the qunn tity of a particular commodity, but that Us a rude has been determined by competent graders ThS American Cotton association Is rendering a sogsMernblu service to oui igrtculturSi and I believe that its recommends lions for needed leglsla? tion should receive the Sareful and fnvonible attention of the law-making h nth or Its Whatever other states mar do. let South Carolina provide in this respect far lbs protection of In i own Intel c*ts. it is Important is imi connection?? though not a matter lor special leg? islation?thut the farmer must he im? pi eased With lbs ibsolub necessity oi a reduction of cotton acreage for the year 1921, We haVe not produced more cotton than the world needs, 'but apparently, we have produced more than the world is able to con? sume under the present unsettled eco? nomic conditions, it is unfortunate that this Condition should have conn upon us at a time when we are un- j prepared to protect ourselves against serious loss, Mistakes of the past should be sufficient incentive to cause ui to prepare for the future. Permanent Improvement. Heretofore, it has been the policy of this state to provide for necessary im? provements in the state from our an? nual budget, This is one reason why the annual tax levy has increased as it has. 1 believe the legislature should ascertain what is absolutely necessary in the way of permanent improvements during a period of ten years, and submit to the electors of the state the question of a bond is? sue sufficient to take care of such improvements and distribute the cost through a period of years rather than provide for It in annual levies. I have requested the different institutions to submit estimates along this line, and I am submitting these estimates to you for your information. 1 trust you will see this matter as I do. We prohapb never can come abreast Of ou.r responsibilities under the plan we have heretofore followed. A build? ing is more permanent than a road; yet roads are constructed from bond Issue prOCOCd?. Why erect public buildings out of annual levies. The violation of law in this and other states Is a matter of serious public concern. A great deal of this can be attributed to n natural reac? tion from the war. Another cause is the distress of on: p< oplti duo to the unsettled condition of business, which is also attributable to the war. What? ever may be the cause, the fact is that the past year lias witnessed an un? usual wave of crime. A great deal d< ponds upon a proper enforcement of the prohibition law. Reports in. few state constables i have been able to employ, and from other sources, show that the illicit manufacture of alcoholic liquors and beverages in the state is appalling. Almost daily I re? ceive complaints from good citizens in various sections of the state and not infrequently from wives and mothers who are especial victims of the violation of this law. This state, as well as the United States, Is definite? ly committed to the policy of prohi? bition of alcoholic beverage; it there? fore becomes tho duty of tho state to enforce its own enactment. If the governor is to be charged with the responsibility (and no doubt he should be) of the enforcement of this low, It is necessary that he bo provided with sufficient funds and sufficient author? ity. The entire police authority? state, county and municipal?should, with proper reflections, he subject to the governor's orders in the enforce? ment Of this particular law. 1 have requested an increase in the appropriation for law enforcement. There are those who believe that this law, like all others, should be enforc? ed by the regularly elected officers of the counties and cities. If a sheriff, ) with the hetp usually given him, is re? quired to enforce the prohibition law in his county, ho must necessarily, do ro to the neglect of other duties. It Is believed aleo?and this belief is based on experience?that specially employed constables arc necessary for the enforcement of a law which is so generally violated. I have reach? ed the conclusion, after carefully con? sidering the matter, that the law should be SO amended that a person found guilty of a wilful violation of th ? prohibition law should serve a term of Imprisonment, and that the ipayment Of any amount of money should noi be sufficient to relieve from the at rvloe of the imprison? ment Sentence, and that there should be no suspension Of such sentence ex oepi after llie service of from three to six months. The people of the state, notwithstanding the present distressed condition of business, can no*, afford to persus a policy of in difierenc ? or neglect In reference to thin question. In the matter of law ^enforcement, there is involved uot on.y the rights of property, but hu? man Ufa itself, Bvery constable em? ployed by the state during tho past year has caused to be paid into the I VUliOUl county treasuries, in addi Ition to time served In prison, sums In excess ol the amount of salary and I expense! paid. While this has been an expense to the state, it has pro? I duced revenue for the counties, if lall fines nnd forfeitures collected [from violations of the prohibition llaw a*ere paid Into tho state treas I ury, this appropriation would show in balance to its credit very much In lex? ess of the amount expended, state Highway Department. At the 1920 session of the general assembly, an act was passed amend? ing the then existing law with ref? erence to this department. Under the provisions of the new act a board \tn.-? appointed and assumed office July 1st. The revenues provided In the act. were really not available until the year 1921. Due to the fact that it was necessary to reorganise the work of this department, (the work ac? complished during the six months of 1920 was not as much as would be expected under normal conditions. The report of the highway depart? ment, however, will show that sub? stantial progreas has been made. SVe 'have, as a result of Its work, addi? tional mileage of Improved highways, and I iu re is every reason to hope that dui Ing the next year much greater progress will be made, it is unnecessary for me to argue in favor Of good roadl ? it is fundamental to I the material progress Of the state. i bi Hove thai this law should be atte nded in rtnu particular; the state highway commission should not be charged wllh lbs duty of collectins motor vehicle license fees, but ihi duly should develove upon the secre? tary of state, and provision should be made for the deliver, of the ll cense plate and collection of the foe tin oucih the office of the ol >rk Of 'court in ?ach county, The ntuie high? way commission should give its time und attention to tin; matter of the construction of highways, chiefly lite gaglnoerlni part of ih*tn, The sale i/r.w I nfnroeiuent. of licenses and the collection of reve? nue should bo b great convenience for purchasers of motor vehicle li licensc to be able to procure such license at their county seat. The Secretary of st;,ie could ship to each clerk of court such number of license plates as it is estlmtaed will he need? ed in the particular county, These plates, of course would be charged to, the clerk ami In- would have to re? mit the amount of the fee or return the -dates in order to discharge his obligations. Pensions. i recommend a complete revision of the present pension law. that the ad? ministration of the law he placed un? der the direction of the comptroller general, and that. pensions be paid only to those Confederate soldiers ami sailors, or the Widows of such, who are in need of financial assistance, Jt is utterly impossible for the state to compensate tin- soldiers of the Con? federate army, but it can. and should provide for those who, through mis? fortune or otherwise, are now forced to contend against the adversities of poverty. Coosei\?11 o n of Natural Resources. Under existing law we have two de? partments for tiie enforcement of tho gamei and flail laws; one under the direction of a chief game ward? n; the oth< r, under a board of fisheries. Sou'h Carolina has up to this time adopted no definite and comprehen? sive policy for the conservation of our natural resources. This generation is under obligation to IhOSC who are to live aider us to provide for the con? servation of the natural resources of tho state. Our forests are destroyed ruthlessly. Our fish and game could be conserved and our laws administer? ed iii such a way us to yield an in? creased revenue. A severance tax or timber should also bo provided and suitable regulations for the protection of the forests should be made. I be? lieve it would bo wise, and I recom? mend, that the offices of chief game Warden and state board of fisheries be abolished, and that a commission ? a three persons be provided, to he known as the commission on fish gaum and forestry; this commission to employ a director, to be the execu? tive officer charged with the admin* ?ration of laws for tho conservation of these natural resources. This rec? ommendation, of course, presupposes the enactment of a law for the con? servation of our foresrts as well as appropriate amendments for the pro? tection of fish and game Hie Budget System. At the session of 1919, the legis? lature enacted what is commonly known as the budget law. Under rJats law it in tho duty of the governor to submit to the legislature an item? ized plan of all proposed expenditures for the several state departments, bu? reaus, board, commissions, institu? tions and agencies, classified by func? tion, character and object. This law should not he misunderstood. It dor. ? not give tot he Governor any legis? lative power, but simply requires him to submit an informative document to the Legislature in order that the mem? bers of the General Assembly may have an intelligent understanding of tho fiscal affairs of the State. 7f you conclude that any department is being extravagantly operated. the budget Will enable you to point out the Item in Which the extravagance appears, and if it ht comes necessary to de? crease an appropriation for any ac? tivity you can determine how such a docreas-e will affect the operation of *he activity. A careful plan for all expenditures, based upon the policy of pay-as-you-go and full information is to the details, objects and alma 0? expenditure, are tho determining fac? tors of the scientific principle of the executive budget. It has been a cus tom for years for the d partment and InstttUtttmS to exceed their appropri? ations or create current deficits with? out any authority of law. Last year the legislature was called upon to make deficiency appropriations In a sum exceeding one quarter ol a mil? lion dollars. I call your attention to tho fact that the fiscal year 1920, the first year in which our budget system was In operation', was closed without a single request for a deficit appro? priation. An accomplishment like this prove- beyond question that business methods can be applied to the opera? tion Of the state government, and T believe that this accomplishment will commend itself very strongly to both members of the liglslature and the taxpayers. Conclusion. T have recommended for your con? sideration such legislation as I am convinced is wise nt this time. I hold myself ready to cooperate with you and furnish such information and SdVlcc as you may desire from time to time. In m budget recommenda? tions l have had in mind the un setfYd ind somewhat distressed econ? omy condition in the State and have tried to r -commend the lowest appro? priations consistent with efficiency. I j have felt that I must recommend in i ihe budge! an amount sufficient fo; each authorized activity-. The total appropriation Is greater than it would I otherwise be, because of the fact thai the legislature has heretofore pro? vided for ci rtaln expenditures which ' I would not have Included In this hud jget except for such legislative author? ity. Respectfully submitted, U. A. COOPER, Governor. - Montreal, Jan. 12. - The Norwegian steamer Ontaneda reported yesterday I in distress 1,200 miles off New York , In continuing to send out urgent ra |dio < >iis. The steering; gear has been I disabled by heavy seas. The cap Itain and six nt the crow are badly Injured, Preparations are being 'made to abandon the s?>ip the radio 'said, other vcascls are speeding tc her assistance. Washington, Jan. n.?An Internat? lonal agreement with all or practical I) nil nations which will guarantee to the eml of completion in navy building is presented as the onl> al ; lei n.tt \\ v In building by \ he t uttod S ates of a navy power* ul enough to "command respect and feai of the world" by Secretary Daniels in tosti Imony today before the house naval affair*, ? omn^lttee, SOUND ADVICE FOR FARMERS Commissioner Harris Gives Plain and Comprehensive Advice - Columbia, Jan. 11?Commissioner Harris says thai it is not yet too lato I lor tho farmers to get in some small i grain, and he thinks that it is neces? sary for them to do so. as his observa tion is that little has been planted b up to now. 1 l"Januhry is the montl^ for the farm< r to begin to make preparations to finance bis 1921 cotton crop," sayi Mr. Harris. "It has been shown to the farmer very plainly this year that lie need not look for help beyond his own efforts. It has been stated by the highest authorities on such matters that ho must fight his own battles, To prove th'" I see after a j conference with w. T. c Harding, governor of the federal reserve bank? ing system. Warren (1. Harding, pres? ident-elect has endorsed the deflation I policy of the federal reserve board, 'that the farmer would have to take] hi*-- own medicine along with the n st." I "Sow, the farmer is able to tak< his own medicine but be is not able to take the other fellow's, as lie has been doing. From the conference between the Messrs. Hardings we see plainly that the fanner must arrange to flnance himself. Whenever ho can do this successful, tin- farmer will i" a man and not a mere peddler. "How can the farmer finance his operations in 1921? By using econ? omy and by so diversifying his crops j ; to make homo self supporting ami I finally by adopting the Memphis ac- j j reoge reduction plan of planting only one third of the cultivated lands in cotton in 1921. If the farmers will do these three things, they will havo j done the greatest good that they could possibly do for ther own prosperity, j If they don't adopt them-] fear that I the present general.on ami future gen- ! ' erations or" cotton farmers will ex? ist in financial slavery and illiteracy. "1 urged the farmers in September to sow largely of oats and wheat and vetch, l fear that not many have heeded that warning. From my own observation 1 do not find much grain I sown. Some have told m? that they did not have the money to do the seeding. It Is not too late yet to "make a fair crop of oats sown on good land. "LiQt me apeal to the farmers who have not planted grain to prepare at once an acre to every two horses or mules and sow it in beardless bar loy. This will be in the dough stage and ready to cut by the middle of May. If it is cut and cured the farm? er has virtually corn and fodder in one. "The next best thing to do is to prepare several acres of good land, i Well manured, and sew it in Fulghum oats or 90 day Hurt oats, and sow ' a ong with it half a bushel of Can? ada peas. Cut this in the dough stage and you will get the finest hay you have ever fed your stock. This should make two tons to the acre as the Can? ada field peas will be ready to cut when the oats are harvested. 'With half a ration of this hay and the other half corn, horses and mules will flourish better than on a whole ration of corn, without this mixture. By this method the ground will be ready the first of June to plant in corn and peas. "As feed for livestock is one of tho most important things a man can raise on his farm, this pain should be used on good land, of course, and well manured, for the season is short. This is the quickest way I know of this bite in the season to get horse feed. "Let this bo one yar that the farm? ers will do one thing that they have not done in TiO years, see to it that they do diversify their crops that they will make then- homes sdf-sustaining. j There is no other way cut of the diffi? culty that confronts us except to re? duce the acreage of cotton and in I crease the acreage of food stuffs. So long as we staj in the old ruts, buy? ing all the fertilizer that we can buy, borrowing all the money that we can borrow, to put into a cotton crop, we need not expect cotton to sell for a price above the cost of production. For tho producers will be in no condi? tion to protect their cotton to keep it from being forced on th? market. "The cotton farmer must realize at once that the system of selling cotton ! is all wrong and has got to be chang? ed and he is the man who must change the system. "The cotton farmer today is up against one of the biggest organiza? tions that has ever got together since cotton has been planted. There is no competitive buying in spot cotton, us tho mills no longer recognize the farmer, only to produce the cotton. They look to the boar speculators to supply them ami they are out of the i market as buyers. "1 can cite an instance to prove [ibis. A farmer living in Abbeville j county has lie bales, a few mote or less, (of a certain grade ami staple used by a certain mill in Anderson He took this cotton to the president Of the mill, who said it was the kind of cotton he used but th*' mill was not I in the market at that time. The farm? er subsequently went to Greenville and sold his cotton to a linn in Greenville that gave him shipping or? ders to send it to the very mill in An Idorson that bad rejected it from the farmer himself. I mention this to show the farmer's position today. I believe this is one ease out of thou? sands that might he cited, "<>nly two classes want raw cotton ?the spinner and the speculator. Now the spinners and the speculators have combined- and only one is in the market before you can get the worth of anything, you must get two of moil bidding on it The specula? tors are satisfied as long as tin- cot? ton remains in the farmer's bands. it is up to the farmer to be aide to I protect his cotton and keep it off the I market, until tin- demand comes that he may he able to keep his price . i a profit ubO\ * the cost of produc t ion. ?It is Impossible for the farmer to protect his money crop when be makes it with Western mules on !Wee> tern corn. Weatren hay and Western Hour? and money borrowed from banker* in New York. He may expert to be a slave under those conditions. "Now, can he free himself? How? By adopting and standing by the rules laid down by the Americ an cotton as? sociation and the Memphis cotton con ference, and taking advice from nsssi who have had lifelong experience in solving problems that conf 'tit agvi ci.lture. So long as you " >bey the fundamental rules of common sense in agriculture, just so long will our country suffer financially. '1 think I can use my old slogan, Sit steady in the boat.' If the farm t i will us?- his head, he will come out better than he thinks. I dislike to see this spirit of liielessness and ap? athy. Qet mad and get at it. The man who works the hardest this year to improve his farm is the man who five years from now is going to have the money of the South." PUBLIC BEING GRAFTED Chicago. Jan. 10.?Charges that American railroads are in conspiracy 11 create unemployment and are de frauding the American people out of millions of dollars through operations Ol a cost plus system of contracts* with equipments and repair companies Were made today by representatives of employees of the roads, appearing b"fore tlie railroad labor hoard. The railroad operators presented counter testimony all afternoon and will con? clude their statement tomorrow. The employees' charges, which de? clared that sO per cent o.f the rail? road mileage in the country was con? trolled by the Morgan steel interests, aaaerted that maintenance costs had been inflated at the expense of the public. This was done, according to Statement of B. M.'Jewell, head of the railway employees department of the American Federation of Labor by le t? ting contracts to equipment com? panies, "controlled by the same banks that controlled the railroads." Under the guarantee ot the Esch Cummings act, the alleged inflated costs constitute a fraud against the United States government and oper? ated to throw out of employment more than ?O.OOO skilled railroad em? ployees," Mr. Jewell said. Declaring that the cargoes had no relevancy to the hearing on tules and working conditions under considera? tion before the board, E. T. Whiter, chairman of the managers' committee of the railroads, asserted that they were made "to divert public attention from the matters in controversy." Examples designed to show in? equalities in present rules were re? cited in detail by Mr. Whiter. He declared the present national agree menta should not in the interests of honest, efficient and economical man? agement be continued and said uni? versal application of their provisions was impracticable because the only parties fully qualified to consider such regulations are individual manage? ments and the employees themselves. Mr. Whiter urged a return to the piece work plan. He declared that was recognized as the most efficient method of operation and attempt to show what had been accomplished under the piece work system as com parea with the same work now done by the hour. Specified hours and restricted start? ing times were deplored in numerous examples brought out to show, Mr. Whiter said, uneconomical practice. Overtime and extra Shifts were cited on several roads to show that the work done could be performed by regular shifts in regular hours if the roads were not restricted by the pres? ent rules. The case was cited of a Norfolk & We stern mac hinist who arrived 15 minutes before his call and was in? structed to fix a broken water glass as emergency work. He performed 16 minutes labor, according to the testimony and under the rule had to be paid for hree hours and -0 min? utes at times and a half. Numerous other examples were pre? sented as evidence of the railroads' contention that the present rules are unjust. Statistics were given for eight months on the Norfolk & Wes? tern in lit20. In January there were 2,733 calls with 6.OS7 1-2 hours ac? tually we>rked. Hours paid for to? talled 13.665 under the rule, with punitive payment of $4,7S7.66. Well. Well, Edward. That Was a Close One. Be careful next time that it is only a dream and not a nightmare. Herewith we reproduce just as she was rit. a letter received at the Item office a few days ago from a local correspondent: I was born 1SG4, Sept. 29th. I have driven horses of all kind, ve hides of all kinel. Horses had never come if South Carolina to wild for me. I have fall from a wagon on my side in all these many years. Every time I would manag to catch on my toot. now on Jan. the 3rd I have tak? en the me re that 1 work for Mr. Geo. 1). Shore to the shop and put her on new shoos the 3rd night Jan. I have had a dream that this mere was run? ning around the yard and did slidod into a well with about ten feet deep with water and did went head for? ums to the bottom of well. Now then on the tth of January 1 was hauling manure out to the farm. I was stand? ing up in the wagon and the mere started auden, I have lost my balance and I have went down between her it ga head formus as like she went in the- wel Imy head went clown in tho ground, and she move her foot to kick and after 1 hew talked to her she did not kick. So 1 was lucky so far, I was handling sto and dCving f t7 years and at la . almost got k tlie'ii my dream have come to pass once. I'd" aid I.. Keith at SumtSj? Funder, s ?*. January 5th, 192Ji Uggs are beginning to follow t<m in price. They have dropp 7.". cents to to * ems .md in si.in. os to 4.". to :,.i c? Ills. C Data and *'^> cents corn B? be able tei manufacture rl ie> 30 cents a doaen SJJ a pro lit.