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% IRakjjHtait arib J&mitjpt Entered at the Postoroce at Sumter, & C, as Second-class Matter. PERSONAIi. Rev. J. P. Marion will deliver the commencement sermon for the ?Kingstree high school on Sunday, May 29th. Mrs. Georgia Davis, of Berkeley, California, who has recentl yreturned from a protracted stay in Europe, is -spending a few weeks in the city with her sisters. Mrs. Agnes Bogin and Mrs. Nina Solomons. Miss Elizabeth McKagen left this morning for Bishopville, where she will be a visitor for several days. Miss Frances Smith has returned to her home in the city after a de lightful visit of several weeks to Miss Ladd in Richmond, Va. Mrs. Jim Irby, Mrs. H. B. Boykin. Miss Lesa Boyxin of Loykin and Mrs. Richard Boykin of Oregon were vis itors in the city Tuesday. Mr. I. A. Ryttenberg left Tuesday for trip to North Carolina in inter est of his work. Mr. Ryttenberg will go: by Raleigh and through North . Carolina to Asheville." Misses Mary and Marion Knight left Tuesday to spend the re mainder of this week with their aunt, Mrs. Rivers, at DuBose. Miss Dorita Moise has been elected president of the Wade Hampton Liter ary Society at "Winthrop College. Miss Augusta Cuttino left for Hartsvilie today to visit her sister Mrs. O. F. Crow. . Messrs. B. R. China, David and Haz el Witherspoon have returned to their home in the city after c'ompleting their school year in Bailey Military Acad emy. Judge R. O. Purdy left Tuesday for Virginia where he has gone to at tend the wedding of his brother Mr. William H. Purdy. Judge Purdy will visit in^Lawrenceville, Va., before his return to the city. ; Mrs. C. W. McGrew is spending a few days with relatives at St. Mat thews. Messrs. R. L. McLeoc and J. G. Bagnal left this morning to spend the day in _aurens on business. SFegro Woman Drowns Self ______ Janie Barfield, a young negro wo man ""of about 25 years of age, living in the Concord neighborhood was { drowned early this morning when { she. in a. delerium. resulting- from i typhoid fever wandered out in the yard and fell into a surface well. The woman had been sick for a*bout two weeks with high fever. Those watching at her bedside stated that they had left her for a short time and had found her gone upon their returned. A search for the woman re vealed the body in the water of the well. Thew ater in this well is prob ably some 15 feet deep. SUMTER WILL HEAR NOTED SINGER The announcement that Miss Ad die Howell, the celebrated contralto, will sing next Sunday morning for the McLeod-Wesley Bible class and for the morning service at Trinity Methodist church was received with delight by everybody in Suinter. Sumter people are indeed fortu nate because the opportunity to hear such noted singers as Miss Howell does not come our way more than once or twice in a lifetime. Word has gone out all over the county that Miss Howell will be here and a large crowd of country people will come for both services. Mr. W. E. Moore, music director, for the McLeod-Wesley Bible class has prepared some special music in addition to the solo by Miss Howell. EFIRD-EDDINS. i This morning at nine o'clock the j [home of Mr. J. T. Eddins on Mark-j j ham street, was the scene of a quiet but beautiful wedding, when Miss jVada Mae Eddins and Mr. J. W. Efird I were united in marriage. The home was simply but very ef fec/tiv.ely decorated with ferns and palms for the occasion, and in the presence cf her immediate relatives and intimate friends the father of the bride gave her in marriage, while Dr. J. Elwood Welch performed the im pressive ceremony. The bride attired in handsome suit of navy blue poiret twill with smalt black hat carried a lovely bouquet of bride's roses showered with white I peas. I Immediately after the ceremony the young couple motored to Raleigh where they caught the northbound train to New York, where they will make their future home at Hotel Pennsylvania. Miss Eddins is the attractive and accomplished daughter of Mr. J. T. Eddins and has lived in this city prac tically all of her life. She attended Trinity College, and later took a posi tion with the Fidelity Bank of -this city, as book-keeper. She has a host of friends who will wish her every happiness. Mr. Efird is a man of sterling worth and character, who is considered one of Carolina's foremost business men. He is vice-president and buyer forj the Efird chain of stores. His manyi friends here congratulate him.?Dur ham, ft C. Sun. May 20. Civic League May Festival. Fesctival to take place at the Park Tuesday afternoon, May the 31st. Meet us at the park at four o'clock You will find attractions for young and old. Help us make the day a success. New Orleens, May 26.?The pas- ! sage by the Louisiana constitutional ! convention of the ? measure prohibit- j ing the transmission, publication or circulation of information concerning odds on; horse racing brought up the question of its effect on horse racing. Exercises at Furman Formal Invitations Received U Attend Affair on June 5-7 Invitations from the faculty'of Fur man University to friends of the in stitutien have been received in thi city to the annual commencement exercises there June ">-7, inclusive. This is the sixty-seventh annual com I mencement and it will bring to a ? close a most successful scholastic I year, it is stated. It is expected that many will make their way to Green ville to be in attendance, j The commencement exercises will j begin on Sunday. .i"une 5, when the 'annual sermon will take place at the j first Baptist church <>f Greenville, j this delivered by the Rev. T. C. Skin ! ner, D. D.. of Columbia. The an nual sermon before the Y. M. C. A. will be preached on the evening 01 the same day by the Rev. R. G. .Lee. j D. D.f of Chester. On Munday, June 6. there will be [ the annual rallys of the literary so I cieties at their halls beginning at 10 o'clock and this to be followed by an adress by Governor R. A. Cooper be fore the Adelphian and Philosophian Societies. The class day exercises will take place the same day between 4 and t> o'clock in the afternoon. At 5:3o o'clock the dedicatory exercises of the new dormitory will take place. The annual alumni banquet and meeting will take place at Montague Hall on the night of June 6th. The formal exercises of the sixty sc-venth commencement will take place on Tuesday, June 7. beginning at 10:30 o'clock. This will be pre ceded by the academic procession on the campus. A life-sized portrait of Dr. Charles Manly, second president of Furman University will be unveil ed during the day's program. Death. Mrs. T. E. Ilinson. Sr., died Thurs day morning at her residence, 125 N. Salem Ave., at 11:40 after having been in declining health for a num ber of years. She was in her 7Sth year. Mrs. Hinson leaves her hus band, three daughters, Mrs. Ira Brown, Mrs. S. L. Hinson and M^ss Ilattie Hinson, and two sons, Mr. Joe Hinson of Sumter and Mr. F. C. Hin son. of Camden. who will mourn her loss. In addition to these she has a large family connection of numer ous other relatives. Mrs. Hin9on was born in.Kershaw county but has liv ed in Sumter for many years. The funeral procession will leave the residence in Sumter at N:30 o'clock 'tomorrow morning and will go to Mt. Olive church near Camden where the funeral services will be held and the body interred. Washington, May 26.?The admin istration's policy of promoting expor tations as a means of restoration to normal business was discussed las: night at the White House dinner. The guests included Secretaries Hoov er, Mellon. J. P. Morgan and other financiers. We take pleasure in announcing to the public that we have been appointed distributors for Chevrolet autqmobiles and parts for this territory. We also wish to. announce a reduction in prices of Chevrolet s Motor Cars. New prices effective on and after this date on 490 Models will be $645.00 f. o. b. factory, plus freight and war tax, mak ing these models $750.00 delivered, Sumter fully equiped. This car has been greatly improved in every respect in the past few months and is at present the best light weight automobile built in America. We carry a complete line of Chevrolet repair parts at all times. We also have a first class garage, doing a general line of repair work on all makes of cars. Our prices are very reasonable. Satis faction guaranteed. Money refunded?we let you be the judge. "We Know How" BURKETT-HUNTER MOTOR CO. 14 Caldwell Street Phone 777 P. O. Box 197 House Built in a Day Men of Bible Class Erect Build ing on Wednesday?Services Held Same Night Wednesday was a busy day for the nembers of the Men's Bible Class of he Broad Street Methodist Church "or it was on this day. Wednesday, hat the men of this class assembled! ?lad in :h--ir working clothf-s. and' ach man did his allotted task in the! ?rection of an open air building to >e used as a meeting room for this dass. Wednesday morning found only the umber on tin- lot immediately behind he Broad Street Church, but by Wed lesday night a building 16x24 feet ras standing on the lot. and in this building an audience was seatel lis ening to an address by Mr. T. C. i VIcLeod, of Bishopville. The lumber 'or this building had to be cut andl :he building erected from "the! fround up". Everything was accom-i >lished as it had been plnnned and the ouilding stood ready for occupation | m the same day on which the build ng had been begun. All work was! lone gratuitously by the members of j his Bibli1 Class. The building is sub-j tsantially built of good wood material i tnd is entirely pleasing and very neat | ?n appearance. Its comfortable ca pacity is 75 people. The idea of th ebuilding of this dass room originated at the District Sunday School Conference, which was leid in Manning last week. One week later, to the day. the idea had been moldede into a thing of beauty and usefulness. A little social was held on the! jhurch grounds just after the close of ' :he address by Mr. McLeod. ice cream, ;ake and ca::dy. which was donated md sold by the ladies of the church, netted a tidy little sum, which the adies cheerfully presented to go to ward the defraying of material costs ; .'or the building. 1 Shower for Miss Esther Clark. Mrs. Jas. L. Haynswurth and Mrs. Cecil Wilson gave a miscellaneous ? shower on Friday afternoon at the '? former's home on Church street in : honor of Miss Esther Clark who is to i oe one of Sumter's June brides. The entire lower floor was a veri table garden of roses, sweet peas and poppies. The dining room was es- 1 pecially lovely with its soft pink lights, masses Of roses, garlands of smilax and centerpiece of artistical ly arranged sweet peas. Book and heart dice were enjoyed < for a time, after which each guest ; was presented with a "romance in i rhyme" with all personal names left ] blank and requested to compete with litting names of flowers. After much fun and excitement the missing names < were supplied and the romance com pleted. While this was ':;>?:?:.. V--..? i Assyrian peddl?r v. ???:.;... Ml ? the door, requesting permission l >" show her goods for sale. After some pleadings she was permitted to bring . in her pack which was tilled with j beautiful gifts for the bride. This method of presentation of their pres ents was a surprise to the guests and Dr. Sophia Brunson's impersonation of the peddler woman was splendid. After admiring the fine collection ; of exquisite hand work, etc., the guests repaired to the dining room where they were served block cream, fancy cakes, wafers and mints, the color scheme of pink and white be ing carried out in the refreshments. Mrs. Haynsworth and Mrs. Wilson i proved themselves most charming hostesses. . Those present were Mesdames Ed- , ward Pitts, Jake Harvin, Win. Mills. A. J. Bynum, Robt. Sanders, Eraser (' Dick and Misses Reese Chandler, , Margaret DtLerme. Marion Gentry, Celeste Hughson. Claudia Eraser. Pauline Haynsworth, Sophia Brunson. Hannah and Melle Montgomery, Sara Edmunds. Prances Blanding, Daisy Yeadon. Ruby Beatty and Esther ' Clark. Mrs. Jas. H. Chandler. Mrs. T. H. Clark and Mrs. Dr. .Marion as sisted in serving. The May Festival. The- festival which will be held at the Park on next Tuesday afternoon and night. May 31st, will be a gala event. Tin-re will be cold drink booths, ice cream cones, fish pond grab bags, ride shows, cake booths, folk dancing by the school chil dren, and a real chicken supper for the. grown-ups. A real fortune tel ler will oc on the scene, and many will wish to consult her. The proceeds of the festival will be used for benches and attractive pay ground equipment for the chil dren, and to provide a supervisor for the summer months, j The park is a beautiful spot now jand the ideal place for a fete. The festival will be opened with a Ijrrand parade, which is under the di rection of Mrs. Eugene Stansill and a splendid committee. The cotton crop certainly looks sick. The plants are small and _n ! thrifty and the stand is probably the poorest in years. San Francisco. May 26.?The ques tion, of Japanese control over Yap is causing no excitement in Japan, ac cording to Take Tanaka. a member of the parliamentary mission that is here to study economic conditions. Shrcveport. May 2,; -Jack Morgan, who was treated to a coat of tar and feathers last night, is ill at the city hospita I. Chicago. May ?_*?'?.?Another death was .elded to the political fued cas- , u.iMy list the police believe when Michael Lazari, a saloon keeper was Mi-'t dow n on the street. Dublin, May 26. ? Pour civilians have been sentenced to 15 years pen mi servitude for attack on crown forces lasl 1 >ecember. Osaka, Japan, May 26.?Viscount Kato, former minister of foreign af fairs, is blamed by the Japanese gov ernment for tlie developments over the Yap mandate. THETAXCORNER The Inconsistencies and Short comings of the Tax Laws of South Carolina (University Weekly News). I The power to impose taxes is vest I ed exclusively in the legislative de partment of the government, but there are certain provisions in the c,institution of 1SS5 which will have to l^e amended or repealed before there can be any appreciable reform in taxation. Article III, Section 29. of the con stitution of 1S05, provides that "aii taxes' upon property, real and person al, shall be laid upon tin- actual val ue of the property taxed."' It is manifest that general property tax' is main source of revenue in Sou:h Car olina. Carrying out the intent of the constitution, the general assembly en acted a law requiring that "all prop erty shall be valued for taxation at its true value in money." (Section 379. Civil Code of 1912). Prior to the creation of tha South Carolina Tax Commission in 1915. it was a well known fact that there was no uniform basis of assesment :jsed by the boards of assessors through out the state. No better examoY of the inequalities in the assessment of property could be offered than The results of the state tax commission's i equalization of the banks in 19i.">. The commission found that there wer,? some banks paying upon an assess ment as high as 0 7 per cent, of their value, and others paying on as low j a basis as is per cent. The comrais- j sion thereupon required financial' statements of all the banks and placed ; them upon a basis of equality lor j purpose of taxation. Ascertaining j that the average percentage taken ; for assessment throughout the siate was 4 2 per cent, the commission adopted this basis of percentage Of i true value a?? the basis to assess and ,' c-'iualize ail property assessed and j equalized by it. Another l:ril-.ing illustration ? : th ? inequalities in assessment, made pos- j sible under our tax laws, is the fact j that the state tax commission, when \ it equalized the property of mer- j chants in 1919, found some mer- | chants paying on an assessment of j three-fourths of- one per cent, while others were pa: ing on a basis of 105 per cent of the value of the stocn of Koods. Since our law requires an "equal md uniform rate of assessment," classification of property for pur poses of taxation is impossible with- | -jut constitutional amend.nnet. If the law, therefore, were rigidly enforced. tangible property, such as notes, bonds, mortgages, etc., would be as sessed upon the same basis a- .::???, i-roperty. Suppose \ . had -iiCvUftv which would be us . or $.x/p'k After deducting ilic tuxes fr- f . income of $SO0 (the mortgage near- i ing S per cent, interest), the rate of; interest realized on his investment I would be so small that the lender ! thereof would take his capital out j of South Carolina and invcit it in | some other state that had a proper j classification of property. if this ' class of property were placed upon ! the tax books as required by law. a ! very large amount of capital would : be driven from the state, and our j people would be izr.poverished to j that extent. The same rules applies to the tax ati?n of cash. The law requires that j cash on hand January 1st be assessed. ] It is well known that no one returns j cash, and yet when the taxpayer sub- j scribes his name to the oath on the j tax return, he swears that he has re- i turned all his money, credits, etc There is no provision in our iaws providing for a tax to be levied on j business done or on gross sales, and j consequently many individuals and < firms are enabled to do an enormous j amount of business, and contribute i nothing to the support of the state j and county governments, for in- i stance, there was a certain brokerage concern in South Carolina last year which did a gross nusiness of $10. OOi'viOO, and which paid taxes on an assessment of $300 for furniture and ! fixtures in this office. Is this fair land just? This brokerage firm en j joyed ajl the privileges and protec j tion of our government, and from ' the standpoint of ability to pay, was j in 'much better condition than thou I sands who paid very much higher I taxes. j Such is the operation and admin ! fstration of the general property tax. ? There are many inequalities in the j assessment of real estate, and this is ! due to the fact that the taxpayer ; himself is the important factor in I determining the value of his property i for purposes of taxation. It is well ; known to all that there are farm lf.nds in this state which sell for $100 to $200 per acre, but which are re turned for taxation at $5 to $10 per acre, while in the same county there is land which is unproductive and is assessed the same per acre as the highly developed farm lands. Each taxpayer feels that he must return his property as low as possible, so that lie will not pay more than his neigh bor. Of course, the lower the valu ation of property, the higher the tax levies will be. If all property were assessed at 100 per cent, the tax levies would be reduced to a very low rate, and the burden would be equitably distributed. These are only a few of the incon sistencies and shortcomings embod ied in the fundamental tax laws of South Carolina. How much longer are we going to allow such antiquat-. ed tax laws to remain in force? Untli we have complete reform in taxation, grave injustices will be done the taxpayers of this state, and progress In educational,' social, economic and governmental affairs will be well nigh impossible. John L Rice. WHITE-LEWIS. Saturday afternoon, at 2 o'clock. May 21st., Miss Mary Evelyn White and Mr. Robert C. Lewis, were united in marriage, Rev. Eugen6 Reynolds perferrr^ng the ceremony a* the par* so! ige. .-.* the Salem Baptist church. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis will make their home in Sumter. May the years bring peace and prosperity to this young pair. - ? \ Tuesday proved the day of the biggest cotton deals of the season for Sumter. Eleven hundred bales/ of cotton changed hands in the city yes terday in two transactions. The sales were as follows: 650 bales bought by W. H. Bowman and brother from F. K. Holmon. Bought on a 10.75 basis. 450 bales bought by C. E. Dukes from L C. Strauss. Bought on 10:41 basis. Remarks: Business picking up. ,v The Secretary of rh- Red Cross ? fTom* Service Station is ing fcept ?'??> ?/ busy with her work., of getting :.. fib s to'sed . '.he get' 1 ncr.of-Jjer oCila in prop.? r shape for the cl*>st*ig <.i r -x; first day f .lime. No ?ew ?"?uses ? ?. 11 * be Jr: ? :: her. I'fcCr. ^vef', work ????will ho done o - any ?iases thai have already been began b>.. Mjss Chandlci provided- a brougntj .to her within the next week. An: ex service men who have affidavits :o.b?3 made out or necessary correspondence conducted relative to a present claim, should see Miss Chandler immediate ly. The last two days of this month will be devoted entirely to the final work at the closing of the office and its files of cases. Garner's Ferry bridge is under con tract to be completed' within days, and the last report was to the effect that work was to have been, started last week. If the bridge is. to be of service the approaches must be completed at the sama time. - For the construction of the approaches the sum of $25,000 has been guaran teed by a number of citizens. It-would seem that :: is about time for the guaraxitors :?* begin collecting^ fbe money as a preliminary jd be^i/ining work on the three or more bruiges in the swamp and the four miles. .Qf causeway. It will be almost as big a job to build the approaches as the bridge. . The Game Wardens are annoying fishermen who use trap: c m-uderably th^se days. _?* NEILL O'DONXEJLL President ARCHIE CHINA Vice President 0. L. YATES Cashic* A Guaranteed Income. The record of the past year shows the risk of investing money in stocks and bonds. There is -_one security, however that never declines. The interest is paid with mathematical regularity every quarter, and the principal is always paid as promised. We refer to our savings depart ment, a 100 per cent safe and sound investment for either short or long periods. A glance at our last pub lished statement will show how many peoplo have taken advantage of our advice. If you have c.ot do so at ^ once. It is not too late. First National Bank Sumter, S. The National Bank of South Carolina of Sumter, 8. C Capital $300,000 Surplus and Profits $280,000 Strong and ProgreMtvt The Most P&lnst&klnc SERTIC9B with OOUKTR3X Gl re os the Pteaenre of ^?nrinf TOC The Bank of the Rank; and File O. G. ?ttWZiATO, Podest EARLE KOWIAOT, ?a?Jee