The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1870-04-06
THE WATCHMAN
WEDN ESDAY.' APRIL 6.
n. A. GILBERT ..........- .EDlT0R
THE Sumter Watchm0as has by
far the largest circulation (espe-
cialW Sn the surrounding count,y)
efany paper published IN Sumter,
and scas established u. 1850.
THE APPROPRIATION hill.

| 10 NHooe0" w suS ~AF'cPeoes Ct01
as passed at the late session of the
Legislature Of the State, for the year
commencing the lst of November, 1869,
and re published on another column.
It is certainly q remarkable document.
Let the country give it calm and dis
passionate examination, and we venture
the assertion, that, twelve months hence,
there will scarcely be found man, even
among those from whose hands it sprapg,
who will exhibit the hardihood and
recklessness involved in defence of it..
Extravaganza unchecked, self appro-
priation, and waste of tho hard-earned
| money of the people Of the State, is
unblushingly exhibited upon its entire
faee-from one end to the other of it.
No wonder tho shrewd LESLIE, when
showing up the corruptions of some Of
his party, and selecting the most vulner.
able parts ofthe Radical body, into which
to thrust his two. edged sword, declared.
in his recent speech, at the close of the
session, touching this Appropriation
Bill, off man should stand up and
"criticise that document truthfully,
cit would damn the whole of u.s."
| In order to endcavor to lead the pub.
lilo mind to thought and investigation Of
this vitality important matter, we shall
al!ude to few ofits leading points and,
as jour nalist, we do so with the same
fearlessness. and independence with
which we have ever declared tl.at which
we believed to be truth aud promotive of
the public veal.
And first, by comparison The Ap.
preparation Bill of 1865, passed at the
regular session Of that year, amounted, in
round numbers, to four hundred and
t,oenty thousand dollars. The Bill of
Expense for 1869, foots up one million
and seventy thousand dollars <! II, three
gears, we have an increase ofappropria.
tiou, for the support Of the State Gov>
ernment, of sic hundred and f/ty thou.
sand dollars! To say nothing of the
difference of at least twenty-five per
cent. more in value of currency, bctwee n
n ow and then. Add this to the cxpendi-
lures for county purposes, which arc
still heavier in proportion, and we ha We
at least million cf money, extracted
from the industrial earnings ofthe State,
under the guise of necessary public
outlay, II. excess Of what il was found ne.
cessary to cxpend in 1866. No wonder
we see around Us the glitter and gran
deur of wealth, when the mass of the
people are struggling with necessity
No wonder ,omc tread their Turkey
carpets, mid palace halls, whilst others
walk their bare floors.
But some of the items of this Bill of
plumber, as it should be called, will
strike the reader forcibly, as for in
staucc:
"For the three code commissioners,
ten thousand five hundred dollars"
The lawyers say that this wonderful
document, which has ?astly complicated
and thrown into confusion the whole
pratice Of tho law ia this State, and
which has cost us Sl0,500, is almost,
verbatim, o copy of the New York
Code. The people, then, are made to
pay ten thousand fec hundred dollars
for simply transcribiug this document
the mechanical labor of this, no
doubt, performed by clerks, who were
also paid.
"For contingent accounts for the ex-
penses of tho general elections of 1870,
fifteen thousand dollars" In 1866 this
item was put down at one thousand dol.
lars, including all the expenses Of the
elections.
"For the State Constabulary, thirty
Mousan1 dollars," and this in addition
to one thousand five hundred dollars
specially to the Chief Constable. An
expense only necessary to sustain tho
corrupt men in power.
"FoI the contingent account of the
State, including payment Of expenses
of tho General Assembly, one hundred
and tUenWf fOe thousand dolldrs." Also
tho Additional sum Of thirteen thou
sand dollars under the Same heading.
Per contra in 1865, "for tho pay of the
mcmbcrs of tho Legislature and the At
torney General and Solicitors during
tho present session, twenty soven thou.
sand dollars"
The Adjutant and Inspector
Generals Department is particularly
worthy OF. noto {: Wo fnd twenty five
hundred dollars put down as salary
this nfIicor moon,yh;la f,lI;,n ~