Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1871-12-07

to whom money is due from the
State await the collection Of the tax
es. This course, coupled with sys-
tenn of rigid retrenchment, will soor
lift the State above all present fnan-
cial embarrassments, and prevent
their recurrence in the future.
For a detailed statement Of the
transactions of the financial agent, ]
refer yougto his report to the comp
troller-general for the quarter ending
September 30, 1871.
EXPENDITURE CO THE STATE Gov
ERNMENT.
While holding the political oppo-
nents of the State Government re-
sponsible for the great depreciation
in the market value of our securities
"a depreciation directly due to their
conspiracy against the credit of the
State-I am bound by my sense OF
public duty to expose to the reproba-
ton Of the people the improvident
expenditures incurred by the General
Assembly, and the extravagant and
illicit disbursement of the State mon
eys, to which the legislative depart
ment has given; either its express or
implied sanction. In SO doing, I dc
not wish to be considered as wanting
in due and proper respect to CO.
ordinate branch of the State Govern
nent, but desire to appeal. in plain
and earnest language, TO the sober
Judgment, the dGce t 'self-rcspect and
the public spirit of each member of
the General Assembly, to give his
active aid in efFecting an instant re-
form in this direction for the whole
people, with united voice, demand it,
and the condition Of our finances, and
every instinct Of self-preservation,
require it at your hands.
1t would scarcely have been posi-
bic for the men who combined to de-
stroy the credit of the State to have
executed their purpose sosuccessfully
had not the General Assembly lent
them its practical cooperation by ex-
hausting, through its extravaganza,
the fundsin the treasury, thus leaving
the State without any reserve bal
ance to meet the financial exigency.
I instance the following among many
other items of extravag INT expendi-
tureo: The money drawn upon the
orders of the presiding ofiic RS of the
two Houses during the last session
for current printing amounts to $685.
904 80. In addition to this large sum,
$4,000 were appropriated for current
printing for the same session, making
u total OF $9S,904,90 expended Oil
this item alone. There was further
drawn FROM the treasury aud disburs-
ed By the clerks of the Senate and
House, for printing the laws, &C., tie
sum of $l09,65l.44. These figures
show the enormous aggregate OF
$202,556,94 expended on printing
alone during and incident to the last
session of the General Assembly,
while large claims for public printing
are still outstanding. In addition to
these expenditures, the sum of 500
el4,O5 was drawn upon the orders Of
the president of the Senate and the
speaker of the House for purposes
not very we'll defined, but designated
as con,ingentexpenses and repairs,
making an aggregate for the above
specified objects Of 1922, 2,370, ,39-a
sum startling in its magnitude for one
session of tie General Assembly, and
which laay we'll bid the legislative
department. pausein the path that it
has been pursuing.
The appropriations, including those
vetoed by the Executive, aggregate
total of S4SO,OCO. 70 this is to be
added the amount of $103, ,65l, Al, as
shown above, drawn upon the certltl-
Gales of the clerks Of the two houses
OF the General as emily, on account
of printing the laws, and the grand
total Of expenditures, on account o.
. legislative expenses, amounts to
1888 Cola
AS an evidence Of tile pernicious
Of perni ting this mon
ey order s?stem OH the part OF the
presiding officers o. tie Senate and
House, refer TO the fact, we'll known
to tie members of the General As
that during the past year,
upon the order OF the speaker OF the
House, an alleged liability against Tie
State was contracted to tile amount
of S9l,500. for furniture for the
State-housc. Thiswas entirely with
out warrant of law, andif tile princi-
pie is admitted that moneys can be
thus drawn from the treasury, or
debts contracted without "arpropria
lions made by law," then all proper
OF the treasurl are bro
ken down, and few ministerial Off
GERS in the State may mortgage its
revenue in advance, or deprive it at
will of the means of meeting It's legal
liabilities.
THE PAY OF MEMBERS OF THE GEN
ERAL ASSEMBLY.
he first important measure of re-
trenchment demanded by our fnan-
cial condition, is great reduction
in the amount received by members
of the General Assembly for their
services.
The constitution provides (article
II, section 23) that each member OF
the first General Assembly under
this constitution shall receive six dol
lars per diem, while in session, and
the further sum Of twenty cents for
every mile of the ordinary route OF
travel in going to and returning from
the place where such session is held,
alter which they shall receive such
compensation as shall be fixed by
law; but no General Assembly shall
have the power to increase the COM
pensation Of its own members" I
would recommend that, in lieu of a
J;on, oo,b momhor choll raceipo