The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-05-15


polls were closed.
6. Your committee urged the inability of the
people, after paying the taxes now being col
1ected, to pay second tax In November next.
His EXcellency said, in reply, that it had been
represented to him by well informed citizens
In several parts Of the State that, for q large
class of citizens, whose taxes were small In
amount, the month OF November was more
convenient time of payment than any other,
and he hoped that to this class of our citizens
the collection of the tax ut that time would
not prove oppressive. But yielding to the re-
presentation Of your committee, he requested
them 10 report to the convention that he would
authorize the comptroller to suspend the col
lection OF The taxes in all cases where the
payment thereof was inconven!ent to the tax
PAYERS. That this postponement shall extend
to the first of March, 1872, and that the penalty
Tor non-payment should not be enforced in the
meantime.
In brief, to recapitulate, your committee
understand his Excellency as having COM
!. That he has signed no other bonds than
those set forth in the debt statement, made by
the comptroiler-general, and that there have
been no fraudulent or Illegal issues.
2. That the State and county offices, both
elective and appointed, are unnecessarily null
tipled, and should be reduced in number, and
many Of them in pay.
3, That many of the officials charged with
the administration of justice have been incom-.
petent and inaccessible to the people, and
that many OF the disorders complained OF In
the Stateshave been created by this cause, and
that he win replace them with competent per-
sons whenever he can do SO.
4. That he is in favor OF the cumulative sys-
tenn of voting and minority representation,
and would be glad to see 1t made part Of the
law Of this State.
5. That the election laws are defective, lead
to fraud and should be materially amended,
and that he will exert his influence to that
end.
6. That he.would have the collection OF the
taxes Of next November postponed until the
1st of March, 1872 and not enforce the penalty
for non. payment until that time.
Your committee are Aware Of the Wide
spread feeling Of distrust Of the present ad-
minstration, and whilst they share 10 o great
extent this common feeling, they think it
would be wise and proper that cheerful re.
'sponse be made 10 this effort OF his Excel
lency to secure retrencbment and reform IN
the administration OF public affairs.
There has been nothing In the different in
teryiews between your committee and the
Governor which leads them to believe that
he desires or intends to repudiate his assur-
ances of an earnest desire to correct many OF
the evils and grievances Of which we COM
plain.
That frauds the most fragrant, and corrup-
tion Lie most dangerous and demoralizing
have been perpetrated by many OF the State
officials, your committee have no dou6t; Dnt
an investigation has scarcely been embraced
within the scope Of their instructions, even
if they had had the power under the sanction
of law and The time TO have done so.
In this connection, however, your committee
recommend the adoption OF the following reso-
luton:
Resolred, That his Excellency the Governor
be requested to direct the encouragement to
Inquire into all cases of alleged frauds upon
the treasury that may be brought to his no.
tice, and to make suitable provision tor the
remuneration OF iniormers, and TO tt1 COM
pensation of additional counsel, which may be
necessary That the atrorney-general bs In
structed, If found necessary or expedient, to
attach the property of persons asoertained to
be in default to the treasury, or IN any other
way to be unlawfully in possession of moneys
Of the State.
A committee on the part Of the Legislature
is now In session In this city charged with the
investigation OF the transactions OF some OF
the State officials Your committee recon-.
mend the appointment OF a committee OF
three by the president OF this convention,
whose duty 1t shall be, as representatives OIL a
large body of the taxpayers Of the Stute, to
tender their services and cooperation to the
legislative committee in uid OF the inrestiga-
tlOn now going on.
Your committee. not having the authority OF
law to press their inquiry into the numerous
alleged frauds and corruptions 10 satisfactory
conclusion, and recognizing the occasion as
one OF too much gravity 10 be hastily and in
adyisedly passed upon, have declined to be In
fluenced in this regard by the unsworn state
ments OF individuals. The foregoing recon-
nendations, however, II carried out, will
the sincerity Of those who have the authority
for investigation, and lead to pnrihcatlon Oh
the body polite.
The adoption oil the following suggestions is
respectfully recommended for the considera-
ton of the Legislature at Its next session, with
q view to the enactment and modification OF
certain laws:
l. Increase the revenues Of the Slate by ad-
ditional legislation insuring the full and faith
Iul payment OF the royalty on phospnaLIc &c ue, @
positS dug and mined, pursuant 10 Tile Terms
OF the charters OF the respective companies.
This may be effected by the appointment of
reliable bonded inspectors OF weiSherS, who
should be required to determine by weight or
measurement the number OF tons mined before
sale or shipment, and who shall receive Tor
compensation reasonable commission on
amounts secured to The State through his ofice.
. Your committee are advised that large pro-
portion OF the public expenses might be met
from this source, lr properly collected, where
as. but = thousand dollars have so Tar oeen
paid into the State treasury.
o Repea! or prevent In future acts vesting
valuable franchises, the right 10 dig and mine
phosphates, &C., &C., In companies, all or o
great part of whose corporators are members
Of the Legislature ut the time OF the grant.
g. Stop the drawing OF money from the
treasury for alleged current legislative ex-
penses on the order ol the speaker OF the
huuse or president of the Senate in advance
of any appropriation. which practice is In
direct violation of section %, article OF the
shall be drawn from the treasury but in pur-
silancc OF an appropriation made by law"
:. 4. All appropriation bills should specify
items under each general head. For instance,
The practice is 10 cover, under head OF "Legs-
lative Expenses" the payments 10 alleged en-
plOyees, clerks, messengers, DC, OF the Gene:
raiAssembly, who, as your committee are in
formed, outnnmber the members thereof.
8. Reduce The number OF State and county
officers, by blending the dulles OF Two or more
Offices in one, and reduce the fees Of corone!s,
which are excessive.
6. Enact a law limiting each session Oh tne
Legislature to thirty days.
I. a law should be enacted, or the present
law modified, prohibiting county commission
ers from Issuing any check until the account
upon which it Is alleged 10 be based is first
audited aud approved BY the county treasurer,
or some other Independent officer, and requir-
ing the commissioners 10 publish quarterly
statement, in the nearest newspaper, Oh all
amounts collected and paid by them, from
whom collected, to whom paid, and on what
account.
5. Let the old law regulating the fees ol
solicitors be substituted for the present.
8. Repeal the act granting salary OF $500
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