The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1871-02-09
Another Spicy Debate in the Senate.

We make the following extract from the pro-
ceedings of the State Senate on Thursday last
The bill to make an appropriation to pay the
per diem and mileage of members of the Gen.
eral Assembly and incidental expenses was
taken up and provoked some acrimonious de-
bate.
Mr. Smals opposed the passage fany further
appropriation bill until the special committee
appointed to investigate the disbursement OF
the first appropriation of s135, 900 had reported.
Previous to the recess, he said, S195,OOO had
been appropriated to pay members and Incl
dental expenses of the General Assembly. The
pay of members exhausted but small portion
of the appropriation, and he wanted to know
just precisely what those indefinite incidental
expenses were, and, for one, he was willing to
20 home and do without his pay for year
rather than leave without having this matter
investigated.
Mr.. Wimbush thought the curiosity of the
member from Beaufort very natural and e1cu-
sable under the circumstances, but if he enter
tanned the least hope that his curiosity would
be gratifed, he was destined to be disappointed
What those mysterious words incidental ex-
penses" meant would never be known.
Mr.. Swails stated that the special committee
had examined the books of the Treasurer, and
that there were vouchers for all the money paid
out under the appropriation in question, and
that the committee would report in day or
two.
Mr. Smalls was of the opinion that as the
committee would report in day or two, there
was no reason to hurry.
Mr. Leslie thought the members were strain
ing at gnat in opposing the bill. There was
no reputation to be gained nor an oppor-
tunty to benefit the State in the least degree.
He stated that $4,000 had been expended to
pay the members and attaches of the Leglsa-
ture, and there was left S55, 900 to pay current
printing and other contingent expenses. There
was, consequently, no great leakage no chance
for even respectable steal. 1t was not such
trifling things as appropriations of S1OO,0O9 or
5000, 900 that damaged the State and endanger-
ed her solvencv, but it WAS these tremendous
swindles of granting State aid to the tune OF
millions of dollars 10 railroads. Against such
measures as these let all the members turn the
thunder of their indgnities and opposition, and
leave such small, contemplate thing as the
bill in question above. There we're numerous
railroad bills OH foot The Greenville and Co
lumbia Railroad Company would soon be
asking the General Assembly for help to the
amount of S4,000,000 or 900, and other
railroads would also put in their claims Then
would be the time TO stand up for the interest
of the State and protect her credit, ana ne was
glad to feel assured that there was sufficient
number of honest and true Republicans in the
Senate to defeat all such bills. He saw no
reason to postpone the consideration of the bill
until the special committee reported-for what
ever that report might be, the necessity OF an
appropriation would still he as pressing. That
if there was any stealage, it WAS done in the
other branch of the General Assembly, and
the Senate was in no degree responsible for it.
If the report be true that an exorbitant amount
had been drawn by the House for contingent
expenses, the Senate could not remedy it, and
there was no need of pickering about it. The
bill passed its second reading.