New-York tribune., 1872-12-13
SOUTH CAROLINA.
DoINGs 10 THE LEGISLATURES.


PORN AND RETRENCHNENT-A LOCK ON THE
STATE TREASURY NOTHING BUT DEBTS
LEFT-THE SENATORIAL FIGHT-A DIsC0UR-
AGING SITUATION
IYRoh AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT or THE TRfBUEEi
COLUMBIA, Dec. 9.-Tbe State capital is in
the midst Of it busiest season. the legislature United
States Circuit COurt and the Supreme Court OF the State
all holding daily sessions In tho capital The General
Assembly organized speedily, and without that wrang
ling characteristic OF former sessions and commenced
work at once. II IA an improvement on former years;
the ratio Of white and colored members about the same
as formerly: two colored 10 white In the lower
branch, aud white majority in the senate there are
but ~ members who have served Previously In both
branches and bakers dozen" Of those who have been
identified with this branch Of the government since
construction.
The everyday subject Of debate is Reform and Re-
trenchment" The pledges made to this end In the plat
form adopted by the last State Convention upper
most OCCASION the minority never lose sght OF
them, and every opportunity which presents remind
the majority Of them. Nothing but good 10 the Repub
can party, especially In this STATE result from such
a course. Thus far the majority have sgnned ia uDms
taxable manner their intention tO faithfully fulfill these
pledges The hundreds OF attaches who depleted the
treasury former years. longer are an Incubus Ths
number has been reduced to two score. Thefo we1,
however, OF applicants from every county presens
at the opening OF the Legislature; they were men
nearly all Young cOlOre0 mcn-WHO utu DtcH piVmi5co
situations "a remuneration for their services and inu
ence in eecting respective county delegations The
State House was crowded with these leechos. Ihey
have oil been sent home and the majority OF them went
curng their representatives, asserting that they had
heen deceived and that the delegations should never be
returned. Those Of them who pay taxes-feW In num-
berwill two years hence be thankful that they were
obliged TO 20 homo and go TO work. the taxpayers gem
orally will be very thankful for the item OF Iegsla
tive expenses" has been Of the largest Atace. aone
last wear took from tho treasury half the sum- ana
more that would have been required to pay the nteres
on the State debt.
just now the problem TO be solved f. in what manner
can sufficient money be raised to meet current expenses
and the deficiencies Of the year Just paviz the fiscal
year ending Oct 81 1874 As has been stated In teie
grams 10 THE TRIBUNE Judge Melton (now Attorney
General the stae) granted. on the 18th uit an In
junction restraining the levy and collection OF tae taxes
for the present year. The reason for such action was
that mistake dates existed IN the joint resolution
authorizing the same to be made. which would haye
allowed the taxes to have been applied to the ndeoted
ess OF the fiscal year commencing Nov !, lsI instead
of being applied to the needs Of the fiscal year sT1
whether this was purposely done, or not. by the ia
venal Legislature, is matter OF considerable spccua
lion The fact that the deficiency Of last year, amount
ing TO over 81 100000 would have absorbed ths Tax
stems had not been taken TO prevent u, ahu III tuon
theeto that much Of this deficiency Is uade UP OF pay
certificates, which are held by few persons, woaa
seem TO indicate that the mistake was not the result OF
pure oarelessness. The Injunction stayed any sucs
operation; also prevented an act directly n yloa9 u
tie Constitution or the State, which prohibits the ley
of two In the same year for the same PURPOSE
and gave time to the Legislature to correct Ihe error
The result OF this is, that the 7th inst OH vas TO
ported by tho Committee on ways ana Means h
for the collection oL a 1 VI vear and to psy the de
cheney OF the last year. Gov Moses Will to-day send IN
message urgng the passage OF this bill. lt makes no
proyson for the payment Of interest the public debt
but in the message referred TO an urgent appear 10 s
10 be stnre 10 ascertain what the honest debts OF
thaG Gfafaar and y
disposition among the Democratic members 70 repunr
ate dollar of honest Indebtedness, but 1t s painfnly
spnarent That tbey believe there is much that IS not
honest This win be fully asceItalled, Us VhS new
oficers who have all entered upon the DISCHARGE On
their duties arc pushing their inquiries IN vigorous
manner. -, t,,, ,o,,
ing been fixed a 5000 per year, they viii notnaturaly
be so anxious prOlong the sesslon yet they nahes
something Of desire to bring money into the treasury,
so Ibat ter own wants nav be met In doing TINS they
will help Others and at the same time the people Inci
that il dollar in the treasury t Will not dis
appear in unaccOunaOlo nas been tEe case
heretofore when the last incumbent or Shat ONCE neu
sway when he entered the Office It was an argument
subsequently used for political etIect-t0at there was
but si5 III the treasury aud an outstindn9 de0s Vi
s. 100000 When he lett tho office IL Is asserted thore
was no money In the treasury ana there was an OUT
standing debt OF s6OOo0JO THIS Ifeasurors n1Ge Was
Niles g. Parker, ana Tor the Deneht o. posety lel s
name DC enrolled among the moSt successful Qi iammaS
Tomorrow the election for United States Senator COM
mences, the term being six years, TO NJ the NAihey
caused by the expiration Of the term or the Hon. T. a.
Sawyer The candidates the lastnamed gentleman,
eX-COy r. X Scott, Congressman X. b. EinOtt, cOored
and John j. Patterson. adyenurer, with no claim
whatever upon the party and influence save that of
the of money II is probable the race will mar
down the first ballot to Scott and Elliott. III VIII
be test of tue yenay or the present Legislature
so far as Patterson Is concerned candidate Eliiot
to-day IS the strongest His strength L. that beside being
able he is a cOlored man. Among his own race how-
ever lost rapidly account OF his naturally
overbearing manner. Objections are raised against
Scott OF his administration acts. Sawyer mas
but little showing OF success, ms course on tne Ol'
Rights bill the amnesty act, aud IN the dlstrlDutlon OF
FEDERAL patronage being generally condemned. The
telegraph will inform you Of the situation as II shall pre-
sent d.y,
The Cited States Circuit Court has mountain OF busi
ness before it. Circuit Judge Bond OF Maryland ana
strict Judge Bryan OF this State presided hundreds
OF cases violation of the Enforcement acts are dock
cted and a large number of cases OF Ku-kluXing are
pending Many OF will he continued, ana some OF
tnen nOlle prosecuted. Two Ku-Klux have been con-
vcted revealed ali the horrid details given
in accounts year. There but few new cases. the
OF them remaining over from the last terin Tue
county quiet, and the proceedings IN
court win probably he Inuch modified because OF It, Tho
State had abundant harvest the city prosper
beyond ali former times, aud rapidly buildlng up
With legislative REFORM reduction Ot taxes ana the fu
ment Of the promises OF the present Adm lnls ration,
better times for south Carolina the near future