The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-11-29
Tho Road to Reform.

The Legislature will soon have before
| them two difficult questions which will test
the value and sincerity Of the fine promises
contained in the platform Of their party and
reiterated by them since their election.
These questions are, the disposition TO DE
made of the outstanding claims against the
State, and the provision for the current ex-
penses OF the Government
There is only one equitable way OF deal
ing with the outstanding claims. They
should be rlgidly examined, and cut down
to an amount representing the actual value
received therefor by the State. Where the
original amount OF bills against the Com
monvealth has been increased, the addl-
tions may with perfect propriety be Topped
off. It is right, also, that where e1orbitant
prices have been charged the rate should be
reduced to the price at which the work
would have been done for a private indlvi-
dual. Again, there are the gambling-hells
and bed-chambers, hired as committee
rooms and occupied by members and at
taches at the expense OF the State. Not
one Of these claims ought to be paid. We are
sincerely In favor Of meeting promptly every
legitimate obligation, but claims which are
bogus, In whole or in part, deserve to be
thrown out. II the Legislature will only
consider and discuss this question In the
proper spirit, putting themselves In the
place OF those who have to foot the bills,
thew will not find it difficult to reach q con-
clusIon honorable to themselves and salts
factory to the people.
The expenses OF the fiscal year lS72-'7S
will be made vastly less than the cost of the
year preceding. For the year lS7l-'72
Comptroller Neagle estimated that the ex-
penses should be $500, tbs. This inclu-
ded S71s, 7l5 for interest on the debt, $780,
600 for schools, and $50, 900 for the con-
struction OF the penitentiary, but did not
include any estlmatefor legislative expenses.
Now, not o dollar Of interest on the debt
can rightly be paid until the bona-hdes OF
every bond Ia established. What with con-
version bonds, land commission bonds, In
terest bonds, and bonds for the relief OF the
treasury, the several issues are hopelessly
confused. The holders are the persons
chiefly interested. Why might they not be
required to prove the legitimacy OF their
bondsf And, In no case, ought impover-
ished South Carolina to recognize, as bind
Ing upon her, one cent OF funded obliga-
ton beyond the amount sf the money
equivalent which the State actually re-
'ceived. Omitting, then, from Mr.. Neagle's
estimate the charge for interest, leaving In
the appropriation OF $500, 900 for schools,
and adding the huge sum Of $3.50, 900 for
legislative expenses, the appropriations for
the year do not exceed $780, 600, A tax OF
foe mills, on o tax assessment OF $50, 00O.-
600, would realize the amount. We have
gives these figures to show what the Legis-
lature can do II they are so disposed. They
can, by fulfilling their promises s%crupulous-
ly, bring the expenses OF tho year to q
smaller sum than ~three-quarters OF q
million.
The members of the Legislature, 30 far,
have done very we'll, but something more
than picayune reform Is required OF them.
Both pounds and pence need looking after.
Only BY answering fidelity to the public
interests can the Legislature make them.
selves in fact, what they are In name, the
representatives Of the people.