The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1873-02-02
,COLUMBfA.l l|SH e.
Sunday Morning. February 2. 1873.
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The bill to make appropriations and to
raise supplies for the year commencing
November l, 1872, drags its slow length
along In the House of Representatives.
Those who propose any reduction in the
amounts reported by the Committee on
Ways and Means, are met with deter
mined opposition. On Friday, Andrew
Curtis, member FROM Richland, moved
to strike out $40. 900 and insert $40. 1000
for the State militia. He could not see
sny advantage or use in appropriating
such large sum to this department.
It had been done before. bht without any
good .results. !. His view was sustained
by Mr.. Myers, of Beaufort. He thought
$1O, 900 twice too much. Already there
had been appropriated $l1O. 900, and no.
body could tell what had become OF it,
or point to anything accomplished by it.
He charged that Governor SCOTT had
used it with the officers to electioneer
for him. Mr.. Hurley said that it had
cost the State of South Carolina $685.
600.26 to receive from the United States
Government $1,000 muskets, worth $13
piece. Tie guns were manufactured
at Springfield, we're excellent and SER
viceable, and had been distributed. But
no officer or private has received any
money to repair and keep his gun in
order. Where, then. has all this money
gone to? And where are tho arms? It
was heavy and costly gift which took
seven times its value TO receive it. and
the State have nothing to show for it
now; Il twas.a mystery. Mr. Bowley
argued Tor, the appropriation of the
amount mentioned in the bill, viz:
$4,000. Many expenses had to be in
CURED. The arndory building needed re-
pairs. &c.
We observe almovement on foot to in.
crease tie salaries Of the Supreme Court
and Circuit Judges. A message was
sent in on Thursday by the Governor.
forwarding letters from Judges Maokey,
Carpenter, Graham and Cooke, relative
to this subject. The memorial says that
the salaries Of the Judges are lower than
in any other State in the Union, both
absolutely and. relatively to ths work
done. Mr.. Lsyy, of Charleston, ,sdhtro-
duced abill on %Aat day to increase their
Salaries. The amounts which they now
receive, and which are recommended in
the appropriations bill for tho, present
year. are, for the Chief Justice, 81, 900;
Associate Justices and CIRCUIT Judges,
$500 each. ( 3so. .OoG are {cslled fFfor' to
continue the construction OF the peni-
tentiary. Large amounts. under the in
definite head of contingent fund for the
several departments. and for the civil
contingent fund. are also reported by
the Oolhnittee. The more We ats re-
duced, the more complete the depletion
OF theiState Treasury, the more nume-
rous' become tho pretexts for diving into
it. the more exorbitant and exacting the
demaRds; ctthe public officers! How, in
the name OF common sende aud all that
is reasonable. can the State stand th ese
e1tray4gant and reckless appropriations7
What was the meaning of all the fine
talk about reform. and in the. face OF
these damaging disclosures of the bill,
where are tho evid dences of any desire or
purpose OF retrenchmenl?
Whatever is right and necessary, the
people re willing topay. But the State
is small, its resources soant. and taxation
heavy. While officials rejoice in their
large and easily made stipends, the tax
payers are, pinohed, the education Of
their children neglected, and their
spirits sunk under the weight OF present
and prospective ills. We should ont our
garments according to our cloth. In
this State, we have a population of
7o6,606 souls, on an area OF $4,000
square miles. Oar cotton crop, the last
year. was 271, ,241 bales. Our neighbor-
ing State of Georgia has popu lation of
LISA, l00, on an area of $1,000 square
miles. The cotton crop OF that State,
the last year, amounted to $50, 900 bales
Considering our population, area and