The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1873-01-14
Important AIovement.

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Important Movement.
Mr. Levy. of Charleston, introduced a
joint resolution into the House OF Rep
r'sentatives yesterday. which. if adopted
by the Legislature, and carried out in a
proper spirit by the Governor and the
commission appointed under it, wilt be
productive Of ealnAhle ooh sentences. It
is designed to ascertain the amount and
validity OF the State debt, and provides
that. with view of revivine tho credit
OF the State of South CarolIua, restoring
confidence in the securities thereof. and
definitely ascersaining the legitimate in !.
debtedness OF the State: ~
SEQ. l. That the Governor be empow
cred to appoint commission OF three
l3) persons OF character, integrity and
business experience to investigate the
amount and validity of the State debt.
who shall enter upon the discharge of
their duties at the earliest practicable
moment; have power to send for per.
sons and papers; be vested with authori-
ty to examine into the books, accounts
and vouchers of the State Treasurer,
Comptroller General and Financial
Agent in New York, and be furnished
with such information from the various
State departments as the said commits.
sion shall, from time to time, require.
SEQ. q. That it shall be tho duty of
said commission TO sit at stated times, to
be advertised in the papers OF the cities
OF Charleston, Columbia and New York
and shall cause the number, denomina-
ton, the Act under which it was issued.
and the name of the person, association,
corporation or firm presenting any bond,
coupon or certificate of Indebtedness, to
be registered in books to be kept by the
said commission for that purpose; and
when said commission are fully satisfied
OF the validity of the same, to afix an
ofdcia! stamp to be provided for that
special purpose: Prouided. That no
charge shall be made to the holders or
parties presenting such bond, coupon or
certificate of stock for such registry; and
1t shall be the duty Of said commission
to report the progress of their investiga.
tons as occasion may demand and the
Governor or General Assembly shall re-.
quire.
SEQ. 3. That for the purpose of de.
fraylng the necessary expenses of said
commission, the Governor is hereby au-
thorlzed to draw his warrants on the
state Treasurer, tho amounts of which
warrants shall be paid by the State Trea-
surer out OF any moneys in the State
Ireasury not otherwise appropriated.
We think this good bill. Similar
action was taken year ago by the State
OF Georgia with excellent effect. Her
financial status was clearly ascertuined,
and the State has moved on with much
more satisfaction ever since. Ordinarily
suoh course would be a work of super
erogation. But when State has been
bedeviled several years by an Infamous
government rs this one has been, thiugs
get into suoh a muddle that it takes pro.
digions efforts and world OF pains to
extricate it. It almost loses its identity.
We venture to say that few men, even of
the highest intelligence and closest at
tention and stndy, can get at the real
oopilition of Che State debt and it's
finances. So much has been hid out of
view. 30 much bungled, mangled and
befogged. thatit has become worse for
mud than Serbonian bog, and for filth
than the Augean stables. Only experts,
devoting their labors especially to the
task, can do the Heroulean work cf
clearing it Of the one, or cleansing it OF
the other. Every thing depends, of
course, upon the men who are to bo ap.
pointed. They should be free from par.
sisan spirit, not mixed up in any way
with matters committed to them for in
vestigation and research, of unquestioned
integrity and of high financial ability.
II they should also be men OF address
and cultivation. combining happily the
suaoiter in modo, with the .fo,tite, in re,
1t would all be so much the better.
A SLAP AT SoHURz The Presi den
has had an opportunity. which he did
not fail to improve. to pay off Senator
Schurz for his temerity in condemning
the Presidents official course and Join
ing the Liberal movement. Some DAYS
since Congress passed bill for the re-
lief of Carl Jussen-.Mr Schrrz's hrothor