Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-09-11
YfIisfellanepns &eaaima,
"RUNNING THE STATE.o

"Qui Vive," the Columbia correspondent of
Charleston News and Courier, says: "Ex-
Governor Scott feels very deep interest in
the welfare of the State, and is disgusted with
the proAigacy and extravaganza Of the pres
ent administration. He says that he had no
opportunity while he was Governor to display
his fine parts and show how economically and
satisfactorily he could run the State on account
of the imbeciles and rascals who we're associa-
ted with him. He pledges himself, and says
he will give bond and ample security for the
faithful performance Of his contract, to run
the entire State Government next year and
pay the interest upon all the debt, with tax
of nine mills on the dollar, and thinks he will
make one or two hundred thousand dollars at
that His offer, however, is upon the condi-
tion that the General Assembly shall remain
at their homes. It is novel idea, certainly,
to let out a State on contract, but if Governor
Scott, or any other equally responsible party,
will undertake it for tax Of nine mills, it
would be clear saving to the people of at
least million and a half of dollars. Per-
haps if the thing were advertised and the con-
tract let out to the lowest responsible bidder,
some northern capitalist might take it at even
considerably less than nine mills. Mr.. Sprague
for instance, could run the concern to great
advantage, for he has the water-power right at
the capital, where all the machinery for the
government is located. 1t is the best plan
that has ever yet been suggested to relieve the
State of her financial embarrassments and the
people of oppressive taxation, and it ought at
least to be given fair trial. Judge Carpen-
ter and Mr.. Chamberlain are also away at the
North. Senator Patterson is at his home in
Pennsylvania. He has not been in Colum-
bia, except on flying visit, since last winter.
But his influence here with the party is very
marked, nevertheless. Judging from the fire.
quency with which his opinions upon State
matters are quoted and deferred to by the
Radicals in and about the capital, it is proba-
BILE that Honest John" has more control over
the rest of the rascals than any white man in
the ranks. He has scheme, so [ was told a
day or two ago, for the adjustment Of the
State debt different and better than the one
advocated by the attorney-general. "Honest
Johns" proposition is to scale the debt so as
to reduce it to about seven million dollars,
but not by the indiscriminate reputation Of
Uuc-lIdllJ UOIll VI IllC uOuCSG 1uo 1louuulSio
debt, as Melton advocates. "Honest John"
would preserve the relative value Of the diff
ferent classes of bonds, somewhat, by scaling
them in proportion. For instance, the old
bonds which are now selling for, say thirty
two cents he would scale at about sixty-fve
or seventy cents; those that are selling at
twelve to fifteen cents, be would scale at twen-
ty-fve or thirty cents, and so on. This is
better, of course, because more equitable than
to put the good bonds and the bad bonds upon
the same basis. But there is still better way
even than this modified method Of repudia-
tion, more honorable, and one which is likely
to give equal relief to the people. 1t is to
have the fraudulent bonds Cancelled by the
courts, and then pay the interest upon the
valid debt in full.