The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-12-25
{ Mll'SI.Al s. G.
Friday Morning. Deosmpsr q, 1874.
Disiatsrsssed, Verys'

E&kAuoy &Vx0A0&b 4cV0AppoE SOp AOs4s
4 .eii, 4 vDisi.tsressed, vsrys
After pointing ont the Objectionable
features Of the Appropriation Act 70
pay salary Of members and employees
iot the Legislature. The Governor ac-
'kho~ledges that y is, in many respects.
better than eothars OF its GLASS. passed
within the last. few years. The main
advantage it has over them is in the
amount to be raised. The cost of the
session of 1S72-73. 30 far as asoer.
htained, was, $26O.O0O; OF 1874,
$215, ,000;. of the present, $3.50, 900.
: In examining itsl provisions, in tho
light OF the Contribution, and in mea-
-sGring the sum total to be raised under
it. BY the specific levy for Legislative
expenses, itsppsats to us to be fatally
/ ideieotiye. It is in the nature OF q bill
70 raise revenue. and moTe properly
should have originated in the House.
It has been distinctly and decisivsly
disapproved by one house, aud it's
passage effected not in the regular
way, but from the operation of mere
rule of, the Two houses; whereas the
Z Constitution requires that ''no bill
shall have the force of law until it
shall have been read three times and
!; On three several days, in each house,"
70. The cum is smaller, it is true,
than has been recently appropriated,
Hand that ia the chief merit OF the bill;
but What will be done about it, when
y Is pIaih that the tax of one mill on
sne dollar, levied for legislative ex-
pensas, will not produce more than
$4,000 or S115,00O2 In the Go.
*esnor's review, there occurs passage,
~1onSeying truth which cannot be too
often repeated:
aThere are," he says. $50 far as I
am able to judge, no expenses of the
General Assembly which are properly
contingent. Every item of legitimate
expenditure ia capable of being ascer-
>tainsd in dollars and cents. aud no oc-
'casion exists for making an appropria-
iion in advance of knowledge Of the
exact amount needed to meet such e1-
penses."
This Wholesome truth is disregarded
in the $40. 900 item for the contingent
expenses of the Senate. That clause,
like charity, covers multitude of sins.
It's exact object is clearly shown in the
apology made for it in the Union
Herald, Of yesterday.
1T is easy enough" says this Jour
nal of easy virtue. "to advocate re-
trenohment and reform when their
attainment docs not in my way inter
fere with ones personal expectations:
but when, by a reduction of the expenses
TO a reasonable limit, the legislator of
the period finds himself deprived of
many articles Of luxury to aobich he has
hitherto been accustomed, or of which
his predecessor has given glowing ac-
counts or shown tangible evidence,
the pablo can we'll appreciate his hesi-
fancy before casting his vote in their
interest, and ought. at least, to com
mend him for his disinterested,sess
Commend his disinterestedneas and
rhank him for not taking more of the
peoples hard-earned money. where
with, in rivalry of "his predecessor"
he may supply himself with "artioles
Of luxuryl" There is such thing as
making virtue of necessity. but
Observation-Disclosures" of this kind is a
virtue marvelously like that of the
manufacturing Of wooden hams and
nutmegs. We have had enough of it;
save na from it in the future.