Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-12-10
GOV. CHAMBERLAIN's INAUGURAL.

GOV. CHAMBERLAIN'S INAUGURAL.
The inaugural address of Governor Cham
berlain, which we present in this issue, will
be read with peculiar interest by all parties.
It is an able paper-concise-and terse as
the nature of the various subjects treated will
permit. The Governor frankly admits the
sins of commission and omission-mostly OF
the former class-of his party in the past, and
with apparent candor and good faith sug-
gests measures of reform, and in some in
stances points out the necessary legislation
to secure the desired results.
He says it is the duty Of those administer
ing the Government to practice and enforce
economy and honesty, and the earliest and
most earnest attention should be directed to
the subject of the collection, appropriation
and disbursement of the public funds He
admits that the valuations of property for
taxation have been unjust and oppressive,
but the total assessments have been reduced
thirty or forty millions of dollars this year,
and he says he stands ready to cooperate with
the General Assembly in any measure calcu.
lated to obtain just valuation of all property
for taxation according to its true money value ;
and so far as the faithful execution of the law
depends upon the officers appointed by him,
no county shall have just cause of complaint
He urges the Limitation Of taxes to the ac-
tual requirements of the Government, and
recommends the reduction of legislative ex-
penses to an economical limit by reducing the
length of the session to thirty days, which he
says can be accomplished by avoiding the
consideration of special acts that can be coV-
cred by general laws, and also by reducing
the number of subordinate officers and at
taches, and cutting off the contingent or incl
dental legislative expenses, which have been
as much as 100000 session, with half
million dollars of legislative pay certificates
still unpaid. The public printing system he
declares to be incapable of defense or excuse,
and he urges the repeal of the present SYSTEM
as we'll as to abolish the practice of publish
ing the laws, at heavy expense, in the news
papers. The present status of the State debt
is set forth and discussed, and he declares
that the settlement of the debt, under the Act
of the last Legislature, must be regarded as
final, so far as legislative and popular intiu-
ence can make it so. By the Act in question,
when the debt is funded according to require
ment, it will amount to only s5,74o,Ol6. Ihe
common school system is treated at length,
and certain legislation recommended to make
it more effective.
Other matters Of general interest are dis
cussed, and the Governor asserts that to all
the measures of reform recommended by him
he stands unalterably pledged. This asseve-
ration should be gratifying to both parties
alike, and to all advocates of an honest, eco-
nomical government Although Gov. Cham
berlain, as an executive officer, is powerless
by his unaided individual effort, to bring
about the reform which he urges, and which
the people so much desire, yet his fearless ex-
posure of past wrongs, and his earnest advo-
cacy of better government must have great
force with the party responsible for the past
abuses, while the opposition cannot fail to be
inspired with the hope that our long-sufferng
State will yet be rid of venal officials and
corrupt legislators.
To aid Governor Chamberlain in the con-
summation of the recommendations of reform
which he makes, it is the duty of all parties
in the State to give him their united encour-
agement. In doing this, no man will make
any sacrifice of principle, nor will he thereby
abandon his political platform-the platform
of honesty and good government-adopted
alike by all the voters, though under differ
ent leaders,