The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1874-12-04

The following communication, writ
ten 10y limb of the law, has some good
suggestions in it. Reform is needed on
several points ne desiguates:
10 the Editors ofthe HcraJd d7ld Nal.
Much is expected by tho people at
large, Of the LsgislftUre elect. In the
present financial condition of our cpun-
Try, prudent and wise steps should be
taken. ana the absolute necessities met
with courage and promptness; iiso, the
people will be greatly relieved before
The session closes. On the contrary, if
these issues are lodged and not squares
Iy met, and a disposition Shown to favor
the swarm of hungry wolves Of office
seekers aud Office holders, | think we
are safe and right in assuming the whole
State will become bankrupt and its debt
viii be repudiated. IL is simply ride
ulOus to think that the people, 1.-The
country people" can fear the eNtraVa-
CANT and enormous burdens Of taxation,
that are now being Imposed upon them.
continuation Of The present GXtraVa-
giant E.dliCy will JudCubtedl y force inQi
VidUdis and corporations into bankrupt
cV, and bring desJ: u0tIOn upon the State
and its credit. II is not the STATE taxes
That he people grumOle so much about,
and cause them to feel 50 clearly the
imperative Of necessity" but it is the
enormous and oppressive expenses we
are 2C in gathering and distributing the
taxes, stale ana county, and the large
salaries and COuponSAtIOns paid from
these taxes 10 clerks OF courts, county
and state officers; these are " hat are OPP
pressive and burdeuing the people, des-
trUying the poor MAN hope, prOStrdtlng
the iaboring mans industries, grIIl.lng
alI.0zt 70 DoNder the mental interests
of the country, and 9taSnating CONS
merce and trade. Democrats, remember
you are IN power in this State, therefore
in 4ugurate such system OF r6treDch-
HIGut as present circumstances require.
Ii is said that there are clerks of courts
and other officers in this State, who are
receiving aEnualiy, gums ranging from
$4,000 to SO, coo. The services OF no Of
fce is worth any such sum; neither can
we, the people afford to pay such Sums.
Good and worthy men can be bad for
great ditfere nee i'll compensation, now
paid our county and State officers; and
il is lust simply worse than nonsense
to pay such prices any longer, when just
as good and as competent can be easily
had tor so much less money. The eX-
act amount to be received by each
county and State officer should be limit
ed, and so fixed that all monies received
above the fixed amount should be paid
into the State AID County Treasury to
defray expenses. The office OF Tax Col
IectOr should be abolished; 1t can be
done, as it is an office created by the Leg
islatare, and the County Trustee be
paid little larger salary, and be re-
quired and compelled 10 act as both.
The County Court should establish
Work-house, and ali misdemeanors, pet
ty larceny and other like cases, should be
punished by labor on our bad roads.
The Jail fees are too large. The idea of
paying eighteen dollars a month for
boarding our prisoners, is entilely too
extravaganza, as the law requires that
two meals he iErnishd per day. You can
get good board in the city, per $1,000 per
month. The ten per cent interest law
should be repealed, because this law has
sold more lands, than anything else; the
stay-Iaw should be repealed undoubted
", so wheu-a man says l promised TO
pay, he will pay, on that day. NJ