The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1875-11-25

GERS, brokers, merchants, professions,
showmen, liquor dealers, toll bridges,
and ferries, insurance companies, tclc-
graph and express offices, railroad inter
est or business, travelling agents or vcnd-
crs, and all persons or corporations own
ing or using franchises, etc. This is one
way to carry out that part OF the Replb-
lican platform which pledges us to do all
in our power to relieve and protect agri-
cultural interests. 1t must be considered
that the main industry of our State is
agricultural, and that this the greatest of
Of all our interests has been sorclv taxed
and discouraged.
While New England strains every
sincw to protect her main interest, that
is, her manufactures, and has thereby
become prosperous, We have been practi-
cally compelling our farmers to bear al
most every dollar Of taxation. 1t is time
for us to remember that farmer can
only turn over his money once Il year,
and that his profits cannot be increased,
except by economy in expenditure.
II. The constitution should forbid the
Legislature from auditing or allowing any
private claims against the State. 1t
should make appropriations to pay such
claims at its discretion, when audited by
the Comptroller General, but in no case
should such appropriation be made in
the bill making appropriations for gcncr-
al Stare purposes.
II. The Legislature should be empow-
cred to prevent unjust discrimination in
freights on railroads in this State, as be-
tween way-stations and the termini of
the road.
13. Constitution should require State
officers to make their reports within three
days after the General Assembly shall
have met, on pain Of instant removal
from Office.
ii. No person should be eligible to
State Office who has not been citizen Of
the State for five years, nor to county
Office who has not resided within such
county as citizen for one year immcdi-
ately preceding his election or appoint
ment.
IS. Constitution should provide that
all phosphate royalties, and other sources
of revenue to the State other than taxes
levied by the General Assembly, should
be set aside for free school purposes.
16. No State or county officer should
be allowed to hold his office more than
four out of every six consecutive years.
IL. Constitution should define more
clearly the powers and duties of Licutcn-
ant Governor; provide for cumulative
voting or minority representation.
is. Reduce the number of the States
charges; counties should pay their own
Trcasurcrs, Auditors, &c. The Lcgisla
turc should fix for cach county the max
imum of salary to be paid each officer,
allowing the counties the right to reduce
the amount to suit themselves.
19. Make tax levies for State purposes
directly upon the counties; given
amount for each specific purpose, named
in dollars, instead of mills, and based
upon the Auditors reports.
20. Provide that no branch of the
State government shall contract any in
cidental or contingent accounts. Require
the Legislature to anticipate all expenses
of government by levy and appropriation
specifically made.
81. Provide that convict labor shall be
utilized on all public works, both State
and county, or on railroads, guarded by
such laws rs will secure humane treat
ment for them, and prevent their employ
ment by private parties, to tie detriment
of the interests of laboring people.
%. Fix the legal rate of interest on
money at seven per cent, and require the
Legislature to pass such laws as will in
general prevent the collection of a larger
amount. Our agricultural people had
better do without money or goods that
arc worth eighteen to thirty per cent. to
carry.
%. Protect and encourage the raising
of sheep by empowering the Legislature
to levy special tax on dogs.
"a. Real estate should be assessed an
nually.
25. Should forbid any officer from de-
posting school, county or court funds
outside the county to which it belongs,
unless there be no bank of good standing
in such county. Should also require the
State Treasurer to deposit all tax money
to the specific account for which it was
levied and collected, the same to be
drawn upon only i'll payment of such
specific appropriations. Should provide
that no State officer should serve on any
board, committee or commission. Coun-
ty Commissioners should be required to
apportion the tax levied and collected
for county purposes before the same is
collected, which shall constitute spe..
cific fund for various county and
court purposes. Should provide that
all State and county officers should
be elected by the people. Should
provide that commissioners of election
should be elected by the General Assem-
bly,.
l do not claim to have exhauscd the
subject, but l feel assured that have
not gone beyond the spirit and meaning
of the pledges made by the Republican
party in its platform of 1874 in any of
the provisions suggested, and, may add,
that reform to be real must be incorpo-
rated in the constitution. Parties in
power are liable to error, and even wrong
doing. The interest of the people re-
ouires for this Radical disease q Radical
cure. Other States have admitted this,
and called constitutional conventions to
apply the remedy. Shall Republican
State be behind the Democratic States of
the South in securing that reform in its
organic law, which alone gives security
to its people?
But, as l have said, the State of South
Carolina, the solitary Republican jewel
in the Southern crown, can, without the
resort to conventional resort which
will practically announce to the world
the failure of the Republican party to
give the State sound government,
though its Legislature take hold of these
issues-pass the necessary measures Of
reform as amendments to our constitu-
ton, and be sustained BY the people, aud
the solution Of South Carolina's political
and financial troubles will have been ef-