The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1875-12-09
PICKENS G.. H., S, O.:
Thursday Dec D, 1875.
Editorial Correspondence.

u COLUMBIA, >. o., Dec. lst, 1875.
Dear Sentinel: Tho House of Re,
presentatives, for fow days, sftor it
first met, seemed disposed to 20 to
work in good earnest, and actually
cleared its calender twice, something,
If memory sorvos mo correctly, that
did not occur during the long session
OF last winter. This gavo tho friends
OF short session encouragement, and
caused them to think that perchance
some mysterious change had "come
over the spirit of their Dreams" and
that the absolute necessity for reform,
so persistently urged by the Governor
on the members of his own party, as
tho only guarantee of porpetuation
OF power, had had salutary effect,
and the ovorburdenod taxpayers of
this benighted State might breathe
treer for q time, at least. But SUBJ
sequent events havo disspated all
these hopes, and we may now expect
long, wearisomo and expensive sos-
son. Nothing short Of triumph of
Democratic principles, in the legisla~
tive department of the State at least,
will ever bottor our condition.
a few bills of some Importance,
aside from the tax bill and tho two
'bonanza" bills, have been introduced
and some of them acted upon. The
most important Of those was one 10
prevent the illegal traffic in seed cot
ton. AS there is sufficient law already
on the statute book To punish the
party stealing the cotton, the bill only
sought to make 1T crimo for tho
merchant to receive or buy the cot
ton, unless he know ho was rocciviDo
1T from the lawful owner or his agent.
1t did not even refer to the solcr,
and, was only intended to reach the
purchaser. But majority of the
colorod members could not 500 the
point" and declared it was only in
tended to mako them slaves to the
tax unions, hence it's defeat, notwith-
staining it was introduced by Ro-
publican. Only two colorcd mombora,
Keith, of Darlington and Burcl<myer,
OF Charleston supported it.
Tho tax bill is itomizod substantial,
~ IN accordance with the rccommen,
datlons of tho Governor in his veto
message, and docs not oxcood his cs-
innate. But when it is taken in con
ncction with tho bonanza bills. No.
and 2, the State precious littlo, ifany
better off than she would have been
had ho approved tho bill past at the
last session. Tho bill provides for
the following lcvics: TO pay the SAL
aries of the Executive and Judicial Of.
ticers of the State, and the clorks and
contingent expenses OF tho executive
and judicial departments of the State
one and one half mills; to meet the
appropriations for the support and
maintenance of the ponal, charitable
and educational institutions of tho
state, exclusive cf common schools
ono and ono half mills; for public
schools two mills; to dofray the cx.
penscs of the General Assembly >.
tho regular session Of l875-76, ono
ana one tenth mills; to meet appropri. |
atoms for public printing for the fs,
cal year, commencing November 1st
1919, and for tho deficiency in tho an
preparation for public printing, 1874.
ono nan of ono mill; for the payment
Oh Inc interest on tho public debt, two
m'ilT; 10 pay certain deficiencies onu.
mcr"tod, one and nino-tcnths mills
nc items mako total Of ten and n
haIi mills. The bill also provides for
levy not to exceed throo mills. in
every county in the State, for current
expenses of the county. Thoro wero