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

g. SENATOR COCHRAN's REFORM.
~; .CoLUMB1A, S. c., Nov. 8, 1875.
Hons. W. B. Nash, s. a. Saoails, N. j
Hir,ch, E. NJ Brayton. James N. Smith
W. FL. Jones, j. H. White, J. Holdings.
head, L. L: Glbfn, A. W. Curtis, YIN
jSiDo1,s :;,.,.,s.,-..H -, ilcii,;E
,GEN1LEMEN-I expected to have me-
many Republican members of the Gen.
eral Assembly here this week, and hoped
to have an opportunity for consultation
as to the best means for laying the foun'
dation for the Inauguration Of such reform
measures, through and by the Legislative
department of the government, as whl
redeem each and every pledge made by
the Republican party during the cam.
paign Of 1874. unfortunately, most Of
the members are at home and l shall
take the liberty of addressing this com.
munication to such members only as are
in the city, and trust that you will give
the same your immediate attention.
For a long time have been watching
the efforts made by the executive depart
ment of our State government for reform
It is a pleasure to say thus publicly
that T. admire the numerous messages
and speeches of his Excellency Governor
Chamberlain on reform, and the sincerity
and earnestness with which he seems
anxious to deal with the weaknesses and
faults of our administration. I also SYM
pathize with Comptroller Dunn In his
efforts to purify the treasury department,
and eorrespondingly with. our State
Treasurer in his eagerness to- protect the
peoples money from the deyouring NAV
of banks and their coadjutors. Both
seem to have 8 sense of their duty@so
sensitive that it will be hard for the Peo-
pie if they cannot manage between them
to arrive at the milk in the coc0anut
and last, but not least, ] appreciate the
laudable efforts of our Attorney General
to convict defaulters, particularly as ne
has had the annoyance of seeing them
relieved from the consequences OF their
crimes, after so much expense and trou.
BILE, through constitutional PROVISIONS
invoked in their behalf. But I feel COM
PEELED to, submit, after q careful consid-
Grafton of theil whole subject, that the
question has arisen inrmy own mind, can
all this really bring about reform, lessen
the burdens Of taxation, or economy in
expenditure? Can our executive reform
ers secure us anything really substantial
And, in reply, + am fain to express the
opinion that without help from legisla-
tive sources they must beat their wings
against impossibihties. a''''
To explain myself: fully, let, me say
that, now the State Treasurer publishes
his monthly statements of every dollar
received and paid out, from whom, to
whom, and on what account, nobody can
truly say that the funds are stolen, un-
accounted for or misapplied. Therefore,
it seems to me that the only reform now
practicable is an economical levy and ap-
so far as administrative fnan-
ces is concerned. Nothing further in
this direction can be- reached but by the
passage Of. constitutional or legislative
measures. Such have, after all made az
the late reforms possible, and most of
them necessary. There is no longer any
doubt that the Legislature, of the State
is as earnestly committed to reform as
any branch of the government, and it is
as a member of that body, knowing the
feeling of many of my colleagues, thaFl
have presumed to notice here some of the
practical consideration which I think
deserve notice at the present time; and
in doing SO, L may add, ], am confident
that branch of the government will never
ask credit for any reforms they do not
institute and secure. =!
!: Both Republican and Democratic pa
pers have to some extent discussed the
necessity of q new constitutional conyen-
ton for South Carolina. Now, | feel as
sured that the approaching Legislative
session viii prove that we can secure all
needed reforms without the expense and
excitement consequent upon such con-
yention. If editors and public men will
give fair attention to the wants OF the
times, and the people will do their part,
I believe the constitution may be amen
ded so that it shall he as effective in Sc
curing honest and economical govern
ment after the next election as any organ
ic law in the United States. In this view
T may, without any. undue presumption,
cite some of the changes which our pc
culiar condition needs and recent reforms
in other States naturally suggest to every
man. These changes should
be constitutional and substantially as
follows:
/. Fix constitutionally the public debt
as it is now fixed by legislative enact
ment. I can see nothing to prevent fu-
ture legislation on this matter, which
might involve the State for six millions
or more of bonds, which are now alleged
to have been issued fraudulently.
2. Restrict the, powers of the Legisla-
ture for levying taxes and making appro.
priations, and require all such leyies and
appropriations to be specific, and not to
exceed a given amount for any fiscal
year. 80, =.
3. Make the legislative sessions biep-
nial, and change the day Of meeting to
the second Tuesday in January. Make
the pay of Legislators $500 for a session
of thirty days, 500 for a session of forty
dayscs800 for q session of sixty days,
and $500 ifprotracted fora longer period,
We have too much legislation, and the
people cannot too sternly discourage long
sessions.
4. Restrict the court to two terms for
each, county annually, reserving to the
Judges the right to call special terms for
sessions business only. We have alto
gether too much litigation. Also provide
that court should be held at seasons rea-
sonably convenient for the people. For
instance, in the eighth circuit in such
months as July, August, December and
January. :,
s.. The right of suffrage should be ade-
quately protected. Provide that each
county shall be represented in proportion
to the ratio of votes actually polled at its
elections; but in no case should repre-
sentation be allowed for any number OF