The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1875-02-25
% II no egalpr6dsedinss char be,in.

claims IN question, the Treasurer will
need no special authority for paying
them, and IL suoh proceedings shall
be instituted for testing their validity,
cannoticonsent to override such pro.
ceedings by legislation. The least
| that can justly be done In suoh q case
is to leave the redress OF any alleged
wrongs done by the County Commits
sioners to the judicial tribu oals. The
belief is general throughout the State
that many, if not most of our Counties,
are now burdened with past indebted
ness, which is due, in great degree,
to the improvidence or dishonesty of
County officials. I share in this be-
lief. am confident that there is not
one County in this State in which
money enough has not been collected
by taxation to pay every dollar of
legitimate expense in maintaining the
government of the County. It is
right. therefore, that snch past in
debtedness should be most carefully
scrutinized. No such scrutiny can be
too severe or minute. To enact thut
such past indebtedness shall he paid
III full anil without further examina-
ton. is to add to the burden OF injns-
tloe auder which the people of many
Counties are now groaning. Espe
cially is this true of Edgefied County,
where recent events should teach us
that prudence and justice alike forbid
any increase OF the causes OF dissatis-
faction and disturbance which have
hitherto existed.
The past indebtedness OF that
County should be most carefully exa-
mined, and, when duly examined,
should be provided for in suoh u man
ner as to impose the leust hardship on
the tax payers of the County. Ger
tainly no such summary mode Of pay
ment and forbiddipg of further exa-
mination. as is provided for iu the
present Act. should be adopted But,
in addition to the objections already
stated, [ find another weighty and
conclusive objection TO the present
Aot, In the fact that judicial proceed
ings are now instituted and pending
in the Circuit Court for Edge6eld
County. which have for their object,
as am informed. the investigation of
the claims which constitute the past
due indebtedness of Edgefield County.
Such an investigation is the common
right OF oil the people of that County,
and it would, in my judgment. be un-
wise and n";nst, pending the conclu-
sion of such judicial investigation, to
direct tue payment in full OF all claims
against the County.
The Circuit Court can be safely
trusted to do justice in the premises,
and due regard for tho interests of
the people of the County require that
the court should be allowed to proceed
to such conclusions as law and Justice
may dictate. I am satisfied that the
real object of the present ACT is to
make certain claims against the
County, which are not now payable
out OF any funds, payable out Of the
proceeds of the special tax directed to
be levied by the joint resolution of
December D. 1873 To that object, T
SEQ no objections. but unfortunately
the present ACT has an effect far wider
than simply to make such claims paya-
BILE: for, as already shown, it makes
such claims not only payable, but
directs their payment in full, and
without any further examination.
Bills to alter and amend Code of
Procedure. being Title V, Part III, of
General Statutes; to require Trial
Justices to exhibit all original papers
to County Commissioners; to repeal
an Act to authorize County Comwis-
sloners of Lexington to change tue
course OF tue market road, known as
River Road, in said County, received
their third reading aud were enrolled
for ratification.
Concurrent resolution (by Mr.. Jeter)
instructing the Clerks of the two
Houses to report why the immigration
report has not been published, was
decided in the Affirmative.
A communication was received from
Secretary of State Hayne enclosing IL
statement showing the total receipts
and disposition of the moneys re-
ceived by him as Land Com missioner
since he has been in Office, viz: Re-
ceipts, S24 4,00283 Disbursements,
commissions and travelling expenses
of agents, surveying, &C., $5, 1901
amount paid State Treasurer, SlO,-
l68 13; balance on hand, S8,O56 81;
total. $24,O02 SO. By the report of
the State Treasurer furnished there is
discrepancy of $1,000 between his
statement and the foregoing. This is
caused by his having credited that
amount when paid him to the fees OF
the office of the Secretary of State
proper, and not to the Land Commis-
sion Department, as should have been