The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1875-12-09

1t looks to me like connivance at rascali-
ty and roguery, and that of the most
despicable kind. Talk of reform by such
a body! 1t is supremely ridiculous! !!
When reform comes to the white people
of this State, it will come through their
own exertion and supremacy, and not
until then.
While the Conservatives were striving
to suppress the outrage Of cotton stealing,
another outrage was being prepared by
the Ways and Means Committee Of the
House, ip the shape of the Supply Bill
for 1856. The Tax Bill which the Gov
ernor vetoed, levied 10i mills for State
purposes, and the good people of the
State rssounded his praises from the
mountains to the seaboard, believing
that reform had now begun in earnest,
and that the hollow mockery Of reform
messages would now give place to more
substantial results. But what was the
surprise when the Legislature unani.
mously sustained the veto! 1t Nas clear
that there had been reconciliation, and
this reconciliation foreboded evil for the
Conservatives; for in less than week
the Ways and Means Committee brought
in new Tax Bill with the same amount
levied-ten and one-half mills for State
purposes-the only change being in the
purposes for which some Of the levy was
made. The House passed this bill and
sent it to the Senate. No reduction was
possible, though the Conservatives fought
1t to the bitter end.
Besides the State Tax Of 1oa mills, the
County tax is added, ranging from three
to six mills. Kershaw County has six
mills levied, and prospect Of further
special tax, besides 81 mills, which will
be explained below. So it has nineteen
mills certainly, and possibly more !!
Does this mean reform or conhscation 2
There are other Counties, and some Of
them in the. up-country, that are taxed
but little less than the one above de-
scribed. Where is the money to come
from7 I fear this question will be asked
in vain by many taxpayer during the
coming winter. Our crops are poorer,
the prices range much lower than for
years past, while -four and bacon are
higher, and yet thousands upon thou
sands Of dollars are relentlessly levied
on the bankrupt taxpayer. And for
what? To Fill the bottomless pockets Of
tho men who have the State Government
under their control.
You no doubt remember well the bill
which was passed last seasion-called the
Bonanza providing for the payment of
the fraudulent debts and pay certificates,
amounting to hve or six hundred chou
sands Of dollars. Well, here is one OF
two bills designed to take its place, called
the Big Bonansa-"A bill to provide fox
the settlement and payment Of certain
claims against the Stato." That is itz
title. 1t reads as follows: whereas,
there are outstanding certain legislative
pay certificates, Treasurer's bills paya-
BILE, and claims passed by the General
Assembly, amounting in all to about fye
hundred thousand dollars, which ought
to be paid and whereas, as there arc
grave doubts whether the Act entitled an
'Act to provide for the settlement and
redemption Of certain claims against the
State passed at the last General Assem-.
bly,, became law" therefore they here
by levy one-hdlf a mill for each of tho
next four years to pay these claims, at
fifty cents on the dollar, the holders of
said claims to get one-eighth Of the face
value for the next four years. Thisis az
complete and high-handed swindls as
was ever perpetrated upon the State Of
South Carolina III the worst days ofScott
and Moses. It has not come up for con-
sideration yet, but will soon be passed.
The other bill referred to proposes to
be even more liberal to the rascals who
hold State paper, than the above. It is
the "Little Bonanza" and provides for
the payment of all the other fraudulent
claims which have not been passed by
the Legislature, with the batch above re-
ferred to--such as the claim of NJ. H,
Berry for furniture, Aiken Tribune, Geo.
Summers, s. G. Bank and Trust Compa-
ny, (Hardy Solomon's patent swindling
machine,) p. F. Frazee, Charleston
Chronicle; W. E. Rose, &c, &C., od init
asit,.m. 1t also provides for deficiencies
in salaries, In appropriations for Lunatio
Asylum, Penitentiary and Deaf, Dumb
and Blind Asylum. This bill levies
about two mills for each of the two next
years to pay these claims dollar for dol
lar-making thewhole State Tax thirteen
mills alone, considerably larger than 1t
has ever been In this State, and by all
odds larger than any State Tax in the
United States. Reform at present means
Dead Sea fruit-pleasant to look at and
examine at distance, but the momentit
is touched, crumbles to dust and poison.
This bill came up for consideration on
Thursday. The Conservatives made
speech after speech, and appeal after sp-
zeal for lower taxes. The bill was re-
duced little, and was finally recommit-
tad to the Committe, in the hope that It
would be materially reduced ); but 1t was
reported back the next day with the ag-
gregate amount to be levied raised, and
so three sections have been passed, and
the balance will be oa Tuesday.
Satisfied with their weeks work, the
Republicans decided Friday evening to
take short recess, in order to return to
their approving constituents and narrate
the wonderful amount Of good (7) they
had accomplished in one short week, and
on Tuesday night they resume their pa
triotic ~ laborsl
The Judges will most probably not be
elected until after therecess. At present,
speculation on the various candidates
would be futile, as everything concern
ing the election Is sat sea-"