The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1875-04-20
CyJT,UJMHIH,S.C.
Tuesday lIorning, April 20, ls7a.
Let tho People Speak Out.

We have followed with much plealure
? the review which the Union-H -He,uM has
mado of the tax bill, in giving reasong
why it should not become lnw It's 20
sition upon this question in one which
ought to be reproduced to the taxpayers
and TO all .citizens interested in the sub.
stantial welfare OF the State, as contra
distinguished from the Fictitious profits
.f.eAace-helaing, rpeUuiaticn, ring con-
troll and cerrupt. bargaining. It is the
entering wedge to the discussion amongst
che Republicans themselves of the vital
measure of taxation, preparatory to it's
constellation at the next session Of the
General Assembly The grounds OF
objection to the bill are the manner Id
c&hich it is passed, the excessive amounts
:; it lsvies and the fraudulent and doubtful
character Of many of the claims which it
provides for. As to the manner, frst:
The bill was started in the House ilnme-
.diately after the Christmas and New
Years holidays. Itiwent to the Senate
SCOUT the middle of February, and was
detained by the Committee on Finance,
of which Nash, of Richland, is Chair
man, and Whittemore the power behind
the throne, until the 26th of March the
last aey;and, hq4Fof the. session. Tho
,obisct of this detspfion, as stated BY our
cantemporary, waI evidently to place It
In the hands of the Governor ut tho very
CAST minute, and then adjourn without
giving him chance to veto it. It was.
Thought that, rather than, postpone the
collection of taxes for month or two,
that he would sign the bilk In consi-
.dering the FIRST section, the Union-Herald
asserts that II mills for salaries and con-
tingents of the executive and judicial
departments is too small, because sala-
ries are fxed by law and contingents are
cut down TO- q minimum, and neither
H;an be lowered at present. A deficit
OF S5S 600 will result. It looks to the
Legislature to enact a, law next winter
srealy reducing salaries, to take effect
from November 1, 1875, SO that the pre-
vent figures of, II mills will suffice, The
second section levies II mills for penal,
charitable and educational purposes,
;nndis a hnlf mill too much, if those in
. stitutions arc properly managed. The
.tvo mills for the support of the common
schools, together with the poll tax and
the district school tax, ought to work
wonders. if faithfully and judiciously
applied. This is,: not done. No tax
collected .in the State is "more; waste
fully and even oriminally expanded. I"
The levy in section 4 of II nAilis for le-
gislstive expenses, il too much. The
good people will never be satisfied until
the !, entire Legislative expenses are
brought within 100000. The Union
Herald suggasts that when thsLsgislaturo
een.sts Nav. to reduce salaries, it vilfin,
rolude its own. The mill to pay fos,the
public printing, to meet tho ooaFssS Sf
$50. 900 4orsthat object, and sf0b004
the deficiency Of last year, canh6t be
helped for the present year, because it is
"A matter of contract; but t OF. mill is
ample fot,sliI necessary printing, and it
should be reduced accordingly; The ]
niiIleyy iM section z, for claims passed
stths recent session, the mill for print
ing zdsdciSncies for '73 and IA, the 1
mill to pay balances Of unpaid appro-
priNtions Of the year ending October 81.
1874, should all be peremptorily struck
out In connection with this class of
-ievies comes DIP the question, whether
The rnode of getting them through is not
unconstitutional The passed claim busi-
ness is one of the greatest frauds to
which the people are subjected. Large
amounts are taken from the treasury by
this hocus pocus plan, carried into effect
i'm the closing hours of the session, in
1.-The midst of confusion and excitement
which effect everybody but those who
= are adroitly using them rs covers and
blinds by which to achieve their spolia-
ficns. This question will. be brought
squarely up at. the next session, by q bill
introduced by Senator Cochran, Of An
.'derson,S which provides that all claim
bills, TO be valid, must be rend three
separate times, on three several days, in
each house, 'be duly .ratifed by the pre-
siding officers, presented to the Govern
or and signed by him, and sealed by the
Secretary Of State. In reference to the