The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1875-04-20
CULUMBIA.S.C.
Tuesday Morning, April 20, 1875.
Let the People Speak Out.

we nave IolIo"oo with mucn pleasure
the review which the Union Herald has
made Of the tax bill, in giving reasons
why it should not become Inv. It's po-
sition upon this question is one which
ought to be reproduced to the taxpayers
and to oil citizens interested in the sub.
stantinl welfare OF tho State, Us contr1.-
distinguished from the Fictitious profits
Nf'eface-helding, speculation, ring con-
trol and corrupt bargaining. It is the
entering wedge to the discussion amongst
Che Republicans themselves of the vital
,ncasure of taxation, preparatory to its
consideration at the next session Of the
General Assembly. The grounds OF
objection to the bill are the manner in
which it il passed., the excessive amounts
+. it levies and the fraudulent and doubtful
character of many of the claims which it
provides for. As to the manner, first:
The bill was started in the House ilnme-
diately after the Christmas and New
Years holidays. Invent to the Sennte
&oout 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 dey;and, hour Of the session. Tho
object Of this detention, ms stated by our
contemporary, was evidently to place it
in the hands of tho Governor Mt the very
Cast minute, and then adjourn without
giving him chance to veto it, It was
Thought that, rather thnn postpone the
collection Of taxes for month or two,
that he would sign the bill. In consi-
dering the first section, the Union-1erald
asserts that II mills for salaries and con-
'tingents of the executive and judicial
departments il too small, because sala-
ries are fixed by law and contingcnts arc
.rut down to u minimum, and neither
+;an be lowered at present. A deficit
"f !S53, 600 will result It looks to the
Legislature to enact law next winter
sreatly reducing salaries, to take effect
from November 1, 1876, 40 that the pre-
vent figures of II mills will suffice. The
second section levies II mills for penal,
charitable and educational purposes,
md is half mill too much, if those in
stitutions arc properly managed. The
Two 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 il more waste
fully and even criminally expended"
The levy in section of II mills for le-
eislstive expenses, il too much. The
good people will never be satisfied until
the entire Legislative expenses are
brought within $1O0,OOO. The Union
Herald dsuggests that when the Legislature
-rnaets hlaw to reduce salaries, it will in
-elude its own. The mill to pay for the
public printing, to meet the contract of
$50, QUO for that object, and $4,000 for
the deficiency of last year, cannot be
helped for the present year, because it is
a matter of contract; but I of mill is
ample for all necessary printing, and it
should be reduced accordingly. The
mill levy In section 7, for claims passed
st the recent session. the 2 mill for print
ing deficiencies for '73 and IA, tho l
mill to pay balances of unpaid appro-
pri"ti"ns of the year ending October 81.
1874, should all be peremptorily struck
out In connection with this class of
'evies comes up the question, whether
the mode 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 tho treasury by
this hocns pocus plan, carried into effect
IN the closing hours of the session, in
the midst Of confusion and excitement
which effect everybody but those who
nre adroitly using them ns covers and
blinds by which to achieve their spolia-
ticns. This question will be brought
squarely up 1.-The next session, by a bill
introduced by Senator Cochran, of An
,derson. whioh provides that nll claim
hills, to be valid, must be read three
separate times, on three several days, in
each house, be duly ratified by the pre.
siding officers, presented to the Govern
sor and signed by him, and sealed by the
Secretary of State. In reference to the