Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1877-10-11
Tho Legislature

u" sh mSSS ou Suo lOuEtu u9Suuy In NOYcmDCf,
and there will be much work it should do aud
much rubbish It should clcar off. Members
might we'll begin to think about their duties and
note down such measures as in their judgment
need attention. Of course the prominent idea
In tho public mind Is the reduction of the ex-
penditurcs for State and county purposes as low
rs possible consistent with the securing of good
officers and the proper administration of the
low. This CON only be accomplished by reduc-
ing the salaries and fees Of officers wherever
they are extravagantly high, and by reforming
the government on n more economical plan.
The people are now required to pay for almost
every little service which q citizen may render
to his county or State, while formerly the work
in counties which now costs several thousand
dollars was done for q few hundred. We would
like to SEQ the constitution so amended as to re-
turn to the old plan Of having several boards of
commissioners in counties in place Of county
md school commissioners at heavy expense.
We would like to SEQ the costs Of trial justices,
constablcs clerks, shcriffs and other officers put
down to ante war prices. We would like TO
sec simple and less expensive system Of plead.
ing in our courts than tho bunglesome New
York code and less costs to be paid by litigants.
The present system il almost denial Of justice
to many and oppressivcly burdcnsomc to all
We would like to SEQ the pay of the Legislature
lcluced 10 anto war figures, and see men 90 10
tho Legislature from motives of patriotism. It
may be said that officers cannot live at ante war
fees and salaries, but this is not true. They can
live nnd prosper at them, and there will be no
dcarth OF competent men to serve tho State and
oil the counties. In 1859, whom we applied for
tho bar, VIC paid for twelve days board at Hunts
hotel $50, being at the rate of $500 per day,
Members Of tho Legislature thon paid So per
day and received So per day. Good board at
hotels in Columbia can now be had fires and
lights included, by The week, at $40 at good
hotels and at private houses at 81 to So, vary
ing by the day at from 81 10 $l.43 per day.
Legislators can therefore better afford TO serve
now Of So than thoy could before tho war. Dur
ing tho Perry Legislature members received SIS
por day and board at hotels was Sd per day, and
Mt private houses from SO to $3.50. AS to tho
salaries and fees of ether officers there is no
reason why they should not bo put as low as
before the war. The prices of oil necessary
articles of clothing, provisions, SO aro lower
than before the war, coffcc excepted. Calico is
much lower, sheetings, shirtiugs and all cotton
goods aro lower. There is no reason for ex-
travagant fees and salaries, unless it be desired
10 keep the people poor. Lot the Legislature,
then, first OF all things, abolish all useless Offices,
and next to that reduce the pay Of all officers to
sum commensurate with their services. The
people arc distressingly poor, aud their i'm
povcrished condition imperativcly demands
economy and reform in every brancl. Of the 60
vcrnmcnt. The taxes next year should be as
low rs possible, for very many of our people
will be pressed 10 live and pay tho taxes now
being collected, and The prospect Of another tax
in tho course of thrco months looks gloomy.
Let the tax DO low, and let the people get heart
and begin torccoyer from their dreadful poverty.
Ten years Of slcXling and reckless extravaganza
have left our country utterly exhausted of all
surplus money and personal property, ana tho
people must have time to rcouporalo. We say
again the country here is distressingly poor and
{ the crops are by no means an average. Doth
corn and cotton, and especially cotton, are short
Add to this the low price IL is bringing and VIC
must see tho need Of favoring the people for o
few years